Chapter 7

I had left lunch angry and upset. Instead of driving home with Stephan, I had asked my mother to take me home.  Although she was confused I had made up an excuse about how Stephan had to go pick up his stuff from the hotel to bring. 

"Why can't you go to the hotel with him and come to the house together?" She had questioned. 

"Yeah, I can drop you off!" Stephan had offered.

"Mom, I am uncomfortable in this dress, and I don't want to make him drive back and forth." 

" I am going to stay back late and help aunt Karen clean up. Ask Dad to take you back." She had suggested, thankfully not questioning me more. 

After dropping me off, my Father had gone back to the hall to help my mother. So I decided to relax in my room upstairs, on my bed, out of my uncomfortable dress, but not quite ready to put another pair of clothes on. Therefore, I was just in my bra and underwear, on my phone, listening to music and replying to more emails in between skipping songs I was not enjoying. 

Through my headphones, I had heard some shuffling down in the living room and figured my parents had come home. Thinking I had locked the door, I ignored it, and I did not move out of my current position. 

However, a few seconds later, my door had easily opened, and standing there was Stephan with his suitcase staring at me in just my bra and underwear. 

"Um...hey." He said, not looking away but blinking rapidly. 

I did not know how to react, so I flipped open the folded blanket on my bed and covered as much of myself as possible. 

"Sorry...sorry." Stephen eventually said backing away and closing the door. I got up and locked the door.  Mumbling insults at him.

Scurrying to find something to put on, I opened my suitcase and pulled out a pair of PJs. I quickly put them on, covering everything Stephan had already seen. 

I opened the door, keeping one of my hands over my chest, just in case Stephan could see through the clothes. 

"Sorry, your mom told me you...you...would be up here and asked me to put my...my... stuff here." Stephan, who the past 2 days could not stop talking, seemed to struggle with his words. 

"It's fine." I curtly said. "You can just put the suitcase down next to mine." I pointed at the corner of my room where my suitcase, which was lying open on the floor and unfortunately on the top, laid my colorful bras. We both looked away, as the awkwardness increased. I wanted to disappear inside my bed forever. 

Stephan rolled his bag towards mine, avoiding looking at the floor where my bras were on full display. I took the lead, walking in front of him and tipping the lid down, covering the contents of the case. 

“How are we supposed to share a room now?” I yelled. “I am too uncomfortable with this. You need to sneak out or something tonight!” 

"Sorry again! I swear, I didn't see anything–okay I didn't see everything. I saw some things—sorryI don't want to lie. Stephan sheepishly stuttered after plopping down his suitcase. 

"It's fine," I blurred out angrily. “Just—you can't stay here.” I couldn't bear to have him in my very tiny bed after what just took place. 

"Are you still angry?" He asked, giving me an innocent smile. I was close to cracking with that and forgiving him for breaching our deal, for seeming me naked, for having my bras in his potential peripheral vision. 

"No," I simply said. 

“Not about me seeing you almost naked—” Stephen sighed. Closed his eyes. Clearly he was also uncomfortable with this topic. He must have been disgusted seeing me like this when his eyes were only reserved for his Whitney. “I mean about me, telling Whiney the truth.”

“I already said no!” I now yelled. 

"You seem mad." He correctly observed. What a freaking genius he is! “I think I can put you in a better mood. Come with me.” Stephen said, offering his hand and for some reason, I took it.