A Change Of Heart

11

October 9th, 1967

5:45 p.m.

"Where's Tom today?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen him since the bell rang for school to be out." Ben shrugged, watching me sweep and wipe down the tables.

"Didn't he say anything to you before he left school?"

"No..." I mumbled, looking up blindly as my hand continued to push the wet rag across the table. My mind thinking of all the possible places Tom could be if he wasn't here with us.

"He's probably at the pond."

"Alone?" Ben raised an eyebrow, taking the last swig of his soda before walking over to toss the cup into the trash.

"Yeah, he likes to be alone when he's nervous or upset. Kinda gives him a chance to recharge."

"What's he upset about?"

"That damned fight he's got on Monday." I rolled my eyes, shaking my head as I recounted yesterday's events. If Tom were here and heard those words leave my mouth he'd deny every one of them, never wanting people to know how upset he ever really was.

"Hm..."

"What?"

"Nothing, I just thought maybe when you get off we could go see if that's where he is but you've got a date." Ben shrugged, a smirk crossing his features at the mention of the word, "date".

"How'd you find out?"

"Mike's been talking about it nonstop for days."

"Really?"

He nodded, laughing before sitting down in the booth behind him, "totally obsessed, I mean we all love you and think you're great but geez..."

"I-I don't know what to say." I chuckled, my heart fluttering at the thought that someone like Mike would even think about me that much.

"You and Tom encourage it though."

"Not Tom so much these past few days."

I cocked an eyebrow, Tom had been the pushy one throughout all of this. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know ever since Wednesday he's been kinda touchy about Mike talking about you."

"What do you mean?"

"Like y'know..." Ben motioned, biting down on his lip and shaking his head, "never mind I've already said more than I should have."

"Strange." I muttered, putting the broom and other stuff away in the back before clocking out and going back to the front where Ben was waiting.

"See you Monday then?"

"Of course, don't get into too much trouble Tench."

Ben smiled, a chuckle leaving his lips, "same goes for you and Mike, no kissing and no hand holding on the first date."

I blushed, laughing and shaking my head at him before turning to walk home to prepare for my date.

///

7:00 p.m.

"You're early." I grinned, peaking around the door at the shy boy that had arrived on my door step. Mike blushed, nodding as a nervous laugh left his lips.

"I-I wanted to get here a little early incase your parents wanted to know who you were going out with." He shrugged, his eyes growing wide when I stepped out of the house and shut the door.

"They're not home yet, besides I already told my mom."

His eyes glimmered, nervously offering me his arm as we walked off my porch and down the sidewalk. My eyes being unable to refrain from staring over at Tom's house on our way past it.

"H-How was...um, how was your day?" Mike spoke, making my head turn and my eyes dart up to his inviting warm ones.

"It was ok, how was yours?" I blushed, his eyelashes covering his beautiful orbs altogether as he grinned shyly and looked down at the ground.

"Good, e-especially now."

His words instantly triggering the butterflies in my stomach that had already been there, but were now more evident. I giggled, quickly looking over to see his now red cheeks.

"So, has Tom talked to you lately?" He questioned, his voice still shaky and his breathing increasing when our arms accidentally brushed.

"Meh, kind of I-I mean..." I hesitated, Tom had pretty much avoided me all day since this whole fight thing went down. My brows knit together as I vexed my brain trying to put the right words together but only came out with a simple "yes..."

"H-He um..." Mike paused, blushing the brightest red I'd ever seen, "he told me to try and at least hold your hand tonight."

"Really?" My curiosity now piqued, Mike's statement had completely went against Ben's earlier statement of Tom acting all strange about Mike.

"Yes..."

"Well then, I suppose we should fulfill his wish..." I giggled, placing my hand on top of his and smiling at the laugh that left his lips. Batting his eyes, his gaze fell down onto me as he squeezed my hand gently, "sorry if my hands are rough, I-I, y'know the guitar and..."

"It's ok." I beamed, squeezing his hand back gently. Our eyes darting over to look at the other and every once in a while during the short jaunt they'd meet, making both of us smile and snicker at one another.

Both of us now with red cheeks, making the man at the ticket booth laugh as Mike told him the name of the movie and paid for tickets, all the while still gripping onto my hand.

After making our way into the theater and sitting down, our eyes caught each other's once more before the movie started. Offering each other a friendly grin before looking at the screen when the bright light from it caught our attention. I leaned closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder and snickering when his thumb began tracing over the top of my hand.

Little did we know the whole time we were laughing and glancing at one another with a grin there was also someone else in the theater with us, who had it out for me in particular.

A/N: I hope this was ok and you guys all had a great weekend! Please leave a vote or comment, I do so enjoy hearing your opinions. 🙏🏼💘