Taken By The Wind Ch. 13

Brianna arched an eyebrow at her.

"I was happy to do it," Jane hurriedly added. "I didn't even think about it," she said. "I didn't want anyone else. But you get what I mean, right? People make big changes, and develop weird arrangements because of love. I've seen all kinds: swingers, trios, polyamorus, friends with benefits, whatever you can think of. Some arrangements are more stable than others, admittedly, but that does not make them any less valid."

Brianna nodded, and Jane squeezed her arm around her.

"You know..." she said in a playful tone, "between the two of us we could probably pull Karen into bed," she told her. "I think I could live with a three way, but just once though. I don't like to share."

Brianna looked at her horrified and Jane laughed. The blonde realized that the other girl had been joking, and joined her in her laughter.

"You need to stop worrying yourself about them," Jane advised her after their laughter had died down. "They'll figure out whatever it is that's going on between them. My advice is to not pick sides if there are fights, but always be there if they need you. You can't be telling other people how to manage their relationships."

Brianna nodded. "Okay," she said.

She felt a bit better now, though she still wanted to save Courtney, Karen, and Rob from what they were doing to themselves. Though, as Jane said it was not her place to dictate how they conducted their relationship. Still, the impulse was very much there. She realized, however, that if she attempted to do anything she would likely just be met with hostility and defensiveness.

"Should we go shopping now?" Brianna asked her. She wanted to distract herself from what had been worrying her since Halloween.

"Alright," Jane said. She was reluctant to go, but they had been putting it off since Rob had invited them to the party he and Courtney were hosting. It was not that she was not looking forward to the party, it was that she was embarrassed. She waitressed in New York and took whatever acting jobs came her way. These included commercials and plays, and paid reasonably well. However she had had to use a lot more money than she told Rob. She hated being dependent on her brother, it just confirmed a big part of her father's criticism of her career path.

Going shopping, which she had once enjoyed, would force her to spend money that was not hers, and despite her brother's genuine generosity and lack of judgement she still felt she as accepting charity which wounded her pride. As Brianna got out of bed, and Jane watched her search for an outfit, she realized how naïve she had been. For all of her life money had never been a concern. It was just something she asked for, and, as long as her spending habits were not too egregious, received.

Jane had always thought she was better than that. She had believed that she was aware of the difficulties others had. She had had herself convinced that she understood the feelings of someone who had to make genuine sacrifices. But she had been wrong. It had all been things she had read in books, seen acted out, and created with her imagination. True empathy only really worked if you had something comparable to inform it. Context, Jane had discovered, was key.

"Are you taking a nap, or are we getting ready?" Brianna asked.

Jane blinked, and her head cleared. "Sorry," she said. "Daydreaming."

Brianna smirked. "We'll have time later," she assured her.

Jane smiled as though Brianna had read her mind. "Sorry," she said. "It's just... I look at you and think 'How did I get so lucky?'"

Brianna smiled blushingly and left the room to go brush her teeth. Jane laid back in bed and sighed. She rested her hands over her eyes. When you open your eyes again, you will be happy, cheerful, and fun, she told herself. Jane pulled her hands away and her eyes open. She forced a smile on her lips and got ready. As they shopped, and she spent with time with Brianna it became easier to be fun. When Brianna told her she looked beautiful when she tried on a deep purple dress she was cheerful. And when she kissed her when they decided to goof around in the photo booth she was no longer just pretending to be happy.

***

Rachel was reclined back, and her eyes were shut as cool water passed through her hair. Courtney carefully combed her fingers through the swiftly soaked tresses to ensure that she washed away all of the excess hair dye. After she had finished she shampooed the reclaimed redhead's hair to wash away the remaining particles, and then rinsed again thoroughly. With that done she wrung out the excess water out of Rachel's long hair, and then had her sit back up.

"How does it look?" the young woman asked nervously.

"Good," Courtney replied reassuringly. "Let's get you back in the chair so I can give it some shape."

Rachel nodded, and after Courtney had wrapped a towel around her head followed her back to her chair. Karen had asked Courtney to help her new friend by providing her with a free makeover, which she had readily provided. To save face for Rachel they had told her that Courtney needed a subject to try a new hair dye on. Whether Rachel believed that story or not remained to be seen, either way she seemed to be having a lot more fun today than she had for a long time.

