Since Forever

Chapter 9

Archie's POV

I roll over and adjust my pillow. I can't sleep. I think it's because we didn't do much today so I'm not tired. I roll over again and kick at my blankets. It's too stuffy in here. 

I hear low whispers coming from the other side of the room and lean out from under Ethan's mattress to take a look. It seems to be coming from Zac's bed, but he's very clearly asleep, lying on his side with a deep frown on his face. I almost laugh. He always looks so serious when he sleeps. 

I spot the phone held loosely in Zac's hand. I slide quietly out of bed and tiptoe across the room. Zac's fist closes slowly after I remove the phone from his grip. I pause an Avril Lavigne album on his Spotify and replace the phone next to his pillow. 

I get back into bed, but I still can't sleep. It all feels wrong: sharing a room with Zac's school friends, sleeping on the same bunk as a total stranger, watching Zac spend all day with some girl. It's not that I have problem with Alice—she seems like a perfectly nice girl—but she's annoying and super clingy; doesn't she have her own friends? I've barely seen Zac all summer because he's so busy. I would never admit it to him, but Zac is the only reason I even come here. Sure, the activities are fun and we get to rock climb and kayak and everything, but I also get to spend time with my best friend. And now my only reason for coming here is ditching me for her. I may have a problem with Alice.

I roll over and pull the covers up to my chin. It's not like I really have a reason. It's none of my business who Zac dates or wants to date. And it's not Alice's fault he's not spending time with me. He has other friends. He's allowed to have other friends. I should stop getting upset about this. Only, I can't. I miss my friend.

I lie on my back and put my hands under my head, staring up at Ethan's bunk. It's not weird that I miss him more than my school friends right now even though he's only on the other side of the room. He's further emotionally. And I've known him way longer than them so it would make sense that we're closer. It's not weird.

Having settled that, my eyelids droop and sleep finally comes.

"Miss me?" Zac saunters over to my bed and sits down next to me.

I grin. "How did you know?"

He leans down to whisper in my ear. "I know everything. About you, anyway."

A shiver runs down my spine. I force a laugh. "You wish," I say nervously. He has leaned back from my ear, but his face is still very close to mine.

He half-laughs and his warm breath tickles my neck. "Yeah, I do."

I don't know what to say to that and that coupled with my words getting stuck in my throat is enough to render me speechless. 

"You know I missed you, too, right?" Zac stares at me lovingly, gently brushing my cheek with his thumb. My heart skips a beat.

I hold his gaze, unable to look away. "R-r-really?" I stammer.

He nods. "Let me show you how much." He leans in slowly, covering the small distance with ease. 

His lips only brush mine at first, then he leans closer, deepening the kiss. I'm so surprised that my eyes are still open. He grips the back of my neck, pulling me closer. My hands are in his hair and my heart is hammering in my chest, playing out an up-tempo rhythm on my ribcage. Does this mean I like it? 

I Love Rock 'N Roll starts playing in the background and Zac returns to a sitting position, pulling me with him. We break apart and while I gasp for air, Zac trails kisses down my neck. That's when I notice I'm shirtless. And he's shirtless. And he might as well be pants-less as well because his shorts do a terrible job of hiding his—