Although Kate had told her that Pogue always claimed the history was nonsense, Sarah still couldn't shake it.
The walk from the library to the dorms felt longer than usual as she was held deep in thought, a tad spooked if she was being honest because how could everyone else act like what she read wasn't something to be concerned about? Nothing else had crossed her mind since she'd read the pieces of the book that she had and a part of her wanted to read it all while the rest never dared to look the book's way again.
She knew if she asked one of the boys they would surely say the same thing Kate had, knowing well enough not to ask Kate anything more as she completely believed that it was nothing. Pacing the second floor of the dorm for a while she could see light emanating from a room down the long corridor, walking closer before she realized that it was Ana's.
Something sparked her mind at that moment, remembering that Ana wasn't actually new as she was; she had lived there before, grown up with these families.
"Hey, Ana?" Sarah asked, peeking into the open door with a knock and cautiously padding toward her friend's studying form, eyes unwavering from the thick book lying in her lap and playing with a pencil between her thin fingers, a look of concentration evident across her soft features.
At receiving a slightly distracted "hmm?", she gently sat herself at the foot of the bed, twiddling her thumbs anxiously and swallowing once, a question sitting atop her tongue but almost non-consenting to allow her to speak it.
"Did any of the boys ever mention their family history to you?"
"Not particularly, why?" She'd answered while flipping a page, not hearing a sound from the fellow blonde in reply and slowly lifting her eyes from the pages to see such a seriousness in Sarah's expression. Immediately that look told her what she had somewhat suspected, discerning a while ago that a conversation such as this would eventually take place but honestly never figured this soon.
"Oh God, you found that old book about Ipswich in the library, didn't you?" Ana questioned, pencil dropping from between two digits with a muted plop against chapter four.
"Listen, it's just a story." She assured, "Every town has a thing and the myth of witchcraft happens to be ours."
Sarah seemed reluctant to accept that answer, opening her mouth once and then closing it again before her lips formed a thin line in thought.
"But their families are mentioned by name, haven't you ever found that stran-"
"This again, Sarah?" Kate blurted, impeccable timing as always for a study session and causing a small jump on Sarah's part.
Stepping into the room with her own books piled high against her tanned arms, she all but tossed them onto Ana's roommate's mattress, surely thankful that the girl was practically never even there. Making herself comfortable, she threw an arm around Sarah's shoulders as her legs maneuvered to sit Indian style.
"When Pogue and I were newly dating and I asked about it, he started laughing so hard he could barely breathe!" She giggled, waving off the sentence with a flutter of her hand. "It isn't real."
Ana sent a shrug Sarah's way, as if to say a simple 'told you' and took her sights back toward the history textbook in dire need of looking over, an exam on the contents of the previous chapters already on the horizon. Out of the corner of her eye she finally spotted a smile on Sarah's face, grateful over their ability to already squish her concerns but seriously considering the idea of starting a petition to get that book out of the library. She had no doubt that Sarah wasn't the first new kid to be freaked out by it.
"Oh yeah, so our anniversary is coming up in a couple weeks and I need ideas of how to celebrate." Kate casually informed, peeking over at Ana's book.
"All you need to do is one thing and I'm sure he'll be thrilled."
The three girls burst into laughter at the fact that Sarah had never sounded so monotone in her life, Ana tapping the textbook and muttering "We have to focus!"
Reid had really started to question if his conquests were becoming too easy.
After all, the girl he'd just slept with didn't supply him with much of a chase, the last few in the past month coming off as almost eager to get into his pants rather than vice versa. This one in particular had made the first move and under normal circumstances he would never have gone along with it except that he knew this one hadn't had a boyfriend. In all honesty, he didn't have the slightest interest in getting punched again, at least not so soon and not for just another piece of ass.
His phone buzzed against her wooden nightstand, reaching over sloppily to grasp it and he'd just clicked the message when his moving seemed to instigate her to snore. It wasn't shocking in the least seeing as she'd passed out almost as soon as they'd finished and he had gotten the impression that she might just expect him to stay a while. Taking that as his queue to leave and finding his pants, he rushed them on, twisting the handle of the door as it closed to not even make a click, successfully slipping out without a trace. He'd gotten all that he wanted, satisfied her well enough and now it was only ten thirteen without a single indication of human life in the hallways.
Even though Tyler still hadn't spoken a word to him, Reid was convinced that he'd be on the receiving end of yet another earful if he were to find out that his previous lecture hadn't done any good of changing the resident bad boy's mindset, sending silent thanks to whoever might be listening for there being no witnesses.
Taking another look at the text that had practically saved his life just then, a grin took to his face.
The sky was crystal clear, almost glassy with every star visible, a rare occasion where an Ipswich night wasn't blanketed in a cover of clouds and absolutely pouring down rain. Caleb had quickly decided to take full advantage, sending the text message out to meet at the spot they'd claimed years ago, snugly hidden just far enough within the wood line. The usual suspects trickled in, sitting around on fold up chairs on the chilly night with every breathy laugh seen in the air and aiming their empty beer bottles straight into the roaring bonfire.
Ana couldn't help but feel impressed, the setup and location seemingly perfect when Sarah showed her the way. Not so far into the woods that one could forget where it was but also deep enough in that the smoke is concealed and the sounds of their conversations dimmed.
As always, Reid had been late and noticing him approach had her laugh slowly dissipating from the joke Tyler had told, taking the open chair directly next to hers and she watched as his arm extended, letting his palm run down her jean covered thigh with fingers spread to cup at her knee as he'd taken his seat. With a roll of her eyes she turned away from him, hand dropping to his side and Ana observed his quiet chuckle behind her back.