Rachel had never been in a proper hair salon before. Her grandmother had always cut her hair for her. It was after hours, so she was not getting the full experience of their being people in the salon, which in a way was good. Like Karen, Rachel did better when there were fewer people around. As she sat down in the chair and got her first good look at herself with her new hair color she was shocked. It was the same deep shade of red that she had been born with. Exactly.

"Wow," Rachel said with surprise. "That's a perfect match to my actual color."

Courtney grinned. "Well," she said. "This is my profession."

Rachel blushed. "Right," she said. She felt silly, and she was still in awe of the other girl. In high school Rachel had been on the bottom of the popularity totem pole, and Courtney had been on the top. Old high school habits die hard.

Courtney realized that she had embarrassed her. It was not intentional, she had been joking around with her like she would have Karen or another friend, but they did not really know each other yet. The awkwardness of former high school status had yet to pass. For Courtney it was easy to accept Rachel as a friend. For one, Karen liked her and Courtney trusted her judgement. And secondly, Rachel was very sweet. A lot like Amy, but more shy and awkward.

Courtney trimmed Rachel's hair, primarily ridding it of split ends and shaping it to a fairly standard style for long hair. She left her bangs long, and simply did some shaping around the face. As she dried and combed Rachel's hair she teased it into its naturally wavy state, and encouraged its inclination to curl at the ends. She trimmed and made a few final snips as she went. When she had finished Rachel seemed to be disbelieving of what she saw in the mirror.

"Well," Courtney said. "I gotta say, I think you look gorgeous."

Rachel's hand went to her mouth, and Courtney saw tears shimmering in her turquoise eyes. She had always considered herself to be ugly, but as she saw in the mirror that simply was not the case. The nose, which she had always thought large, was balanced by the size and circular shape of her eyes as well as the new healthy roundness of her face. This gave her a somewhat melancholy look, but was mitigated by the way her hair now framed her face properly. What drove it home, however, was Courtney's validation.

The unique coloring of Rachel's eyes was emphasized by the rich shade of her red hair, which drew out both the blue and the green from the striking, shimmering orbs. Courtney smiled at her over her shoulder.

"Now I'm going to teach you how to do your makeup," she said.

Rachel sniffled, but stopped herself from crying. "Thank you," she said. "You didn't have to do all this."

Courtney patted her on the shoulder supportively. "You're Karen's friend," she replied. "That makes you mine as well. Trust me, I'm happy to do it."

The smile that lit up the redhead's face was stunning. "Thank you," Rachel said again. Courtney would likely never understand what it meant to someone like her to have friends. But this simple gesture of kindness, this offer of friendship, was something Rachel would forever treasure and remember until the day she died.

***

Karen observed her appearance in the mirror as Courtney stylized her hair for her. It was sort of a fanned out look, probably inspired by the seventies but staying modern. Courtney finished and Karen looked at her reflection critically. It was startling how the evidence of what she had gone through was entirely gone. She looked exactly like herself, better even with the carefully applied makeup and expertly stylized hair.

Karen had good days and bad days. So far today had fallen into the former category, which was typically the case when she was with Courtney. Bad days came when she was alone and had too much time to think. However, they could come when she had too much attention applied to her too. Christmas had been torturous. Thanksgiving had been uncomfortable for her, but Christmas was the big family event for the Dubicki family and she had seen a lot of her relatives.

They tried to be nice, but it was never clearer to Karen that she was somehow 'different' now than when she was near people who knew a lot more than they should, but a lot less than they needed to for their well-intentioned words of kindness and concern to not only serve as unintended reminders of what had happened to her.

To people who did not know what had happened she was just another girl in her late teens. To people who did know she was the girl who had been raped, the girl who was damaged. It made it impossible for them to talk to her like she was something else. Those who were a part of her recovery knew how to do so, and fortunately it was going to mostly be those people at the party. Including Rachel who had surprised Karen by accepting her invitation last minute. Her makeover a few days earlier had done much to boost her confidence, as did her budding friendship with Courtney.

