Since Forever

Chapter 3

Archie's POV

I smile reluctantly as I reach the edge of Zac's circle. "Hi, Zac."

The boy on Zac's left turns to me and squints slightly. "Do I know you?"

I blink at him in confusion. Huh?

"I think he meant me," Zac explains quickly.

"Ohh."

Zac turns to me. "Hi, Archie. Sorry again that we couldn't give you a ride." I'm about to tell him that it wasn't a problem when he continues. "We ran out of room."

I try not to show on my face how much hearing him say that hurts. He's never said anything like that before. He used to blow off homework to hang out with me and he ditched a whole school day last year so that we could celebrate my birthday. Zac is my oldest friend and I'm not going to lose him in one road trip.

Concern flashes across his face and I force my smile wider.

"I'm really sorry." He gestures to his friends. "They haven't been before and didn't know where to go, so we had to drive them."

I nod slowly. That makes sense, sort of. "All good." I wait for Zac introduce his friends. It takes him a good few minutes to notice.

"Oh, uh, this is Zac." He nods to the boy he was talking to when I arrived. That explains why he turned around when I greeted Zac. "And that's Finn and Fred." He points to the other two guys.

They smile at me quickly and then turn back to their conversation.

"Nice to meet you," I barely manage to get out. "How do you four know each other?"

"We all go to the same school," Zac #2 pipes up. There is only one Zac so to me he'll always be Zachary.

My smile slips. "Oh. Cool." Stupid school.

Zac nods distractedly. "Yeah. It's great."

Zachary looks up at him in confusion.

"So, when does this start?" Finn asks curiously.

"Soon," Zac mumbles. He's looking at something on his phone. I crane my neck to try to see what it is, but I am facing him which makes it difficult.

"Something up?" I ask casually.

Zac looks up. "Hmm? No. My ex just changed her relationship status is all. She's officially single now."

Zachary, Finn and Fred all stare at him in surprise. "What?"

"Which ex?"

"Surely you don't mean Madi?"

Zac nods contradictorily. "Yeah. We broke up."

I look at him in concern. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"She dumped me." To my surprise, he doesn't sound very broken up about it. He doesn't seem to care very much at all.

Finn's eyes widen. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" He wraps his arms around Zac without warning and I have to force myself not to laugh at the discontented look on his face.

"Tough break." Zachary pats him on the back.

Fred smiles sympathetically. "I'm sorry. If you ever want to talk about it..."

Zac shakes his head. "Seriously, I'm fine. I think we're both better off."

"If you need anything, I'm here for you," I offer, wanting Finn to move so I can hug Zac.

Zac smiles gratefully. "Thanks." 

Before Zac can ask us to change the subject as I suspect he wants to, I car pulls up next to us. Zac and his not-new friends glance up. The engine turns off and a tall redhead pulls herself out of the car. "I forgot how long that drive is," she says to no one in particular. She looks up and spots us staring at her. "Oh, hey guys." She beams at us. "Zac, Archie, you guys making new friends or introducing old ones to our home away from home?"