It wasn’t until they were in the other room that Bree became aware of Nick’s problem. He got in bed first, and as she started to climb over to her spot she saw the obvious outline of what his thin pajama bottoms were unable to hide. She froze on the side of the bed. It actually took her a good full minute to focus her attention up to his face. Absolutely crimson she stuttered, “Oh, um, gee, I, uh, I’m REALLY sorry. I didn’t think about…” It’s not that she wasn’t aware of that in the other bed, just at the time she wasn’t really thinking about it specifically.

He started laughing and sat up to face her. “Bree, I said don’t worry about it. I’ll live, okay.”

“But doesn’t it…” She was too embarrassed to finish her question.

Nick knew what she was going to ask, but pretended he didn’t. “Doesn’t it what?” Her actions and embarrassment tonight had answered the question he had from the other night.

“Well, I’ve heard that, doesn’t that. Never mind. It’s nothing.” She just wanted to lie down and so climbed around him to her designated side of the bed.

“No, I want to know what your question was? What is IT and what doesn’t it do?” The humor of the situation was actually helping his body start to relax.

Bree was so embarrassed she couldn’t even speak in a normal voice. Instead she looked down, then realizing where she looked shifted to look over Nick’s head while she squeaked, “Doesn’t it, that, does it hurt?”

Nick flopped on his back in a fit of laughter. Brianna huffed and turned over on her stomach facing away from him. “See, I knew you’d laugh at me.”

Trying to stifle his laughter he rolled over to rub her back. “Bree, sweetie, it’s not really the question that’s so funny. It’s just, well, it’s just you.”

“Oh, so I’m funny now. Good to know that I’m able to amuse you.” She wasn’t mad at him, she just felt completely stupid. After all John would try and make her feel guilty by telling her that, so she assumed it was true, at least with him if not with all guys.

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry for laughing. Yes, sometimes it does. I don’t know, I guess it depends on the situation and stuff. I can’t believe I’m talking about this.”

“Really?” She turned her head to look at him surprised he had answered. “Like what type of situation?”

“Don’t give me that wide-eyed look. I don’t know.” Now he was nervously playing with the back of her hair. “It just does sometimes and doesn’t sometimes. Look, I’m fine, don’t worry about it, I’m not. Okay?”

“Oh. Umm, well okay.”

Nick could tell she was still obviously thinking about something. She was still lying on her stomach but was looking at him and he could tell she had some sort of question which she couldn’t seem to get out. “What’cha thinkin’ about?” He asked after waiting patiently for a few minutes.

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t lie to me. You know you’re bad at that. Of course you’re thinking about something. What ever it is, I won’t laugh this time.” He just hoped he really wouldn’t. Sometimes there was no telling what was gonna come out of her mouth. And this happened to be another one of those times.

“Are you always like that?”

Not sure where this was going he asked, “Like what?”

“With other girls.”

“Like what with other girls?” He really wasn’t sure he wanted to know what her question was.

“Like, just, just, just like, well like.”

“Bree, spit it out already.”

“Just, you know, when you kiss me. It’s just different. No, no, I mean yeah I guess everyone is different. But do you always kiss everyone like that? Is it supposed to feel like that?”

“Um, Bree, I never really thought about it. And I don’t know what you mean ‘by is it supposed to feel like that?’ How am I supposed to know what it feels like to who ever I kiss?” He was shaking his head at just how completely strange the entire night had been.

“No, it’s just, well I, what does it feel like to you? Does it always feel the same?”

Trying not to laugh, “No Bree. Sheeze, I guess it depends on the girl and again the situation. What’s up?”

“It’s just that, I’ve never, I mean, ya know, well its, you’re sort of, well really you’re a lot, I don’t know, it just felt, well I don’t know the right word, maybe it was just you’re like intense or passionate or something like that, ya know. I mean are you ALWAYS like that? I mean, ya know, well, no one’s ever really been like that, well, with me, towards me, something, I don’t know. Do you know what I mean? God, this is so, so, I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you. I must be way too tired.” By this time the bed was shaking from Nick’s laughter. He had placed his head in his pillow about half way through Bree’s rambling trying to get control. After all he had said he wouldn’t laugh. But now, now he had just given up. “Oh, stop it already! It’s not that funny. Oh, let me guess it’s not the question this time either, it’s me. Some friend you are.”

Just as she started to turn over again he reached out and grabbed her pulling her to him and into another very deep kiss. Then breaking away he asked, “You mean, am I usually like that?” He wasn’t laughing now. Instead he was looking her very seriously in the eyes.

Softly she answered, “Yeah.”

This time he kissed her more softly before answering her question. “Only with you.”

<~ Chapter 36 or Chapter 38 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003