Taken By The Wind Ch. 02

Fortunately she was able to shut out thoughts of both Rob and Adam, losing herself instead in the sensations she fed her own body. Karen had always found self-pleasure sexy and an easy distraction from what surrounded her. She was in complete control; she could ride the edge of climax or push herself towards it without regard to anyone else. It also let her be selfish; the goal was to get her off and no one else. She circled her clit with two fingers, a soft moan escaping her as she toyed with the sensitive bud.

Karen angled the shower head and squeezed it between her thighs to free up her other hand. The spray still massaged her relentlessly as she brought her hand up to her left breast, squeezing the firm swell as she frantically rubbed at her clit. Moans left her freely, she didn't restrain them, nobody was near and it felt better to relinquish that control. She squeezed her nipple, rolling it between her fingers as she squirmed in the tub.

Her skin squeaked against the acrylic of the tub as she writhed pleasurably, her gasps echoing against the tile. She finally tensed, and cried out, her teeth gritting and her muscles growing tight as her climax washed over her. Her green eyes shut tight, her brow furrowing and a deep growl of satisfaction escaping from deep inside her chest. Karen's legs lost their hold of the showerhead, it clunked against the bottom of the tub as her limbs stretched out straight, her toes pressing against the far side of the tub.

The water from the shower head arched between her legs and came down on her stomach, growing cold as she shook and trembled. Her breath came shuddering from her, a long climax that left her panting in the tub. Suddenly a voice came from the other side of the shower curtain.

"Can I join you?" it said.

Karen screamed and scrambled back against the wall, her heart beating rapidly. Her eyes widened in terror, and she found herself looking for something to bludgeon her attacker with. The curtain was drawn back and Karen screamed again, covering her breasts with her arms though how that would help she didn't know. Fortunately she recognized the face of her visitor, and saw it light up as it began to laugh at her.

"You fucking bitch!" she shouted at Courtney, who laughed hysterically.

Karen grabbed the showerhead and sprayed Courtney with it. The brunette squealed, retreating to the far side of the room and grabbing a towel from the rack to use as a shield. Karen started to laugh as relief flooded through her, adrenalin still coursing through her veins, making her giddy. She managed to soak Courtney pretty well before she decided she'd gotten her revenge and turned off the water. She got out of the tub, soaking wet and completely naked.

"How the fuck did you get in?" Karen asked her still giggling friend.

"Spare key under the rock, dumb Dubs," Courtney replied. She knocked her fist on the top of her friend's head as if to check if it were hollow.

"You scared the shit out of me, I thought you..." she didn't finish. Her heart was still hammering.

Karen grabbed a towel from the cupboard near the sink and wrapped it around herself. Courtney's shirt was soaked, the white cotton growing semi-transparent, and her navy blue pants were dark where Karen had sprayed her.

"I knocked," she said, "but you weren't answering. I tried calling your phone but you ignored it, so I let myself in. I didn't think I'd catch you getting frisky in the shower."

Karen blushed. "I thought you were at work."

Courtney laughed humorously. "I quit."

"Really? I thought you loved working there," Karen said.

She shrugged. "Yeah, I did. But Ben's an ass, I can't work for him."

The two continued to talk as they mopped up the water from the floor. They went to Karen's room and got changed. Karen leant Courtney some of her clothes while hers were dried off and they talked steadily while Karen combed and dried her hair back in the bathroom. When she'd done that they returned to her bedroom and curled up on her bed, Courtney sitting across the width of the bed at the head, her feet hanging over the side while Karen lay back and rested her head on her friends thighs.

Music played over the speakers of Karen's laptop in the background as Courtney eked out more information from her. As she'd suspected earlier that morning there was more than what Karen was telling her, and rather than ask she let Karen slowly tell her more and more. Eventually she told Courtney just how far she'd gone the previous night, but not the name of the guy she'd been with. The name didn't really matter to Courtney. She was more concerned about her friend.

"Have you talked to Adam?" she asked.

Karen shook her head.

"Good," Courtney said. "First off, I don't think you did anything wrong. I mean, this guy, let's call him Joe Schmo, sounds like a pretty decent guy, and you know him right?"

Karen nodded.

