Second Chances and Choices

Chapter 10

The bunkroom was as silent as a tomb the following night. Briar sat on Lit’l Bit’s bed running a brush repeatedly through her hair with long strokes, Lit’l Bit was writing in her journal, Snoddy sat fiddling with his pocketknife and the others were doing absolutely nothing.
"Maybe I should go talk to him," Lit’l Bit wondered out loud her eyes settling on Jack.
"You do that Lit’l Bit and I’m never talking to you again," said Briar who hadn’t uttered a word all day.
"I finally got you to talk, huh?" grinned Lit’l Bit.
Briar ignored her and went on. "He was wrong, not you. He should come apologize. Listen, I’m going for a walk. This place is too quiet." She hopped off the bunk and pulled on her boots before heading out the door.
Briar kept on walking, not caring where she was going. Every time a thought would appear in her brain she’d push it away. The last thing she wanted to do was think about anything. Suddenly, something rushed at her from behind. She spun around and saw Les beaming up at her.
"Les! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" she laughed then looked up and saw David walking towards them, the smile faded a little.
"How have you've been?" she asked the brothers.
"Okay," said Les. "When are you gonna finish reading Treasure Island?" he asked her.
"Oh, gee Les, I don’t know. Can’t your brother or sister read it to you?" She kept her eyes on Les, avoiding meeting David’s gaze.
"They don’t know how to talk like a pirate like you," he argued.
"Thanks a lot!" she tweaked his nose playfully.
"You should come over tonight," suggested David. "I want to know how the story turns out too."
After a lot of begging, bribery and threats, Briar agreed to come over after dinner.
"Did you ever notice that your parents are never around when I’m here," Briar told David when Les had got up to get a glass of water.
"They take advantage of having someone here to take care of Les. They know I’m not so good at it," he added with a nervous laugh.
She read to the younger boy long into the night. Every time she stopped he’d pounce on her till she agreed to continue. Finally, he fell asleep with his head in her lap. Afraid to wake him up, Briar and David left him on the couch and went into the bedroom.
"It’s amazing how hyper he is then suddenly, he’s out like a light," said Briar sitting down on David’s bed.
"Tell me about it," he said.
"So, get in trouble with the Delancys again?" she asked.
"Not recently." He put his hand on hers but she drew it away and stood up.
"What about school, How’s that going?" She stood in front of the window.
"It’s... fine. Briar, is something wrong?"
"Why would think that?"
"You seem... almost afraid of me," he said carefully.
"Afraid of you, What’re you the boogie monster? No, I’m not afraid of you. Nothing’s wrong."
"Then why did you take off like that the other night?"
"I remembered I had something to take care of," she lied. "I didn’t want Lit’l Bit to be alone after what happened with Jack."
"You’re a pretty bad liar did you know that?" he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"I am not! I mean, I’m not lying!" snapped Briar.
"And you’re not afraid of me?"
She shook her head.
"Okay, then come and sit down here." He patted a spot on the bed next to him.
Briar reluctantly sat down. "Happy?"
"Not yet." He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. Briar tried to pull away but her body didn’t want to obey. She let him pull away slowly and look into her eyes.
"See? It’s not so bad," he whispered.
Briar pulled away and looked into his face. Something snapped inside of her as her mind reeled back. Blink had said the same thing to her.
"It’s like something out of a romance novel and I hate it!" yelled Briar pacing back and forth in the sickroom. She had run away from David again and told Lit’l Bit the whole story.
"Let me get this straight," said Lit’l Bit. "You like being with David but you don’t want to be with him?"
"Exactly!"
"But he’s not going to hurt you like Blink did. He’s a nice guy."
"Don’t let those angelic blue eyes fool you! Blink was a nice guy too and look what happened. No, I’ve had it with all this love shit. It’s too much of a pain."
"Tell me about it," said Lit’l Bit.
Briar’s expression softened. "How are you holding up?"
"Not so hot, But Race and Mush have really been there for me, just like you."
"I’m glad. Cause you really deserve a great guy."
"What about you?"
"Me, I don’t want a great guy, or any kind of guy for that matter. I’m locking up my heart and throwing away the key!" she laughed, half serious-half joking.
"And I happen to know someone with an extra key that just might unlock that heart of yours," Lit’l Bit grinned at her friend.
"Oh yeah? Who?"
"Let’s just say, he’s right under your nose," she shrugged mysteriously and left the sickroom.
Briar rolled her eyes. "I’m gonna spend the night here, okay?"
"Suit yourself. Good night."
"Good night."
"Hey Lit’l Bit?"
"Yeah?"
"If you ever see me falling for a guy, could you do me a favor and step on my foot really, really hard?"
Lit’l Bit laughed. "It’s the least I can do."
Lit’l Bit couldn’t sleep that night so she kicked off her covers and went downstairs to the lobby since it was raining and the roof was out of the question. She found Mush fast asleep on the couch and sat down next to him. He opened his eyes and smiled up at her sleepily.
"Sorry, " she whispered. "Did I wake you?"
"No, I wasn’t asleep. Just resting," he yawned and sat up. "Why aren’t you upstairs?"
"Couldn’t sleep," replied Lit’l Bit.
"Me neither," said Mush. "I could use the company if you want to stay."
"I’ll stay, but just for a little while."
He raised his arm so she could lean against him and they were quiet for a few minutes as the rain pattered on the roof and the windows.
"Whoever said rain is romantic was out of their mind," said Mush. "It’s damn annoying."
Lit’l Bit put a hand on his chest and sat up. "You’re kidding right?"
"No. Do you think it’s romantic?"
"Well, yeah. A lot of love scenes are set during a rainstorm. At least in books they are."
"What about in reality?"
She grinned softly. "I wouldn’t know."
"Oh? Well, let’s find out," he whispered bringing his lips to meet hers. Lit’l Bit couldn’t believe anybody could pull a move like that. Everything around her disappeared as Mush hugged her close to his warm body.
He moved his mouth down her neck, covering it with moist kisses. She closed her eyes as he settled on her shoulders, sending shivers up and down her spine. His right hand snaked up her thigh since she was only wearing a shirt while the other hand rubbed her back in soothing, circular motions.
Lit’l Bit entwined her tongue with his as they shared another searing kiss and she let him lay her down on the couch. He brought his hands up to unbutton her shirt and let it slide off her shoulders. Every move he made drove her crazy and her fingers fumbled to get his pants off. Once she got through those she parted her legs for him and he slid his huge cock into her, stopping for her comfort when he saw the look of pain that crossed her face.
"It’s okay," she whispered in his ear and he nodded, letting himself in her completely. His thrusts were long and deep, and the slow steady pace made the pleasure last longer. He pressed his mouth over hers and moved a little faster, both were starting to sweat as their bodies rocked together, careful not to make too much noise.
Mush arched his back and drove himself in and out of her; waves of pleasure making his desire uncontrollable. Lit’l Bit was panting hard and clinging to his back, keeping her lips locked with his as he thrust into her hard. He clenched his eyes shut and moved faster, harder till they both came. Mush stopped and tried to regulate his breathing, kissing Lit’l Bit softly on the cheek. He pulled out and lay down next to her, never mind that the couch was pretty narrow.