Dmitry's Closet by Latrivia S. Nelson

smiled.
         "What was his name?"
         "Woodrow Conners," she chuckled. "Such a lame name."
         "Here in Memphis?"
         "Yeah."
         Dmitry was silent for a minute.
         "Really, I'm okay. I've got thick skin," she continued.
         "What did your foster mother say about you nearly being raped by her boyfriend?" he asked, intrigued.
         "Not much in my defense. She had me removed. I finally ended up with the Stones. They were just a family that needed someone to help them with their four biological children- all under the age of ten."
         "So, you went from sex toy to nanny." He sighed.
         "Oh, I never was raped," Royal quickly added. "I protected myself always from that at all costs. I'm still a virgin to this day." She was proud of that fact.
         "Excuse me?" Dmitry's eyes bucked. His mouth hit the ground.
         "I'm still a virgin. I just haven't met the right guy, and I'll be damned if I give it to the wrong guy."
         "Yes. That would be crime. Well, Fm...amazed and shocked." Dmitry shook his head. "It explains a lot, and yet... nothing makes sense."
         "Well, I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about it, if I were you. It's not going to change anytime soon."
         "Of course not." Dmitry smiled innocently, but inwardly a raging fire boiled inside of him. Royal was a virgin. The words caused a small stir. The thought of taking her would be ever present in his head now, he was sure of it.
         Royal felt as though she had said far too much. Dmitry became quiet, thinking probably about how much of a girl she was - so very young and inexperienced. But as far as she was concerned, that was not at all true.
         The only thing that kept her from carrying the title of woman in a lot of people's eyes was the fact that she was yet a virgin.
         To her, that made her more of a woman. Self-control was not an easy beast to tame, but she did so, even if sometimes begrudgingly.
         Royal's virginity had been the topic of many conversations before Dmitry, but her status had never changed. Every man seemed to have one thing on his mind. To take it, but not to keep her. She did not want to end up unloved again, only this time with nothing to show for it. And it seemed that every time that she exposed her secret, she felt like she was a leper.
         People had looked at her like something was wrong with her her entire life, jealous that they had given theirs away and had chosen poorly. She had lost so many opportunities with young college men because of her fear of going all the way. She was not afraid of the act, just the aftermath. She knew very well what it felt like to be all alone and rejected, she didn't need to amplify it. The thought infuriated her now. She bit her lip and grunted slightly.
         "Ugh. This silence is going to make me sick at the stomach," she said finally. "I didn't tell you that I had AIDS, Dmitry. Please don't act like that."
         "Act like what?" He looked up at her oblivious of her mood change.
         "Like I'm not normal," Royal sighed. Dmitry put down his fork and smiled. "But you're not normal. You are better," he said trying to focus. "Alright. Alright. We'll talk about something else."
    ∞♥∞
         It was nearly four in the morning when Dmitry's car pulled behind Royal's building beside her little red Honda Accord. He had chosen to drive her home himself after the movie.
         Anatoly was finally allowed to go home and get some rest. The rain had stopped and the skies were clear, allowing the stars and moon to shine brightly down on them. Crickets chirped and dew fell on the grass. The wind blew through the night, refreshing and full of force. Royal yawned and sat up in the seat, hitting the button to let up her window as she did so.
         "I had fun," she said rubbing her eyes. "Did you?" She looked over at him, relaxed in his seat and looking over at her