AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’s with the face?” He looked down at the letter and his eyes grew. “You got in!” He threw his arms around her, lifted her in the air, and spun her around. “That’s amazing!” He slowly released her. “Tabitha, what’s wrong? Why do you look like someone just ran over your pet?”
Of course, he would be happy she got into the college of her dreams. She was happy for him when he got accepted into the Air Force Academy, something she still was hesitant about. Joining the military wasn’t something she thought he was serious about until that letter came.
She coughed. “I was thinking.”
Archie was her best friend. Surely he would understand. It wasn’t like any of them hadrealdates. They were going together as a little group. A great way to spend senior prom when she thought about it. No chance of jealousy and snide comments from one of their dates. It wasn’t her fault she was the only girl in the friend group. It just sort of happened that way.
“You know how we’re all going to prom together next week?” She took a deep breath. This was it. This was the moment.
“Yeah?” He eyed her cautiously.
“I’ve been thinking. Since I’ll be going off to college next year. Since we’ll all be off doing our things.” She laughed at herself. Why was she so nervous? This was just Archie.
“Hey, babe!” A girl threw her arms around Archie.
“Hey.” He smirked as he put his arm around the girl. “Beth, you know Tabitha.”
“Sure.” Beth’s eyes narrowed as she looked her up and down.
Tabitha hated when girls did that. There was nothing between her and Archie. Yet, they always looked at her as if she were some sort of competition. Surely they knew they were just friends. There was no chance he would see her like that. Tabitha smiled at Beth, but stayed silent.
“What about prom?” Archie shook his head as if he just remembered they were in the middle of a conversation.
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. It was too embarrassing to admit now. This was a blessing. Archie was family and she couldn’t do anything that would ruin the friendship they had, the friendship their families had.
“Oh, prom! I’m so excited to be going with all of you.” Beth snuggled up closer to Archie.
A date? He was taking a fucking date? Now she felt worse. And lame. She faked a smile. “You’re taking a date? Fun!” Fuck! She was happy for him, right? He was her best friend, and she wanted him to be happy.
Obviously, his happiness mattered. It was going to be just like every other party. The loner in a group of guy friends as they all brought dates. She’d tried to date in the past, but they never lasted. One time around her friends and the guy would practically ghost her. Or ignore her in the hallway.
This sucked!
“You don’t have a date?” Archie looked surprised.
“You know I don’t date.” She shrugged. “Group date with everyone. I’ll see you later!” She shook her head and walked away.
This was a blessing in disguise. It had been a stupid plan, and she didn’t need to risk their friendship. He was too important. Tabitha thought if she asked him, then at least her first time would mean something instead of risking it being a drunken mistake at college next year. Operation lose her virginity to someone who actually respected her was off.
CHAPTER4
ARCHIE
Twenty Years Earlier - Age 12
He looked away and blinked.There was no way that was her. Archie glanced back to the beanbag in the corner of his room where Tabitha was kicked back and flipping through one of his dirty magazines.
“What are you doing?” He could’ve sworn he hid those earlier when his dad told him the Grimaldis were coming over later that afternoon.
She peered over the magazine with a smile. “More like, what have you been doing?”
He rushed towards her and grabbed the magazine. “Don’t you knock anymore?” He shoved it under the mattress with the others.
“Your door was open, and you weren’t in here. Besides, we don’t keep secrets from each other.” She rolled her eyes and leaned back. “How was your summer?”
“Boring.” That was the truth. It wasn’t as fun when she wasn’t around.
Tabitha spent most of the summer with her grandparents. Archie wasn’t too sure the same girl had returned. Since when did she have boobs? “And why do your legs look so smooth?” He hadn’t meant to say that part out loud. “You have nice legs, I mean.” Yeah, she would believe that. He scratched the top of his head and half-smiled at her.
