Facing It Head On, Part 2

Richie & Libby

by Atonia & Layne

Libby wrapped both arms around him tightly and kissed him back. "You know I'll do that, Richie."

Drawing back a little, she said, "But I wish there was something more. Something to make the pain go away faster."

She leaned her head against his chest and looked out at the waves. Stayed quiet, listening to them. Then, "I can't seem to get away from the thought of Dan either. Guess it just has to hurt for awhile."

“Let’s go back to The Glen and forget everything for awhile. I’ll help you and you help me right?” He was wishing they weren’t in Coffs. It was a long drive back. He ran his hand up her back, “I bet I can make that pain go away, make you forget,” He took her face in his hands and kissed her, exploring her mouth, drawing it out until he felt her melt against him. All thoughts banished from his mind now, except the feel of her in his arms.

He did make her forget. The feel of him and the taste of him took every trace of Dan Evans out of Libby's mind. If it weren't for the other people out walking, she thought she might make love to him right here on this beach. Something about Richie was overpowering.

"We'd better go now." She drew back, breathless.

Richie struggled to get himself under control. They were on a public beach after all. “It’s gonna be a long ride back Lib. Sure you don’t wanna stay in Coffs?” He knew a place, he’d been there before; get up early drive back. Who would know they were gone, who would care?

"That sounds...good." Her breathing was ragged and she was dreading that drive.

As they got into his car, she wondered to herself. How much of this was friendship and how much pure, physical need? Deciding she'd analyze that later, Libby slid over to sit next to him.

There was no thought of friendship in Richie’s mind when he procured a room at a local inn and drove his car around back. They were barely through the door before their clothes began coming off. He wanted her, wanted to be held, loved and reassured, he needed it.

“Libby,” he whispered as he lay her down on the bed and then he lost himself in her.

It was much later, as they lay with Richie's face buried in her hair and Libby trying to remember how to breathe, when she realized that, for Richie, this was what took the place of talk. He had just poured out all of his hurt, his guilt, his anger, his frustration. Maybe, for some people, talk just didn't work. It occurred to her that perhaps she was one of them. This had felt much better to her than talking. She was running her fingers through his hair and placing light kisses on his neck. She'd just wait for him to be ready.

"Richie," she whispered. "It's all right. I'm here. You're not alone."

He definitely was not alone, he thought as he ran his hand over her hip. She was a sweet kid. He couldn’t imagine somebody using her and discarding her. The thought hit him that might be what he was doing, using her. She’d made herself available to him and he’d taken advantage of that. Poor kid had her own problems and he didn’t want to become one of them, this was going to have to stop.

He opened his eyes and rolled over on his back. “We can’t do this again,” he said quietly.

Confused, Libby propped herself up on one elbow to look at him. "Why not?"

“It’s not fair to you. I don’t want to end up some prick who used you and walked away. You keep talking about friendship, I’m not sure I can do that Libby. I’m not sure what you think that is. We both have needs right now. We want to be petted and loved because we’ve been hurt. Next week it might be different. I don’t want to add to the hurt, do you understand? There is a danger here of getting too involved.”

Answering him just as quietly, Libby said, "You don't add to the hurt, Richie. You make it better. And how can it not be fair to me? I get just as much out of it as you do."

"As for what I think friendship is, it's doing what you need when you need it. Right now, we need this...the petting and loving, like you just said. If it's different next week, then it's different. We adjust. Friends get involved too. Just in a different way."

Richie looked into her eyes as she spoke. She actually believed in what she was saying. He’d had an attack of conscience and he didn’t like the feeling. He didn’t want a relationship right now. Was friendship another word for it? How could he be friends with somebody like her? When he looked at her he wanted to take her to bed.

“I guess I don’t look at things the same way you do, I see a lot of pitfalls down the road for this friendship, as you call it. Eyes wide open Libby, I don’t know where it can go?”

Libby was a little more confused. "I thought we covered that the other night. It doesn't have to 'go' anywhere. It just is."

She was trying hard to understand how he was thinking right now. "You're friends with guys. Do you worry about where those friendships can 'go'? And don't you have pitfalls in those friendships too? Times when things are different?"

She grinned at him, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe you're over-analyzing this, Richie. What we just did here-" She nodded toward the bed they were still lying on. "It made me feel good. It made you feel good too, I hope!" she teased. "So where's the harm in that?"

“Yeah it felt good,” he ran his finger down her face, “difference is I don’t take guy friends to bed. This is something new for me you’re gonna have to guide me a little, I thought it wouldn’t be a problem you know.” He sighed, “I dunno Libby maybe it’s this whole damn day. I’m a little afraid of…hurting somebody right now. I don’t want it to get to the point that…” he looked at her. Maybe he was being presumptuous, maybe she didn’t feel that way about him at all. He sat up and reached for his cigarettes, “That was fun Libby.” He smiled at her suddenly wishing he was somewhere else.

"You don't have to be afraid of hurting me, Richie. I'm a big girl, you know." Libby sat up too, aware he was feeling uncomfortable right now. She found her clothes and began to get dressed.

Richie took a drag off his cig, “Look Libby, even big girls get hurt…” He watched her get dressed, not moving from the bed himself. He realized he cared about her. She wasn’t just some piece he picked up for a night or an afternoon. It wasn’t love he felt for her, but he cared, he cared what happened to her. He caught her hand and pulled her down beside him.

“I don’t know how this friend thing works, but I’ll give it a shot. You gotta realize I’m not usually friends with women. My thoughts go in other directions,” he touched her nose. “So what are we doing, goin’ back to The Glen, is that what you want to do?”

"What I really wanna do," she gave him a grin at that touch on her nose, "is go right back to bed!"

"But-" She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, feeling playful, "-not if you're gonna feel guilty and uncomfortable about it."

"And no, I don't wanna go back to the Glen. Why waste a perfectly good room that's all paid for for tonight?" She grabbed her bag and headed toward the door. "I'm gonna go to that little store I saw next door and get us some snacks and drinks. We can put that TV to use and watch some movies or something."

"After all," she smiled, with her hand on the doorknob. "There are other benefits to friendship besides sex!"

Richie smiled, “I think I’m about to find that out.”