𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬━𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡

Ⅷ

REAGAN WOKE UP TO POUNDING ON HER FRONT DOOR. Her mother was still asleep--Reagan was very loud when she was younger, especially at night time. She rubbed her eyes as she walked out to the front door. The pounding didn't stop until she opened the door.

"Arvin? What time is it?" She asked groggily. He pushed past her and walked into the house. "Did you know Lenora was pregnant?"

Reagan froze for a minute. "W-w-what? She was pregnant?" He pushed his hair back from out of his face as the girl stood there. She could tell he didn't believe her. "Yes. I knew she was pregnant."

He sighed loudly as Reagan pushed the hair back from out of her face. "She asked me not to tell, Arvin. She was doin' it for you. She didn't want you to be upset with her."

"I-I could've helped her. We all could've helped her."

"I know, Arvin. I know. And I know she wasn't a suicide. She must've slipped or somethin'. She wouldn't have killed herself leavin' everyone behind."

"Reagan, there are things that I have to do. Can you tell my grandma that?" He asked as he looked down to the ground. Reagan was shaking her head when he looked back up. "You must be fuckin' crazy if you think I'm lettin' you go by yourself. You have been my best friend since we were seven, and how we stopped bein' friends was--who the fuck knows fault? But, no. I won't tell your grandma. You will tell her."

Then a thought crossed Reagan's mind. She stood for a minute, quietly before anything was said. "Are you alright?" Arvin asked her. She stood still before she acted on the thought.

Reagan  just walked over and kissed him. It was something that she never thought she would do.

It was just the two of them for that moment. In the darkness. In the quiet. Just the two of them. There wasn't anything wrong with that, until the hall light turned on. Reagan quickly pulled away and stared into the hall. "Sorry, mama, did we wake you?" 

Her mother stared at her for a few minutes. "Reagan...I had to pee.." She mumbled. Reagan looked away for a minute before looking up at her mother, who was still standing there. It was awkward. "Mama, are you gonna go to the bathroom..or just stand there?" 

"Right." She said as she headed back to the bathroom. Reagan laughed a little when her mother was walking back. The two laughed for a few minutes before it was quiet again.

"I'm gonna go..." he practically whispered to the girl. Reagan nodded as she watched the boy head for the door.

"Hey.." she called, "Tommorrow. You and me. We're gonna go see Lenora. I'll come get you. And then we can pray for her. I don't really like churches, but I'll do it. Alright?"

Arvin chuckled lightly before waving goodbye and walking out the door. Reagan smirked and headed back to her room, not knowing what the next day had in store.