"Oh my gosh Ty, tell that urban legend about the couple that goes off to make out in the car!" Kate squealed, clearly already a little tipsy.
"Yeah Baby Boy, why don't you tell us a story?" Reid tutted, "You're real good at that."
The animosity between the two became instantly apparent and quite hard to ignore, the group going quiet as they were practically able to feel the tension grow tighter, that it would snap at any point and the unspoken path to go about fixing it seemed to be drinking the mood to its original state.
Ana wanted so badly to ask one of them what had happened, taking a large sip of her Redd's and knowing her best bet was getting Tyler alone to ask him over Reid, though even he might not say considering that he wouldn't even take a glance at his best friend. She sighed, taking a look over to see that Kate was now contently sat in Pogue's lap with her arms wrapped around his neck, whispering nothings into his ear, maybe just one too many Mike's Hard having her feeling right, a little frisky and he seemed to not mind in the slightest.
"She gets clingy when she drinks." He stated, redirecting his attention back to the things she was saying only for him to hear, smiling wide and only when she pulled back could anyone else see the same smile mirrored onto her expression.
On nights such as this, the group liked to play their own version of truth or dare. Depending on the mood, they'd play by either taking out the truth or disregarding the dare and that night happened to be agreeing to truth or truth in which the rules were made very simple: no spectators and no backing out. This game led to some interesting revelations such as Tyler still slept with a baby blanket his grandmother had made him, Kate's first crush was Nick Carter and Caleb hadn't done anything sexual with Sarah yet.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with taking it slow!" Sarah protested, frowning at her friends for the way they'd asked the question, as if waiting was a waste of time, her cheeks burning.
"I think it's sweet." Ana admitted, earning her a smile from the previously red faced girl.
"Oh?" Reid piped in, having been relatively quiet so far that night and all heads turned toward him. "Well are you a virgin, Ana?"
The importance he'd placed on her name left her intrigued, pursing her lips as the sneaking suspicion overwhelmed her based on the twitch of his smirk, hinting that it would spread with her answer, that he already knew her answer yet she was far from ashamed.
"Reid! It isn't her turn-"
"No." Ana answered, deadpan, cutting off Sarah's scolding.
As she expected, the smirk he wore widened to show his pearly whites, obviously pleased with himself.
"Care to tell us the story?" He uttered immediately, fingers idly tapping against the glass bottle.
"You see, I would but that isn't how this game is played, now is it?" She countered, turning away from him once more.
Ana felt her eyes roll yet again but had to admit that she'd missed the back and forth. Anyone else that she'd gotten to know in such a way never came even remotely close to the teasing and banter she had with him. He infuriated her to a level that she couldn't quite explain, in the same breath knowing that if she ever needed anything, he'd surely be one of the first people she'd turn to.
"You know what, your turn, Reid." Sarah began, "What's your biggest fear?"
He'd opened his mouth to undoubtedly send back some cocky response he'd conjured on the spot, but she was even quicker. Always had been.
"Oh, I think I can answer that one for you, Garwin." Ana spoke up, biting her lip softly.
His brows shot upward in surprise, gesturing for her to go ahead as he lazily took a swig from the whiskey bottle held in his hand.
"Commitment."
A collective 'ooh' resounded about the circle they'd formed with their chairs, laughter filling every inch of darkened sky and the spark of a challenge was lit in his eyes, smirking widely for the second time that night; a new record.
At that point Kate had been kissing up on Pogue's neck, clearly past caring that all of their friends were still sitting there as well. They'd stood then, saying their goodbyes as they couldn't wait any longer to head back to his house and causing Ana to check the time, revealing that it was already past midnight. Gathering their things at breakneck speed, they all formed a small cluster to start walking back to the dorms, tripping and giggling the whole way through the darkness together and only having to duck down to dodge one patrol officer. Emerging from the forest with earth soaked knees, Ana hooked her arm through Sarah's, beginning to approach the daunting building as the dark silhouette's of her friends started to branch off and head in different directions.
Sarah sent her a goodnight as she headed inside her room that she'd be having to herself, Ana making sure the door closed securely before walking toward her own.
Enjoying the silence of the walk, she all but just slid the key into her lock when that low, seductive voice sung out behind her.
"So I gotta say, I'm glad you still don't embarrass easy. I don't like feeling like I have to apologize to people."
Turning on her heel to face him, she smiled with a shake of her head. "I'm glad you still like to push people's buttons. Keeps me on my toes."
The remark earned her a signature smirk and one of more sincerity than usual.
Reid walked a step toward her then, her breathing halting a second and mind running a marathon a minute wondering if this was going to be an impulse repeat of the other day.
"It's good to have you back, A." He whispered, his warm, mint breath fanning against her cheek. She swallowed hard.
The thought approached her mind that it didn't matter how long it'd been since they'd last seen one another or what they'd last said. He stands in front of her and it's the first day of sixth grade. He takes a single step forward and it's her birthday five years ago. He says her name and she's thirteen. For others it takes going through the motions with someone to return to normalcy after so long but with him?
He looks her way and she was never even gone.
And chapter four is finally here! I've been so hella busy y'all, it ain't even funny and I honestly missed working on this so damn much. (My cruise was cancelled because of fucking Irma btw lol) As always, please be sure to follow and favorite if you enjoyed reading and leave me a review down below. I'd love to know what you think! xx