Chapter 14: Something to Talk About

The alarm sounded at ten the next morning. Justin reached to hit the snooze button, but knocked the clock onto the floor in the process; splitting it in half.

“Shit.” He muttered as he attempted to pull himself into a sitting position. However, his weight was pinned down by the additional weight of two bodies in his bed.

“What the hell is going on?” Justin asked, wondering how Celeste and half-pint got into his bed, considering he was a light sleeper. He tried to move, but Celeste rolled over onto his arm restraining him.

“She sleeps like she’s the only one in the damn bed.” By now her whole body was practically on top of his, not that he really minded.

“Hey…” Justin shoved at her body, so he could get enough space to maneuver himself out of bed, but his efforts proved to be pointless, his body was too tired to lift her.

He lied there for a few minutes; staring at the ceiling while Celeste snored in his right ear and drooled a little on his bare chest.

“Ew.” Justin grimaced. Why did she pick this morning to get the best sleep she ever got in her entire life?

Granted she was tired because of what her body went through yesterday, however if Celeste continued to lie directly on top of him without a care in the world he would not be held liable for what he might do. He was only a man.

Justin pushed her curly tendrils away from her face to get a better look at her appearance Her clear skin glowed at him beneath the sun that peeked in between his broken blinds. Now that he actually had a chance to look at her he realized Celeste was really an attractive woman.

“Celeste wake up.” He began shaking her a little rougher than usual.

“What.” Celeste moaned her resistance and snuggled farther under his limp arms, which were starting to lose sensation.

She did not move at all and Justin’s patience was running thin. Does she enjoy lying on top of me?

“Well I am hot stuff.” He boasted with a hint of a smile.

“Let’s see what little Celeste has on under my shirt…” Since she had been living with him she rarely wore anything else except for one of his extra large shirts that stopped at her knees and left everything to the imagination.

But now that she had been lying on top of him for almost half an hour, he found out Celeste actually had a nice figure. “A very nice figure indeed.” He rested his hands on her hips.

“So this is what little Celeste has been hiding,” well rounded hips, a flat stomach, ample breast and… “a nice-“

“Justin what are you doing?” Celeste looked down at him curiously. His hand resting on her behind had awakened her, in fact it frightened her a little.

“Um…” Justin stuttered, but before he could answer her question he was interrupted.

“Yo, Justin-“ Kyle burst through the bedroom door and Justin quickly flipped her underneath him so that he was atop of her, shielding her from Kyle’s view, given that she had neglected to wear shorts underneath his shirt.

“Oh my god!” Celeste screamed in surprise, waking her younger sibling.

“Yoo hoo Justin! I have your breakfast.” Ms. Lou entered the apartment.

This day could not get any worse! Justin thought. He did not know what to make of the looks on their faces. He glanced down at Celeste with pleading eyes begging her not to start crying and make a big scene in front of Ms. Lou and Kyle.

“Hey can we have a minute?” He kept his eyes focused on hers.

“Uh…sure.” Kyle answered, going to the bed and picking up Tatiyana, “Come on Ms. Lou.” He quickly ushered her out of the room before she could put her two cents into anything Justin rolled from atop her.

Celeste released the breath she had been holding since Justin flipped her underneath him. “God you’re heavy!” She rested her hand against her fast-beating chest.

“Sorry.” Justin said quickly. He didn’t know if he was apologizing for feeling her up or for weighing her down. Besides he didn’t want Kyle to openly stare at her the way he had when she walked out of the bathroom in a towel yesterday. He rolled out of the bed and pulled a shirt over his head.

“I’ll explain it to you later.”

“I’d like to see you try-“ Celeste muttered underneath her breath and rushed off to the bathroom.

“I can’t believe he was feeling me up!” She raked her fingers through her hair in frustration and splashed water on her face.

“I can’t believe I was feeling her up! What was I thinking?” Justin left the bedroom to see Kyle standing on the other side with a lopsided grin on his face.

“What?” Justin rolled his eyes.

“You surprise me. I would’ve never thought…You and Celeste? That’s weird.” Kyle placed Tatiyana on the ground.

“Would you shut up?” Justin whispered threateningly and brushed by him.

“You really know how to give a welcome back huh?” Kyle joked. He knew Justin missed her, but he never figured he missed her that much.

“And in front of the baby too…I’m shocked.”

“We weren’t doing anything like you think we were doing.”

“Then why did you have your hands on-“

“Justin um can I talk you?” Celeste peeked her head out of the bathroom purposely because she didn’t want to hear Justin’s reason for why he was feeling her up spoken to Kyle instead of her.

“Sure in a minute.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Don’t you dare say anything when we come back out.” It was a demand.

“Sure lover boy.” Kyle snickered behind his back, but stopped when he caught Celeste’s piercing gaze.

“Yeah what did you want to talk to me about?” Justin closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

“Explain.”

“What?” He looked confused.

“You told me that you would explain it to me later. So go ahead.” Celeste placed her hands on her hips.