"What do you think?" Courtney asked her.

Karen assessed her appearance. "I like it," she said. "You've really got a knack for this stuff."

Courtney grinned. "Well," she said. "I know what I like on you."

Karen laughed. "Then why am I wearing clothes at all?"

Courtney kissed her cheek. "Good point," she said. "Strip down."

"I don't think we have time for that," Karen told her.

Courtney sighed theatrically. "Then why would you put the image of a naked you in my head at all."

Karen rolled her eyes and slid her chair back. She got up and went to the bed where her outfit for the night was laid out. It was a simple black dress. Nothing elaborate, nothing flashy, but subtly sexy in a way Courtney knew would suit Karen perfectly. Karen pulled her t-shirt and jeans off and slipped into the dress. Courtney zipped the zipper on the back up for her, and Karen took off her socks. She drew up a pair of sheer black tinted pantyhose.

"Good?" Karen asked.

Courtney looked at her silently for a moment.

"What?" she asked self-consciously.

Courtney blinked and looked up at her. "Sorry. Yeah, you look great."

"What's wrong?" Karen asked worriedly.

"Nothing," Courtney said and she drew close. "I just thought about how sexy you look and how you're going to drive all the guys wild."

Karen smiled sheepishly. "I won't be doing much with any of them," she replied.

She was still uncomfortable around a lot of men. While she was aware that it was an irrational fear, and she was usually able to fight it, they made her uneasy. It was worse when they touched her when she was not ready for it. She had actually screamed once in a grocery store when a middle-aged man had accidently bumped into her and then tried to grab her arm to save her from falling over. It had been embarrassing and terrifying. Fortunately she had been with her mother and she had swiftly calmed her down.

Courtney put a supportive hand on Karen's shoulder. "You don't have too," she assured her. "But that doesn't mean you can't have fun. Brianna, Amy, Rachel, Lindsey and Carrie are all going to be there too."

Karen nodded. She was looking forward to seeing all of them. The two girls continued to get ready. Courtney straightened her hair and more or less let it fall straight down her back with minimal interference. She wore a dark green cocktail dress with beading sequins that formed the straps along the shoulders and the cut out webbing that made up the back. She had made it herself, and left much of her back exposed. Karen liked the way the chiffon material sat along Courtney's body. It had a built in bra, so all Courtney wore beneath it were a frankly scandalous pair of purple panties.

"Good?" Courtney asked after she had finished putting in the earrings Rob had given her earlier that month.

"You look gorgeous," Karen confirmed.

Courtney smiled. "Good," she said. "I'm going to make sure Rob isn't dressing like a slob."

Her feet clunked on the floor in her heels as she left her workroom. Karen left the room as well and stood in the main living space. The kitchen table had refreshments and food laid out on it. Jane had gone with Rob to get the alcohol for the evening. The stereo system was primed to play music, and the furniture had been arranged to make space for dancing. The TV was on, but muted, the same talking heads from last year and the year before that filled time until the ball dropped in New York were present.

Winston came bursting out from beneath the coffee table and ran in circles around her ankles. Karen sat on the couch and he jumped up beside her. She listened to Rob and Courtney talking together in their bedroom. It had been a year exactly. The two of them considered February the fourteenth as the date of their anniversary, but to Karen that day was New Year's Eve. The pace of their relationship had been fast, but the way they felt for each other was intense and they seemed very strong together.

Karen stroked Winston's head as she reflected on the events of the past year. It had not been a kind one to her, and she hoped that the next would be, if not good, at least quiet. Winston curled up against her leg, and pushed himself back against it endearingly and opened himself up in invitation for her to rub his belly. Karen smiled down at the little dog and granted his wish.

"You know," she said. "You're two now," she told him.

Winston licked her hand and snuffled his happiness at the attention she was giving him. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Courtney had stormed her mother's apartment and claimed the dog for herself. Marley had been passed out drunk at the time, and had not noticed the dog missing when she had woken up. It had taken three days for her to start looking for him, and by then he had been happily resettled with Courtney.

The doorbell rang and Winston bolted for the door. Karen followed and let Jane and Brianna in.