"Then it's not like you just slept with some random guy off the street. I wouldn't worry about it. You said you were worried about hurting 'Joe', but I wouldn't. I mean, he'll have to just get over it. It's not like you promised him anything. I'd just write it off as something that happened, that maybe meant something but not enough to be getting upset over. If you both feel like it, you can explore whatever it is between you later, when you're ready," she continued.

"Yeah," Karen said, letting herself be soothed by Courtney's words.

"As for Adam, well you've told him you're broken up with him, and you haven't been with him for two weeks. Maybe it's a bit quick, but hooking up with another guy while you're single isn't anything to be ashamed of. It felt good for you, and I'm sure it felt good for him. You're friends with this guy I guess, even if I don't know 'Joe', so I really don't see the problem with having a bit of fun with him, so long as you're clear about where you stand, which you have been," she concluded.

Karen nodded. "I guess."

"You're just messed up right now because of what happened with Adam. You need some time to just be single, you know? I mean, I'm single and I'm happy. Get your head together, and when you're ready get a fresh start. You don't need a boyfriend if all he does is make you miserable," Courtney said.

"But Adam doesn't make me miserable," she said.

"I'm sorry Karen, but that boy's done nothing but hurt you for nearly two years. I get that you crazy about him, but Adam's a prick," Courtney said.

"You don't know him like I do," Karen said defensively.

Courtney ran her hand over Karen's forehead, brushing her bangs away from her face.

"Right, I know. Just telling you what I think," she said gently. "I worry about you, you know? I don't see you every day like I used to, and sometimes you just disappear for like a week without saying anything. We've gotta look out for each other, right?"

Karen nodded but remained quiet, her eyes looking away from Courtney's. Courtney had gotten out of a really bad relationship about three months earlier. The breakup had been brutal, and at one point Courtney had chased the guy off her property while wielding a golf club. Karen hated seeing Courtney like that. Others might find it cool or funny, but she knew how much it took out of her to play the tough girl.

Courtney had never had good luck with boys. She attracted them in droves, but always wound up with one that treated her terribly. The worst had been the first: Keith. Keith had been a senior when they were in their sophomore year. He'd been gorgeous: tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, and a chiseled physique. He'd even had a car, and not a cheap used one like most guys from their end of town drove, but a nice one that he and his mechanic father had fixed up.

Every girl adored him, including Courtney. He'd helped coach the school's girls' soccer team which Courtney had played for, which was how they'd met. Over the summer before their sophomore year began, he'd invited her to the school for some private 'coaching' sessions during the evenings. He'd known that Courtney had a massive crush on him from the start, and he'd also known how to manipulate her. Inexperienced and unwary Courtney had fallen into every trap he'd set for her.

She'd believed him when he'd told her he loved her. In her naivety she'd thought he'd cared about her, and she loved him back with all her heart. She'd given her virginity to him in the backseat of his car on one of those August evenings. He'd toyed with her after that, making her promise not to tell his girlfriend, promising that he'd be with her some day in the future.

Karen remembered Courtney coming to her house one evening during the spring break of that year. She'd been bruised, scratched, and filthy. The nice dress she'd been wearing stained and ripped. She'd been too ashamed to go home to her father so she'd taken the bus in her tattered state. Keith had invited her to a party, telling her to come alone. She had, and he'd been waiting for her, and so had his girlfriend along with a bunch of her friends. They'd taken turns beating her, spitting on her, calling her a slut, a whore, and every other vile thing they could think of while Keith laughed at her pleas for him to make them stop.

Courtney had cried when she'd come to Karen, but those weren't the first of her tears. Going back to school the Monday after the break she discovered that she'd been given a new label: slut. One boy, one mistake, and she'd been subjected to weeks of abuse. It'd toughened her up, forced her to fight back or forever be nothing more than what they called her.

She'd had a few loyal friends, Karen chief among them, and after what could only be called a campaign of cat-fights and verbal warfare, Courtney had re-climbed the social ladder and had attained status as Queen of the North Side clique by the time they'd entered eleventh grade. Lots of girls hated her, which was inevitable, but she'd surpassed the label of slut her predecessor had given her and was at least respected by their peers.

