otherways

[bloodyrockgod]

The hammock is still swaying back and forth, and Charlie clings to Gretchen, gasping for breath.

His patience has been rewarded. Give him a few mintues for his brain to start working again.

Comments

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

"You want to use condoms rather than other things? I'm going to ask Bethany to take me in for a check-up. I need one anyway, and they'll tell me what my best options are."

She sips her tea too.

"Also, have you been tested, and how many partners have you had?"

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie nearly chokes on his tea.

"Um . . . do you really want to know how many?"

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

"Um, yeah, I really do. It's kinda important to my safety."

[bloodyrockgod]

He sighs. "Okay. But--" he holds up a finger, "I want to make it perfectly clear that I have always used a condom if there was, like, contact. Okay?"

He clears his throat. "Twenty-eight."

His ears are scarlet.

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She chokes in her tea and it goes everywhere.

[bloodyrockgod]

He hits her back until he's sure she's breathing. "It was the band," he says unhappily. "Different girl every night. Sometimes more than one.

"'s why I left. I told you when we first met. Too many temptations."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She nods and grabs several napkins and cleans up.

"...I think I understand now. Wow."

She gets her breath back.

"Have you been tested? Stuff can happen, even with condoms."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Yeah." He scratches his head. "Once. Couple months ago. Girl I'd been with said she'd gotten something and was letting people know, but I was fine."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She nods.

"Okay, that's cool. I'll get tested too, if you want, but I'm a virgin."

She stands to wipe off her clothes.

"He didn't manage to take that."

[bloodyrockgod]

He looks at her seriously. "Who?"

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She blushes and looks away.

"My stupid stepdad."

She grabs her cup and goes back to the kitchen for more tea.

[bloodyrockgod]

"What?!" He gets up and follows her into the kitchen. "Shalom--talk to me."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She puts her cup on the counter and crosses her arms over her chest.

"My stepdad. He had these emotional issues. And he was kinda handsy."

She looks embarrassed and nauseated.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie closes his eyes a moment, and then steps to her and holds her. "I'm sorry." He kisses her forehead. "I'm sorry."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She presses close and hides her face in his chest.

"But he didn't take that."

[bloodyrockgod]

He kisses the top of her head. "I don't know what to say," he says quietly. "I love you."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

"Love you too. Not much to say about it. He's a jerk."

She sighs and rests against him.

"But I'll get tested if you want anyway."

[bloodyrockgod]

"I--" He grimaces. "Only if you think it's necessary. I trust you. I'm the one who's been around the block a few times."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. I'll ask the doctor when I get to the clinic. Might be part of the check-up anyway."

She tip-toes up to kiss him.

[bloodyrockgod]

He nods and kisses her back--more gently than he had been earlier, it's true.

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She gets her tea and tugs him back to the booth.

"....so. How 'bout that soccer team?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Football," he says. "It's called football. And they've been losing a lot."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

"Sorry, when I think 'football' I think big dumb guys in helmets and shoulder pads."

She grins.

"Sorry that they've been losing."

[bloodyrockgod]

"'all right. Teams have ups and downs all the time. Manchester United is the name, by the way. I'll bring you a shirt." He looks mischevious again. "And we play it properly--no helmets and shoulder pads. Just knee pads and cups."

[youreweird.livejournal.com]

She grins about the shirt but then looks confused.

"What're the cups for?"