When your family and boyfriend don't love you (4)

“Ya.” He answered

“Well, I haven’t heard from you since the party on Saturday.”

“Ya.” He said again, sounding pre-occupied.

“Loren, are you ok?” She asked him

“Ya.” He said for the third time

“Would ya quit answering with “ya”?”

‘”Sure.” He said and Beera let out a long sigh

“Look, this just isn’t working out.” He said

“What do you mean? What did I do?”
“Let’s talk tomorrow, ok?”
“Fine. Love ya.”

“Bye.” He said and Beera hung up a bit saddened. What did I do?

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The next two days of school flew by. Josh was starting to get suspicious of why they didn’t talk to them anymore, and on Thursday afternoon finally asked beera.

“Bea,” He started “Can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah sure.” She said. She rested her head on his thighs as he sat upright on her bed.

“Why are Austin, T.J. and the rest so quiet these days?”

“Josh,” She said “I never got a chance to tell you. Austin and his—“ She stared crying, sitting up, she fell into Joshuas arms. He held her there not knowing what to do.

“What’d they do?” He asked protectively

“Well,” She started, trying to talk in between sobs “Well as soon as you (pause) you got off, they started taunting me and saying that we were going out, and (pause) and that we were gonna go hump each other and stuff.” Joshua’s expression turned from sympathetic to annoyed. “Then he got (pause) on me, and started kissing me…not like your peck on the cheek…(pause)…he was making out with me…and I couldn’t do anything, because T.J. was sitting on my feet, and Evan had a hold of my hands, then he touched me, everywhere,” Joshua’s expression was now angry “and he pulled my shirt off.” She finished. Joshua looked horrified but not only that, furious. He didn’t speak for a long time; he just stroked her hair holding her tightly to him. When his brain and both finally started working together, all he could say was,

“I’ll KILL HIM. HIM AND HIS MOM AND ANYONE IN HIS FAMILY. FU--” He was cut off by Beera

“No, no, it’s ok Josh, I just thought I’d tell you.”

“No. Bea, it’s NOT ok. Your two years younger than them, a year younger than I am. I took it into my responsibility to protect you Bea. And, I’ve failed you. I’ve let you get beleaguered, sexually harassed. I can’t believe—how the—Fu—Bea, I’m sorry.” He said. She looked up at him and saw a single tear roll down his cheek “I’m so, so, sorry.” With that, his lips affectionately collided with hers. His because he was apologetic, hers because she was longing. He held her close to him, then he noticed who it was he was kissing.

“Bea, I’m so, sorry.” He said and got up.

“Joshy,” she said looking up at him. his cheeks turned bright red and he looked down at the bed skirt “Joshua, it’s ok. That’s all I needed. A kiss. Josh, thanks.” She said “Thanks for being there for me. Thanks for being the best best friend in the world. Thanks for caring and loving me Josh. Thank you.” She got up, kissed him quickly and hugged him. She hugged him for a long time, letting her tears flow onto his shirt. He hesitated before putting his hands on her back, rubbing her gently. I can’t believe this, that mother f— his thought was interrupted by Beera, who’d half fallen asleep in his arms. He lifted a flaccid Beera up placing her in her bed. He kissed her on the forehead and walked out of the room. Closing the door he met Maggie.
“Why are you so red?” She asked

“I’m tired.” He replied

“Where’s Bea?”

“In bed.”

“WERE YOU IN BED WITH HER?!” She asked protective of the only family member she could count on.
“No!” He said “We weren’t in bed together.”
“WHAT IF SHE GETS PREGNANT!?”

“She won’t get pregnant. We weren’t in bed together.”

“Oh.” She said. She walked over to him and hugged him tightly. Two sisters in one day. He thought he rubbed her back and picked her up taking her to her bed. He lay down next to her and she rested her head on his chest. She fell asleep quickly, and he found himself falling asleep too. Before he did tough, he remembered when he and Beera had just met when he was eight, and the kiss he’d given her that afternoon Friendship. Nothing more. He though, falling into a sleep that could easily be woken by the wind.