Kim and Mark, Part 5

From: stinger27@gnn.com

Chapter 5

Two more weeks had passed when the phone rang downstairs.  Kim picked up the
receiver and heard Janice' voice on the other end.  "Hi, Kim.  It's me. How
are things going?  I'm sorry I haven't been in touch more often since Mark
left but well, you know how time seems to get away from you!"  Before Kim
could answer, Janice continued saying, "Hey listen, I'm having a little get
together over here tomorrow night with a couple of the girls while Keith is
out for the evening.  Interested?"  "Sure!  Sounds like fun," Kim replied.
"Great!  Stop by about 6 and help me set things up?" Janice inquired.  "OK,
see you then!" 

Kim reached into her carton for a fresh pack of cigarettes and was shocked
to discover they were all gone.  She recalled that she had picked up the
carton last Wednesday evening and it was only Saturday afternoon.  She
mentally calculated that was roughly only ten days!  Kim had been only
slightly aware that she was now smoking about once every hour to satisfy the
craving her body had developed for nicotine.  It didn't seem she was smoking
very much at all but the facts were staring at her in the form of an empty
cigarette carton.  She didn't have a cigarette left in the house and it was
4:30 already.  She decided to jump in the shower and take care of her hair
and makeup then swing by the store on the way to Janice's.  She could have
one in the car and Janice wouldn't notice, herself being a smoker. 

Kim pulled on a white, long-sleeved angora turtleneck sweater with black
pants and finished putting on her makeup.  She was really in desperate need
of a cigarette but knew it would be at least 45 more minutes before she
could get to the store.  She hurriedly blow dried and combed her hair,
grabbed her purse and coat and jumped in the car. 

Kim was thankful that there was no one in line at the store as she quickly
paid for the carton, took out a pack and got back in the car.  Her entire
body seemed to be screaming at her as the nicotine withdrawal became more
acute.  It had been almost four hours since she had had a cigarette and Kim
could almost feel the pleasure lighting up would bring.  She opened the pack
and took out one of the white filtered cigarettes and pushed in the car's
lighter.  As she brought the lighter up to the end of her cigarette, she
realized that something was different.  She lit it and took a very deep,
luxurious puff and then quickly inhaled again.  The tingling subsided and a
warm, relaxed feeling settled over her.  It was then that she picked up the
pack and noticed that she had just bought a carton of Virginia Slim Menthol
Luxury Light 120s.  They were definitely longer than the regular cigarettes
she had been buying and seemed to taste about the same only just slightly
more full-flavored.  As she pulled out of the parking lot, she inhaled
deeply two more times back to back and blew out a long heavy stream of smoke
through the opening in the driver's side window. 

Ten minutes later, she arrived at Janice's and placed her pack of cigarettes
in the glove compartment before going inside.  "Hi, Kim!' Janice exclaimed
and gave Kim a welcome hug and took her things.  -I'm so glad you could make
it.  Stephanie and Pamela are joining us tonight.  I thought we'd open a
bottle of wine and do some good old-fashioned girl talking!  What do you
think?"  Kim liked both Stephanie and Pamela and replied that it sounded
like a lot of fun.  Kim also knew that both of Janice's friends also smoked
and Kim didn't know how she was going to manage to get through the evening
without a cigarette.  Especially if she had a glass or two of wine.  God,
how she loved a cigarette with a glass of wine or cup of coffee now.  Kim
couldn't imagine one without the other.  Well, she'd just have to manage as
she wasn't sure how Janice would react.  Would she tell Keith who would
scold her?  Or would she or Keith tell Mark, spoiling her surprise?  And yet
she knew that she couldn't and didn't want to quit so what was she waiting
for?  She put the conflicting thoughts aside for now and helped Janice slice
some cheese while Janice laid out some crackers and opened a bottle of
Chardonay. 

Kim and Janice chatted for nearly half an hour over a glass of wine before
the other girls arrived.  Mark and Keith were the main topics of discussion
with little sidebars about work and other family members.  Janice had had
one cigarette during their conversation and Kim did just fine.  Janice had
apologized at one point for the smoke, but Kim assured her that it didn't
bother her in the least.  At least not in terms of being offensive.
However, as far as making her want one so bad she couldn't stand it, well,
that was another thing.  The wine had found its way to her brain and she
felt the slightest sensation of tipsiness as she drained the glass just as
the doorbell rang. 

Stephanie and Pamela showed up about ten past seven, and Janice offered them
a seat and brought each of them a glass of Chardonay.  She refilled her
glass along with Kim's and Kim resolved to go very slowly on this one.  One
was her normal limit and she usually sipped it over the course of an hour
but had allowed herself to finish it just a little more than 30 minutes. 

Twenty minutes had passed when Stephanie reached for the pack of cigarettes
she had laid on the table.  Kim noticed she smoked Capri menthol, a long,
very thin cigarette that looked rather feminine-even more so than her
already thin Virginia Slims.  As if on cue, Pamela also took one from her
pack of Marlboro lights and Janice lit up as well.  A small cloud of smoke
hung over the coffee table around which the girls were sitting.  Janice
said, "Kim, if the smoke's too much for you, we can open a window or
something."  Kim, who was now feeling the effects of the alcohol was
beginning to crave a cigarette.  Still, she fought off the urge and replied,
"Oh, no, it's fine.  It's not bothering me at all."  Janice laughed and
said, "Now, that's a surprise!  I've always had the feeling that smoke
really bothers you whenever we're together so I make an extra effort to keep
it from blowing your way." 