“Um…wait a minute, here? Right now?” Justin stammered over his words. He didn’t have an explanation just yet, he wanted to spend time thinking of one first.

“What better time is there than the present right? Now tell me.”

Justin stared into her eyes; she appeared to be on the verge of breaking down.

“Look maybe we should continue this conversation later…and stop wearing my shirts all the time.” Justin threw his arm around her shoulder and quickly exited the bathroom before she had a chance to hound him for a reason.

“Wait, but Justin. Ugh!” Celeste groaned in frustration. “God I can’t stand him!” She slammed the bathroom door and sat down on the side of the tub.

“Good morning Justin. Where’s your lady friend?” Ms. Lou did not believe in eating until everyone was seated at the table.

“Still in the bathroom I guess.”

“She’s been in there for a while. I’ll go check on her.” Ms. Lou knew Justin was responsible and she couldn’t believe that he could act so cool when his girlfriend was obviously very upset to the point that she would lock herself in the bathroom.

“Justin put down the bacon.”

“Damn.” Justin grumbled under his breath.

“Why did he do it?” Celeste had asked herself that question over and over and she still hadn’t come up with an answer yet. The only thing she could think of was that his hands ended up on her behind by mistake. But that seemed unlikely because Justin rarely made mistakes he always had a motive. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

“Go away Justin.” Celeste did not want anything to do with him and his roaming hands.

“No dear this is Ms. Lou. Can I come in?”

“Who the hell is Ms. Lou?” Celeste wasn’t aware that she had voiced her curiosity aloud.

“I’m Justin’s neighbor sweetheart.” Ms. Lou said with a hint of a smile.

Celeste reluctantly opened the door. Sonny did not seem that bad except for the fact that he carried a loaded gun, so Ms. Lou couldn’t be any worse.

When Ms. Lou entered the bathroom she instinctively reached for Celeste’s small hands. “Are you okay dear?”

“Yeah I’m fine.” Celeste lied and wiped the tear from under her eye.

“No you’re not. You’re shaking and it looks like you’ve been crying. What did he do?”

Celeste knew that if she told Ms. Lou what Justin did she would nearly have a heart attack. And there was no reason to put her in the hospital for something meaningless.

“I’d rather not say.” Celeste stumbled over her words nervously.

Celeste and Justin would only know whatever he did to her for now.

“Okay. Well…come and eat because I’ve cooked a really big breakfast and I know them boys did not obey my orders not to eat without you. So let’s go.” Ms. Lou dragged her out of the bathroom before she could protest.

“Sorry Celeste.” Kyle apologized licking his fingers.

“Where’s Justin?” Ms. Lou asked with her hands on her hips. She definitely had some words for him.

“Oh he took shorty to the gym with him.” Kyle said nonchalantly.

“He did what!” Both Celeste and Ms. Lou voiced simultaneously .

“A gym is not a place for a toddler Kyle and I can’t believe you let him go. You know better.” Ms. Lou swatted his arm.

“Ouch. What do I know about kids?” He rubbed his arm.

“I can’t believe this.” Celeste pushed a curly lock away from her face.

“It’s okay sweetheart. Eat your food while I run across the hall then we can go together.” Ms. Lou eyed Kyle before rushing out the apartment.

Celeste sat at the table and inhaled the delicious aroma of bacon, eggs, and pancakes. She was starving.

“Celeste were you crying in the bathroom?” He leaned over the table to stare in her face. “Over Justin?” It was a statement more than a question.

“No.” Celeste whispered with her head down. She had never really had a conversation with Kyle before.

“Hey…don’t worry Celeste, Justin didn’t mean any harm. It’s just that he hasn’t you know…with a woman in a few weeks.”

“And I gotta admit you do have a nice body. So I don’t fault a man who tries to cop a feel. Know what I mean?” By the time he had finished his explanation Celeste was staring at him with wide eyes and her mouth opened in shock. She had never heard such…such- there were no words for what she had just heard. Justin did not think she had nice body and neither did Kyle, no man did. Both of them were insane.

I can’t believe I’ve moved in with a psycho and his friend.” She mumbled. She couldn’t have a nice body. She had never even looked at her own body in the mirror since she was twelve and growing breasts and neither has any man.

“Celeste you ready hon?” Ms. Lou reentered the apartment.

“Yeah I’m ready I just have to get dressed.” Celeste left the table with her arms behind her back shielding her rear.

Kyle followed her with his eyes. “What did I say?” He laughed.

~*~*~*~

“Kyle said it was somewhere around here…” Ms. Lou looked around for the address 2436 West Main St then she spotted it and pulled in front. The name simply read Joe’s.

“Do you want me to go inside with you?”

“No that’s okay I’ll be fine. I’ll be back in a minute.” Celeste tightened her jacket around her small frame to block out the cold air.

As soon as she entered the building she heard low whistles. Celeste looked for any signs of Justin and Tati, but did not see them. She went to the front desk.

“One second.” The man raised his hand, but did not look up.

“Okay how may I…help you?” He began stuttering.

