Midnight Blue Chapt 9

"Richard??" I replied, surprised. He just looked different.
"uhh yeah, sorry." he chuckled nervously. "I kinda just stepped outta the shower..."
"Uh yeah," I continued, eyeing him, trying not to let my gaze wonder. "That explains no shirt and a towel around the waist." it does anyways, just briefly. Ugh, i tell myself. Jonah would be pissed if he knew I was looking at other guys.
"Umm," he said awkwardly. "im going to go get some clothes...."
I gave him a thumbs up and stepped into the house, watching him go up the stairs. My phone buzzed, incoming call from Claire. "Hello?" I answered.
"Hows it going with Richard?"
"Dude, hes so different alone."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," i thought for a second. "Hes cute! Really really cute."
"Leia! Your dating Jonah."
"I know i know. Im startin to think that the whole snooty thing is a cover up."
I heard Richard start down the stairs. "Gotta go," i say, shutting the phone.
"Im really embarrassed, sorry.." Richard blushed.
"Its okay, Richard."
"You can.... You can call me Rich," he stuttered.
"Allright, Rich. Well, its just that.... You seemed so different the other day."
"Dear God," he sighed. "Im soo sorry. My dad was there.. He forces me to act like that. He doesnt want me to be involved with anyone who doesnt have as much money as us. But rich girls are just bitches all the time."
"Oh my God," I breathed. "Okay. Im really sorry."
"It.... Its fine. Hes been like that ever since my mom died."
"My moms dead too," i whispered.
He looked as if hed beard the happiest news of life. Who knew- maybe it was.
--
Hey, just me. Im just saying that I probably wont be putting in my current thoughts about things as much now.
--
"Are you okay?" I ask.
He nodded, but he seemed dazed.
Silence.
"She was murdered, he said blankly through tears. I gasped and before I could answer he wiped them on his collar abd shrugged, trying to smile. "You just wanna eat?"
"Uh... Yeah. Sure."
We sat on his chaise, eating the fish. He laughed. "this is good."
I nodded. "thanks."
"hey, if i say something, promise not to tell my dad?"
My mouth was full. I offered him my pinkie and he grinned, wrapping his own around mine. "Pinkie promise," he said, laughing.
I shivered, his touch going through me like a bolt of electricity.
"Im so sick of acting like that." he spat. "I hate living without my mom. It sucks." he glanced at me hopefully. "How exactly do you do it?"
"Do what?" i said, unphased.
"Have such a free spirit, kind and lucky, happy and wild, incredibly attractive..." his voice trailed off.
And with that, he leaned over and kissed me.