AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you everyone for your patience and feedback! Things have been pretty busy for me, which is why it's taking a while for me to keep updating the story. I'm working on it as fast as I can, I promise. Anyway, if you haven't read the other chapters, it's best you do so before starting this one. Thanks again!
-NATALIE-
A couple hours after I had fun with Jessica's dildo, Jessica and I went out for dinner. We went to a really nice Italian restaurant out in Old Town Pasadena. We split a plate of ravioli and filled up on bread, as we usually did. During dinner, I decided to finally talk about Andy.
"So, I got a text from Andy this afternoon," I said. Jessica stopped eating and looked in my eyes.
"What did he say?" Jessica finally said.
"It just said 'I'm sorry.'"
"That's it?"
I nodded.
"Well, at least it's something."
"It's bullshit," I said, perhaps a bit too loud. Some older couples were looking over at us. I lowered my voice. "Five days after he rips my heart out, he just sends some shitty afterthought text? He can't call? He can't visit?"
Jessica rested her hand on mine, and I tried hard not to cry.
"Natalie, I'm proud of you. You've made a lot of progress so far. It's still going to hurt when you think about him and it's going to take time, but you'll get over him," Jessica said.
All I could do was nod and give her a weak smile. I didn't want to cry and make a scene. Jessica squeezed my hand.
After dinner, we decided to go see a movie. The theater was in the same little area and was very upscale. There were about fifty leather recliners in each theater and free popcorn was handed out to everyone. This place pampered you like nowhere else.
Jessica and I settled into our seats, getting ready to see some movie that everyone was raving about. The lights came down and the previews started.
I immediately recognized the first preview. It was for Andy's new movie. My heart fluttered and my face became warm. From my peripherals, I could see Jessica looking at me. She grabbed my hand and, with her other hand, stroked my arm.
"It's okay, it's okay," she whispered. It was no use, as I was tearing up and my breathing became rapid. It got worse with every frame that Andy was in. The two and a half minute preview was lasting a lifetime.
"Excuse me," I breathed at Jessica, as I got up and rushed to the bathroom.
There was only one stall available and I dashed inside of it, slamming the door shut. I sat down on the toilet and started shaking, trying not to cry and draw too much attention. Memories of being with Andy involuntarily came back to me.
I thought of that first time he rescued me when I was a little girl, nights he would hold me as I fell asleep, movies we would watch together, all the times he would make me laugh, and finally, the night he took my virginity and made sweet love to me.
The tears started flowing now and I held myself tight, trying to keep my sobbing and shaking to a minimum. It was all over. My best friend abandoned me and he wasn't coming back. Jessica was the only person I had left and she had her own life (which I couldn't keep her from).
There was a soft tapping on my door and I heard Jessica's voice, gently calling to me.
"Natalie? Are you okay?"
I stood up on quivering legs and opened the door for her. Jessica came in, shut the door behind her, and wrapped her arms around me. I quietly sobbed into her shoulder and she rubbed my back.
"I'm so sorry," I said. "I thought I was over him, I really did."
"I know, honey, it's alright. It's just going to take some time. Do you want to go home?"
I nodded, then apologized some more. Jessica brushed them all off and told me it was fine over and over. She helped clean up my face and touched up my make-up a little. Then, she opened the door, made sure the coast was clear, and we left the theater.
When we got home, we went upstairs and Jessica helped me out of my clothes, bra, and panties. I felt so weak and helpless, and I felt bad that Jessica had to help me with everything. I wore one of Andy's old shirts as pajamas again, despite Jessica's protests, and the two of us curled up on the basement couch to watch a girly movie.
During the movie, Jessica would look over at me often and then occasionally rub my arm or leg a little. I would give her a little smile to let her know that I was okay for the time being.
All I needed was a little time to heal and hopefully not burst into tears the next time I saw Andy's face or voice. It would be difficult, as he was one of Hollywood's hottest young stars and his presence was everywhere. Maybe I just needed to be a shut-in for a while.
Our movie ended and I went upstairs to my bedroom. I could feel Jessica following me and I turned around.
"I'll be okay tonight, I promise," I said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I just freaked out a little tonight, but I think I'm going to be fine."
"Okay. I'll be right down the hall if you need anything." Jessica approached me, wrapped her arms around me and kissed my forehead. As she pulled back, I kissed her on the lips.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me," I said.
"That's what sisters are for, right?"
"Right."
And with that, Jessica went to her room and I went to mine. As I closed the door, I noticed that Jessica's dildo was still attached to my bed post. I smiled, but was too tired to put it away and definitely too tired to ride it again.
I climbed into bed, took off Andy's t-shirt, and wrapped myself around my body pillow. I didn't pretend that the pillow was Andy this time, but the cool, slick satin of the pillow cover against my naked body was comforting anyway.
That night, I had a dream about my father. At least, some sort of dream interpretation of my father, as I'd never met him or seen a picture of him. I was naked and dirty, wandering the streets of downtown Los Angeles. I needed to get home so that Andy could find me and I needed to get off of the streets. Above all, I needed to find some clothes.
As I walked down an alley, a door opened in one of the buildings. A middle-aged man stepped out and extended a hand to me. I knew it was my dad, for some reason, and took his hand. He pulled me into the building and shut the door behind him.
The building he pulled me into was an art gallery, with my own paintings. Paintings that I did in the past and paintings that I thought about doing. The gallery was beautiful and safe. I was incredibly thankful for my father's help and wanted to thank him and show him how much I loved him in the only way I knew how.