“I’m looking for a man named Justin he came in with a toddler.” Celeste signed the visitor’s log and then looked back up at him.

“Oh you mean Timberwolve?”

“Timber-what?”

“He’s over there sweetheart in the next room.” He pointed to the back.

“Okay thanks.” Celeste smiled back and ran off.

The man looked down at her name. “Celeste. Exotic.” He liked the way it rolled off his tongue.

Celeste entered the room to see Justin lifting and lowering Tati as if she were a barbell in one arm and repeating the action with an actual barbell in the other.

“Eight…Nine.” Tati was repeating after Justin as he rambled off numbers.

“Ten…” Tatiyana looked up to see Celeste. She beamed with happiness.

“Cee Cee.”

“Cee…who? Oh shit Celeste.” He almost dropped Tatiyana and the barbell, but she did not seem to notice because she giggled with pleasure.

The toddler ran to her sister, to be embraced in a tight hug.

“Are you having fun Tati?” Celeste rubbed her hand over her sister’s wild curls.

“Yup.”

“How did you get here Celeste?” Justin interrupted.

“Ms. Lou gave me a ride.” Celeste ran her hands down the front of her fitted jeans, which did not go unnoticed by Justin. Why had she dressed up? Justin wondered, but he was not going to say anything because he actually liked the fact that she didn’t wear his baggy sweat pants although she still wore one of shirts.

“She’s waiting outside for me.” Celeste bent down to put on Tatiyana’s jacket.

Celeste could feel Justin’s eyes on her as he neared and it was making her nervous. She looked up to see Justin standing above her with only a towel wrapped around his bare shoulders.

Celeste shook her head “I’m sorry what did you say?” He was really making her nervous now. She had never seen a half naked man up close before.

“You can go tell her to leave. I’ll take you two home.” On the walk home he could probably make some amends.

“Are you listening to me? Celeste…stop drooling it’s not becoming of you. And you’re not even sleeping this time. And did you know you snore too?” Justin grinned. She wasn’t actually drooling now, but she might’ve as well been doing so.

“I do not snore! Tati come on let’s go.” Celeste held out her hand. Tatiyana was running around the gym like she was at the playground.

“Sure if you say so. Let me put my clothes back on so we can go.” Justin brushed past her but not before he got a better view of her in the fitted jeans.

“Mmm…” He had to admit that Celeste did have a very nice shape he wondered how she got through life without anyone ever making a pass at her. He would not believe that he was the first person to ever find her attractive, but if Celeste always covered up her body with baggy clothes how would any man ever notice.

Celeste stood rooted to her spot. She could feel his eyes on her again. She watched his eyes for any indication to the truth of Kyle’s story, but it was hard to focus with Justin giving her the once over.

If only Celeste knew how nice of a body she actually had he would not have been the first person to kiss her. But for some reason he felt great knowing that he was the first person to kiss her even though it was forced and it wasn’t actually a real kiss.

“Kyle said I had a nice body!” She blurted it out before she knew what she was doing and she regretted saying it when she heard Justin’s outburst.

“What? He said what!” Justin walked up to her and turned her to face him.

“He said I had a nice body.” Celeste muttered quietly, the look on his face said he was angry, very angry.

“Yeah. I heard you the first time. I can’t believe he told you that. I told him that.” Justin’s voice was lowered so Celeste did not hear his last words.

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Celeste do not listen to Kyle anymore-“

“Why?” Why would he tell her not to listen to Kyle?

“Because he’s not telling the truth. He does not think you have a nice body.” Justin was going to kill Kyle when he saw him.

“Why? I can’t have a nice body Justin?” Although she did not think she had a nice body herself it hurt to hear Justin make it a reality for her.

“Wait what no. Celeste I did not mean that!” He called after her.

Celeste ran out of the room and out of the building with eyes following behind.

“Damn it.” Justin rested his head against the door as he slid to floor.

“You make Celeste mad just like Frank.” Tatiyana patted him on the head in a reprimanding fashion.

“Who’s –ow!” Justin rubbed the front of his head; blood settled his palm. He had hit his head on a shelving unit when he rose to stand.

“Celeste! Where are you going!” Ms. Lou got out the car to chase after her. Her efforts proved futile because an old lady like herself did not run like she used to.

“Oh God…what happened?” Ms. Lou rushed into the building where Celeste just exited.

“Where’s Justin!” She said loudly and all hands pointed to the back room.

“Justin the nerve…what happened?” Ms. Lou kneeled down beside him, blood was running down his head and Tatiyana was beside him.

“Justin hurt head.”

“Where’s Celeste?” Justin asked, he tried to move but he could not.

“Oh dear. She just ran off down the street in tears. I tried to catch her but I couldn’t.” Ms. Lou explained in fear.

“Again? We have to find her.” Justin lifted himself up with the little strength he had.

“Yo’ Joe I need your help.”

“Man what happened to you?” His gym never saw this much excitement in one day.

“I need all you guys to help me find that girl who ran out of here.” He hoped she made sure to watch her back.