The Silent Reader

Chapter 3

Age 16

"Guess what movie I got that that's based on a book."

"Oh no." Kathy mutters under her breath on the other line. "I'll be there in 15." She announced.

Yeah, she speaks now. Well, only to a selected few. She still stutters when she's nervous or super excited and angry, but since she's gone to speech therapy, she's been talking my ear off.

And I love it.

She has such a beautiful voice, but I'll never tell her that.

Now that she speaks, Tommy doesn't since he had an ear infection from his earpiece last year and is too scared to get another one, so these days, the dude is now completely deaf. This forced Lizzy to learn sign language, and surprisingly, they're still together. I've heard it. I've seen it and regret giving 12-year-old Thomas a pep talk to ask my sister out.

Because my poor eyes have been... I can't even say it. I've seen things I didn't think I'd even see. Thomas doing the devils tango with my sister in bed...

NASTY.

The thought alone makes me want to throw up.

I put the movie on pause and set out the snacks for our movie night. 4-year-old Emma is out with mom and dad visiting our grandparents, Tommy and Liz were out at some senior party. Even though he was in college he still wanted Lizzy to experience the senior year l life. So tonight, I get to spend some quality time with my bestie.

Bestie... Huh, I'm starting to hate the word.

Just then the front door opens as Kathy lets herself in.

"Luca?" She calls out. I love the way she says my name.

"Kitchen."I respond. I see her red curly hair appear beside me. She seems on edge and fidgety as she pours herself some coffee and then plants herself onto the countertop. She kept her head down.

"What's wrong?" I asked worryingly as I stare at her shaking hands. When she doesn't respond or raise her head I cup her face in between my hands just to see her crying. "Shit Kathy what's wrong?" She doesn't meet my eyes as she bites her quivering lip. "Oh no, you walked in on our siblings doing the nasty, didn't you, and you're crying because you can't unsee it." I say, trying to lighten the mood.

This makes her chuckle a little, "L-Luca, you're such an i-idiot." She then cups my face and presses her forehead to mine. Girls are so fucking confusing.

"Okay so I agree my choice of words may not have been appropriate-" I whisper as she giggles some more yet more tears roll down her cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumb.

"Josh Beckett asked me the winter formal." She whispered against my nose her eyes locked with mine. I stop breathing for a moment-

Wait.

"The same Josh that I beat the shit out of when we were 10?" I asked, frowning as I pull back to see her face scrunch up with guilt. I shake my head, taking a step closer, and find myself standing between her thighs, placing my hands on either side of her.

"We're talking about the same Josh that bullied you? The one that I beat the shit out of again in the 9th grade because he tried to grab your ass?"

Her tears rolled down her cheeks, "I said yes Luca." she responded quietly. I frown then shrugged coldly. She could date whoever she wanted as long as he made her happy, but it still bothered me. And right fucking now I'm more confused than bothered.

"Then why the fuck are you crying? Did he force you? I clench my fists as sudden rage fills me at the thought of that fucker or any other fucker touching her.

She shakes her head at me and smiles. Fucking smiles sadly as she combs her fingers through my hair," I said yes because no one wanted to go with me. Luca, I don't have any other friends at school. You're literally the only person I talk with."

"I could have asked you." I realized how much of an idiot I truly was.

"Yeah." She sighs tiredly, still combing her fingers through my hair.

I can't help but close my eyes and groan at the amazing feeling. "fuck that's so nice." I rasped. I opened my eyes again when she stops. Her cheeks were bright red.

"Why were you crying?" I asked quietly leaning in closer.

"Because I realized that Josh might want to kiss me..." she explained, her hands drawing me closer until our chests were pressed together. I lick my sudden dry lips.

"That scared you?" I asked, my hands found their way to her waist. Her breathing filters.

"Yeah, I don't want him to be my first kiss." The minute those words left her mouth, my lips crashed onto hers.

That night I realized that I was utterly and uncontrollably in love with my best friend.

The kiss got heated, lustful, and downright sexy that I nearly took her right here and now if it wasn't for Lizzy crying as she barged into the house. When we tried to calm her down we asked her what was wrong all she could say was,

"I think I'm pregnant."