Right now the Queen was brushing her hand through Karen's midnight locks, and Karen nearly fell asleep from the pleasant sensation. She was brought back to wakefulness when Courtney spoke.

"Do you have anything to eat?" she asked. "It must be time for dinner."

"Uh, yeah," Karen replied. "Downstairs."

They went and scavenged something for dinner from the fridge. It was decided that Courtney was going to sleep over; they spent the rest of the evening watching movies and doing their nails. Kayla let Courtney practice some hairstyles on her. She was about to enter the program to become a hair stylist at the local college, and Karen trusted her so long as she had the same amount of hair as when the 'practice' started. After a few hours spent with Courtney, Karen began to feel much better. They went to bed early, and snuggled together under Karen's comforter, talking and giggling to each other for a few hours more.

They lay facing each other, Courtney's chest pressing into Karen's gently. Karen looked into her friends beautiful face as they talked, feeling safer with her than she did anyone else in the world. Courtney was always complimented on her body, but she was really very pretty too. Her almond shaped eyes a dark chocolate color, her lips pink and perpetually curled into a slight grin. She had a darker complexion than Karen, suiting her darker eyes. She took after her mother, a beautiful woman of mixed Italian and Spanish descent.

Courtney was taller than Karen, with a fuller figure that Karen envied at times. Courtney was the one who drew the eyes. She had a more extroverted personality and had incredible curves. She was Karen's taskmaster in the gym, and looked the part. Lean and toned all over, with a tight ass and heavy breasts that were firm and high on her chest Courtney was hot, and boys noticed. They liked Karen well enough, once they'd stopped staring at Courtney, some even more so, but she was quietly beautiful while Courtney declared it with every sensuous curve and swell of her body.

Nobody ever saw this quietly affectionate Courtney, the one who liked to toy with Karen's hair, the one that hugged the pain away and seemed to always know what to say or do to help her friend. They all thought she was this wild girl that couldn't watch her mouth, partied too hard, and generally didn't care about what people thought. Really, Courtney was very self-conscious, but she only showed her weaknesses to Karen, she'd never trusted anyone else with them. Everyone else she attacked head-on, her apparent confidence a bluff that was seldom called.

Courtney had just finished going through the story of what had led her to quit in full detail and had Karen laughing.

"I bet you nearly gave poor Al a heart attack," she said.

"I doubt it, I looked like a mess. I rushed out of the house and my hair was all frizzy and my makeup was fucked up," Courtney replied.

"I don't think he was looking at your hair or you're face," Karen said.

"I'd be looking at yours," Courtney said. "I'd kill to have hair like this," she said as she ran her fingers through the dark fibers of Karen's hair.

Karen sighed, "I'd kill for your body."

"Oh shut up, you're sexier than I am," Courtney said.

Courtney was always sure to be highly complimentary of Karen's body; she'd had body image issues in high school that had turned into an eating disorder. It'd gotten bad, but she was good now, healthy thanks to her mother's careful observation of what she ate and Courtney's carefully placed praising of her body. It wasn't difficult, Karen was exceptionally beautiful. It just didn't seem that way to her at times.

Karen laughed, not believing Courtney. "Let's see: bigger boobs, longer legs, a trimmer stomach," she listed. "Oh, and a nice tight bum," she said, reaching around to give it a pinch.

Courtney jumped slightly from the act, and pushed her hips forward. They looked at each other for a moment, usually it took a few drinks for them to get playful like this, but tonight they were feeling extra affectionate. Courtney brought her face forward and her lips connected with Karen's. She held the back of Karen's head, drawing her mouth to hers. The kiss was gentle and tender, their lips meeting in mutual affection and love for the other. It ended and they pressed their foreheads together.

"I could..." Courtney offered, looking downward.

Karen grinned but shook her head. "No thanks, Joe Schmo and my shower earlier took care of that."

"Okay," Courtney replied, seeming a little disappointed.

"I could do you..." Karen suggested.

Courtney smiled. "Nah, I'll just find a Joe Schmo of my own somewhere."

