SOL - Uncomfortable

“Fuck’s sake, Adella,” Riona says, coming close to lean on the treadmill. “What’s the matter with you?”

You don’t know what to say. You just gaze at her. She doesn’t back down.

“Don’t give me that,” she says sternly. “And don’t think I’ll let you shag your way to feeling right again. You’re disgusting.” That’s true; you’re drenched with sweat.

You laugh, but she frowns at you suspiciously.

“Why don’t you tell me?” she asks, truly puzzled.

You sigh and wipe your damp hair out of your face.

“I’ll listen,” she says encouragingly. “Even if you smell.”

“I don’t know how to say it.”

“You’re an arse. Be **** for once. Where’s the harm?”

You bristle at that. “I was once,” you say defensively, thinking of Ellie back in prison. You were pretty open with her.

“Well, you better bloody try again,” Riona says urgently. “Because you look like a psychopath right now.”

Were you running that hard? You step off the treadmill and grab your towel, then sit on the bench. Riona stays on her feet, her hands on her hips in a matronly way, glaring at you. She rolls her eyes, then walks over and sits on your lap.

This is the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you. You don’t feel horny, but you’re glad that she’s here. You’re grateful for the close contact, but there’s nothing sexual about it. Riona reads that in you and looks even more worried.

“Shite,” she murmurs. “Who fucking died?”

You smile bitterly. You’re about to say something, but she wrinkles her nose.

“All I can take,” she says, standing up. “Take a shower.” She smiles down at you and gives herself a light pat on the rump. “I won’t fuck you until you tell me what’s going on.” She’s trying to be funny, but her smile wavers when she sees that the humor is not landing.

“All right,” she says, irked. Her eye twitches. “Suppose I know what you need.”

“I don’t need sex,” you say, and hearing the words come out of your mouth is painful. Is that really who you were before prison? Having a new perspective can be a bitch.

“I wasn’t offering,” Riona replies, a bit waspishly. She probably feels the same way. For a few days at the beginning of camp, the two of you fucked like bunnies. Now she’s offended that you’re making assumptions about her.

“Sorry,” you say.

She sighs. “Go in the woods tonight. Sneaky like. Go behind Yellow Team’s cabin, but not close. I’ll meet you back there.”

You stare at her.

“Not for sex,” she says, exasperatedly, reaching out to prod your nose with her finger. “How dare you think that about an innocent virgin like me.”