A good hour and a half had passed since Stephanie and Kimberly had arrived
and Kim was slowly sipping from a third glass of wine.  The other women had
each had another cigarette each and Stephanie was reaching for her pack
again when Kim felt she would just die if she couldn't have a cigarette
right now.  "Girls, I need to use the restroom and grab something from my
car, too.  If you'll excuse me for a minute, I'll be right back."  Kim
grabbed her coat and slid into the car.  She opened the glove compartment
and took out a cigarette, lighting it quickly and inhaling as deeply as she
could.  "Just a few puffs,' she thought as she 'double-pumped' twice in a
row.  A minute later, she was taking a fifth and final puff when she saw the
drapes near the front door being pulled back.  The driveway lamp post was
on, and Janice could see Kim clearly sitting in the car as she lowered her
cigarette and exhaled toward the passenger side, hoping that Janice hadn't
been able to see what she was doing.  Slightly embarrassed, Kim shut the car
door, put out the cigarette, and headed for the front door.  Janice opened
the it for her.  "Find what you needed, hon?" Janice asked smiling.  "Oh,
yes, I thought I'd left my brush in the car, but I guess it was in my purse
all along," Kim remarked, not looking directly at Janice.  "Oh, okay, I just
wanted to make sure you were all right.  You were out there for quite awhile." 

Kim stepped into the bathroom and took a second to compose herself.  What
was she so damn worried about?  She was over 21 and if she chose to smoke,
that was her business, wasn't it?  She flipped off the light and took her
seat on the sofa next to Stephanie.  "Everything ok?" Stephanie asked with a
raised eyebrow.  "Oh, sure," Kim lied again.  "I was looking for my brush
but I had it in my purse the whole time."  The girls had had a couple of
glasses of Chardonay and looked at each other when Pamela giggled.  Janice
and Stephanie did likewise, trying hard not to laugh.  "What is it?" Kim
asked, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.  "It's nothing, Kim," Janice assured
her.  "Are you sure it was just your comb you were looking for?" 

Before Kim could answer, Janice took out a cigarette and before lighting it
said, "You know, I sure do enjoy having a cigarette with a glass of wine."
Pamela laughed again and lit another herself saying, "Me too.  How 'bout you
Stephanie?"  "Oh, other than smoking after sex, there's nothing I enjoy more
either.  I think I'll have another one, too!"  Kim was now feeling very
self-conscious and blushed slightly as all three girls smoked and sat
looking at her.  "What?!" Kim demanded.  "What's going on?  Why is everyone
looking at me that way?" 

"Kim," Janice said, "I saw you in the car through the window.  At first I
couldn't believe my eyes but there was no doubt about what I saw.  You went
out to sneak a cigarette thinking no one would notice.  Honey, you don't
have to sneak around like a teenager!  I'll admit I'm stunned but hey, if
you want to smoke, please, get your pack and go ahead!  I just want to know
what you're going to tell Mark!"  Kim tilted her head and looked at each of
the girls who were smiling widely at her, waiting to see what she would say
next.  "OK, guilty!  You caught me.  I started just after Mark left and have
been smoking for just over a month.  I didn't know how fast I'd get 'hooked'
but I am definitely there!  I was desperate and didn't want to bring it up
here tonight so I figured I could sneak one for now.  So, now you know."
"Well, go outside and bring your cigarettes in and have one with us in here
where it's nice and warm.  I'll refill the glasses and then we want to here
all about this decision of yours!" 

Kim came back with the pack of 120s and her lighter and took one out.  She
felt a bit embarrassed at the stares she was getting but the wine had
loosened everyone up to the point that no one was the least bit condemning.
In fact, the other girls mentioned how 'neat' this was.  Just like their
first experiences with smoking at summer camp.  Kim took a puff and brought
the cigarette near the side of her face, thinking about Rita's advice on
'style' and enjoying the freedom of being able to smoke with some of her
friends.  The ladies shared 'first cigarette' stories and Kim grew brave
enough to tell just enough about why she started to satisfy everyone's
curiosity without getting too personal.  After all, she didn't want Mark to
feel embarrassed knowing that the 'girls' knew how turned on he would be
watching his beautiful wife smoking. 

The party broke up about 11:30 which gave the alcohol time to lose its
effect before anyone had to drive home.  Kim had two additional cigarettes
with the girls and decided she liked the new, longer 120s that she had
bought accidentally in a hurry earlier that evening.  Just before she left
Janice assured her that she wouldn't say a word to Keith until Kim was ready
to tell him herself.  Kim was relieved to hear that because she was a bit
afraid to tell her brother.  After all, she was sure he wouldn't feel quite
the same way her husband did.  But then, again, she had never discussed the
issue with him, and who knew?  Before Mark's revelation, Kim had never even
heard of a man having such a fantasy. 

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