The Silent Reader

Chapter 2

Age 13

After Lizzy came back from her date with Thomas, dad called me into the living room and decided that it was the perfect time to ruin my 13-year-old mind with...

The talk.

Lizzy already had the talk with mom and then told me what to expect when it was my turn, but I was not prepared for what dad had in store for me.

Kinda wish mom told me, but she's been too busy with my baby sister Emma. Yup. Mom gave birth to baby Emma last year.

And that's why I'm sitting on the porch because Emma can't stop crying for God knows what, but mainly, this gave me an excuse to wait for Kathy to come home. Her family went out of town for the week to visit a sick relative, and I swear every minute that I haven't been near her sucked. She's my best friend.

We saw each other every day, even if it was just me and her reading a book in silence. I don't know. It's just something about being around her...

"Are they here yet? God, I miss Tommy." My 15-year-old sister complains. I faked a gag.

"No, not yet."

"Ben! Our children are lovesick!" Mom squeals from the door frame holding baby Emma that lets out a baby giggle. Like she's laughing at our embarrassment.

Evil baby.

"Mom!" Lizzy and I whine out at the same time. Just then, a pair of headlights appear and park in front of the Allen household.

"Ohmigod! They're here!" Lizzy squeals and jumps from the steps and sprints towards her 16-year-old boyfriend, nearly tackling the poor guy to the ground, yet he hugs her back. I, unlike my crazy sister, slowly make my way towards the Allen family because I don't wanna seem lame. But I'm dying to run straight into Kathy's arms.

It doesn't surprise me to see her face in a book. I greet Thomas just to break his and Lizzy's weird, eye staring contest. I make fun of his weird deep voice, I charm Grace Allen, their mom, telling her that she's beautiful and I score a kiss on the cheek from her and got an eye roll from the young couple and a playful glare from Mr. Trenton Allen, their dad.

Last but not least, Kathy. Who was still seated in the car, not even realizing that everyone had already gotten out and that she was home.

"Bookworm!" Thomas knocks on her window, making her snap back to reality. She looks out and mouths 'oh' sheepishly gets out, hugging her book to her boobs.

Wait.

Boobs!?

"Where did you get those?" I blurt out as I stupidly point to her chest. Thomas laughs out but slaps me over the head. Lizzy rolls her eyes, and Kathy blushes.

"You're an idiot." Lizzy sighs as she and Tommy walk hand in hand into the house. Leaving me alone with Kathy. We grin at each other like idiots.

'I've always had boobs, Luca.' She signs before pulling me in for a hug. I learned sign language for her to communicate better, took forever, but it was worth it.

We hug longer than we normally do. I take a deep breath in and accidentally inhaled her sweet scent. Coconut and vanilla and Kathy.

"I missed you," I whispered. And I thought I was imagining things when I heard her whisper back,

"I m-m-missed y-you t-too."