"Karen!" Brianna exclaimed. "You look gorgeous," she said.

The blonde looked radiant. It was not the outfit she wore, though it was very nice, it was how happy she was. Jane was similarly beautiful, though she was slightly concerned about the dog jumping up her leg. Karen grabbed him and held him in her arms, not caring that his white fur was clinging to the black material of her dress. The three girls talked until Courtney and Rob joined them. The rest of the guests slowly trickled in and the party began.

Since it was their party Rob and Courtney were moving from attendee to attendee to make sure they were enjoying themselves. Rob made a good host, Karen soon saw, he had Carrie and Lindsey laughing quickly at some remark and got them headed off towards Kevin and Mitch who were standing together in a corner of the room looking uncomfortable. Karen smirked to herself as she watched the brunette Carrie go straight for Mitch; his combination of tall and skinny was exactly what she went for.

Kevin, Karen noticed, seemed unsure of Lindsey. She had a rather blunt manner of speech and crass sense of humor that did not suit his sensibilities well. Karen watched him with interest. She had learned more of his story from Rob since Halloween, and had begun to understand just what his upbringing had been like as a member of London's upper class in Kensington. His slightly pompous air and his affinity for suits now made a great deal of sense.

Karen stood smirking as she watched Rob's posh friend attempt to engage in polite conversation to a through and through North Sider like Lindsey. Her people-watching was interrupted, however, by the arrival of Rachel. The young woman seemed nervous as Courtney opened the door, and Karen watched as Rob gently introduced himself to her. She saw that he made her smile, probably by complimenting her on her choice in dress as Courtney had coached him to do.

Rachel spotted Karen and she could see physically that the redhead relaxed at the sight of her by the way her posture became normal. She walked towards her, and Karen got a closer look at the outfit that Courtney had recommended to her. It was a white, embroidered dress that went to her knees. She wore simple nude stockings, and a pair of grey shoes that added a few inches to her already impressive height. She was nearly as tall as Brianna, Karen realized, and had a similar figure.

The ivory color of the dress emphasized the redness of Rachel's hair, and the fit of the dress itself accentuated her shapely curves.

"You look amazing!" Karen told her as she approached.

Rachel's eyes cast downward embarrassedly, and ran her hand through her hair nervously.

"You too," she replied.

Karen smiled at the uncertain tone in Rachel's voice. "Where'd you get the dress?" Karen asked.

"The thrift store downtown," Rachel told her honestly but embarrassedly.

"Lucky," Karen replied. "Such a steal. It's gorgeous."

That seemed to comfort the other girl somewhat. "Yeah, I liked the look of it too."

The two girls talked, discussing fashion which neither knew much about but afforded Karen the opportunity to compliment Rachel's dress repeatedly. It helped when Jane, who was simply incapable of not being glamorous, fawned over Rachel's dress at length. It was Karen's first real exposure to Rob's sister since the Fourth of July, and though at first she was a touch uncertain about her after the way she had been with Brianna she was so pleasant that she quickly had her won over once again.

Rachel and Karen were left alone after Brianna and Jane had made their introductions, and were replaced by Wayne and Amy. Rachel seemed slightly intimidated by Wayne, either because he was dashingly handsome, or because he was a bit over the top in his friendliness. However, she took to Amy almost immediately. It was difficult not to, Amy acquired friends faster than anyone Karen had ever encountered. It was essentially impossible not to like her, and she seemed to have an endless capacity for kindness.

After a while, however, Amy and Wayne left them as well to talk to other guests at the party. Rachel seemed to be growing more comfortable as each interaction went well. Karen could tell, however, that it would be a while before she was fully at ease. The remainder of the party guests introduced themselves to Rachel, with Kevin being the last. He waited until the other guests had walked away before approaching the two girls.

Kevin was a young man who knew how to dress himself. He wore a grey suit, some designer brand Karen was sure, of a rough texture and relaxed tailoring. He went without a tie, which Karen believed to be unusual for him and recognized it as his attempt to not overdress too much. He wore black shoes, shined to wonderful blackness and somehow not scuffed or marked by the slush outside.