She snuggled up against Karen, her forehead pressing against her collar bone. Karen kissed the top of Courtney's head, and the brunette fell asleep with her lips in their perpetual grin. Her words had given Karen an idea, a way to make amends with Rob while possibly making her friend very happy. Why did Courtney have to find a Joe Schmo of her own? Why not hers? Why not Rob? He was good looking, nice, and very good in bed as Karen could attest to.

Plus they liked each other. Karen had observed their interactions when they'd run into him at the gym. He'd always been friendly towards her and Courtney couldn't help but flirt with him. Karen hadn't missed her friend's eyes looking Rob over, and was pretty sure she'd spotted Rob glancing on occasion. There was interest at least, and a pleasant acquaintance. Enough for Karen to work with certainly.

The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. They'd even look good together, and their personalities would balance each other perfectly. At the very least they'd be a match physically. Courtney needed a guy with stamina, something which Rob had in spades. Karen felt herself drifting off, happily scheming, the idea of playing matchmaker for Courtney and Rob bringing a smile to her face. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her breathing deepened, matching Courtney's as she fell asleep.

***

Courtney left the following morning, leaving Karen feeling much better, and even excited. She showered and dried her hair, talking to her mother on the phone briefly when she called to let her know that she, her father, and her brother would be home by dinner time. Apparently one of the Canadian teams had beaten her brother's team in the final, but the tournament had been good overall. That little bit of good news lifted Karen's spirits even higher, and she was beginning to feel more like her usual self.

Then the knock came.

Karen told herself not to answer the door, but the knock came again. Three raps: one, a pause, and then two more in quick succession. It was Adam's knock, the one she'd been hearing since that night two years earlier when he came to pick her up for their first date. It came again, louder, growing irritable at being ignored. Knock, knock-knock, Knock, knock-knock. Karen turned the music she had playing on her laptop off and left her room.

The knocking grew louder as she padded down the stairs, her heart beating hard in her chest. She reached the bottom of the stairway and went to the door. Karen pressed her hand against the door knob and twisted. She pulled the door back, the chain stopping it from being opened more than a few inches, letting her see Adam's face. He had dark hair, cut short and a light dusting of facial hair on his cheeks that he always left to make himself look older.

His frustrated look disappeared when he saw her. "Karen," he said softly.

"What do you want?" she asked harshly.

"I want to talk," Adam said.

Karen glared at him through the space in the door. "So talk."

"Can I come in?" he asked.

His tone was soft, his eyes gentle, his hands clasped in front of him repentantly. Karen stared at him for a moment, and then shut the door. Adam was about to plead with her to hear him out when he heard the chain being pulled from its slot. The door reopened and widened, Adam stepped forward and through the threshold. Karen turned her back to him coolly and walked into the kitchen. He removed his coat and boots before following her.

"Can we sit?" he asked, gesturing to the kitchen table.

Karen didn't say anything but she sat down and Adam took the chair across from her. He was quiet for a moment, watching Karen trying to ignore his presence. She was wearing a pink t-shirt and a pair of jeans, her long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. Karen picked at her nails nervously, holding her hands in her lap and staring down at them while the silence dragged on. Adam drummed his fingers on the tabletop, using the same pattern he knocked with.

The sound stopped and silence filled the kitchen, broken only when Adam spoke at last.

"I didn't cheat on you," he said.

Karen turned her eyes upward and glared at him. "Get out."

"Karen, I need you to listen to me, please," he entreated.

"Then don't fucking lie to me!" she snapped.

"I'm not lying, Karen," Adam said evenly.

He said it with enough conviction that Karen felt herself believing him.

"Brianna Cohen saw you," she said.

"Then she either needs to see an optometrist or a psychologist, because I did not cheat on you," he insisted.

"She saw you making out with that girl you work with, Rachel, out back by the dumpsters," she said.

"Karen, it wasn't me. Rachel has a boyfriend, and I have a girlfriend. I just got that new job at Fletcher's. We don't even work together any more. I love you Karen. Why would I throw what we have away? Why would I throw you away for her? For a girl I don't even know?" he asked, becoming choked up as the words came out.

Karen felt her heart softening, she wanted to believe him but Brianna saw him with her.

"Then how do you explain what Brianna saw?" she asked.

Adam sighed. "You remember this July? When we were fighting?" he asked.