Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser

  It was easy enough to follow Evan’s car back to his house, even with Katie and Jen talking, laughing, and singing the entire way. Loudly. Evan waited by the garage door, and he warned us to be quiet. “Mom’ll have a fit if we wake the guests.”

  I’m sure Katie and Jen thought they were being quiet, but between stumbling into furniture, cursing, and loudly whispered shushes, they didn’t fool anyone. On the other hand, no one came out of their rooms, so I took that as a good sign.

  Evan and I pursued them up into Katie’s room. Katie wanted to play music, but we convinced her it was too late and, after much cajoling, she and Jen climbed into bed. I was stunned at how quickly they were out. It was like their heads hit the pillow and nighty-night.

  Evan whistled softly. “They are going to be hurting tomorrow.”

  “No doubt.”

  I wasn’t sure where I was going to sleep. Katie and Jen took up her double bed. I wasn’t above crashing on the floor, though, if I had a blanket and pillow.

  Evan inclined his head toward the door. “Want to come to my room?”

  I hesitated. I wasn’t sure that I should.

  “C’mon,” he said. “We’ll just watch a movie.”

  “Okay.”

  The first time I came to the house, Evan’s room was messy with clothes strewn about. It looked a little better this time. There was a mound of discarded shirts in the corner, and the comforter was lumpy. I guessed that he hastily cleaned up.

  “Where’s Ebb and Flow?” I hadn’t seen or heard the dogs. They must have heard all the commotion that Jen and Katie made.

  “They sleep in my parents’ room when I’m not home.” He took off his shoes, picked up the remote, and sat on the bed. Leaning back against the headboard, he turned on the TV. I stood in the doorway, and he looked at me curiously. “Are you going to come in and sit?”

  I took off my shoes and sat next to him.

  “What do you want to watch?” he asked.

  “Honestly? I’m not usually up this late.” I felt like a loser admitting it, but it was after one. The only time I stayed up that late was New Year’s Eve.

  “Old music videos or classic horror movies?”

  “Classic horror.” I loved Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi. Those movies were so much better than the computer-generated blood and gore. They had class.

  “Good choice.” Evan flipped the channel. Apparently, House of Usher was the featured film tonight. I’d seen it enough times to know it was halfway done.

  “One of my favorites,” I said.

  “You’ve seen it before?” Evan seemed surprised.

  “Like twenty times. You?”

  “Maybe ten. I guess I’m not as big a fan as you, but I love old horror movies.”

  I couldn’t believe it. I’d never met anyone around my age before who liked them. Most of my friends didn’t even know these movies existed. Kim tried to sit through one every once in a while when she came over for a sleepover. She usually fell asleep. I would stay up to the end and finish it every time.

  Evan sat up. He had a mischievous expression on his face. “Let me see your feet again.”

  “No!” I crossed my legs, tucking my feet away before I faced him.

  “Why not?”

  “You have some kind of foot fetish?” I challenged.

  He raised an eyebrow before responding slowly, “Maybe I do.”

  He reached for my foot. I tried to scramble away, but he was too quick. I thought he was going to take my sock off but, instead, he tickled the bottom of my foot through my sock. I was extremely ticklish, much to his delight, and before long, I was breathlessly urging him to stop. I couldn’t breathe.

  Evan leaned down over me and wiggled his eyebrows dramatically. “Now I know your secret.”

  “No fair. I know none of yours.” I pretended to pout, which made him smile even wider.

  He bent forward and kissed me. “You’re cute when you pout.”

  He lifted his head and looked at me. Self-consciously, I remembered that I was lying on his bed. I cleared my throat. “I should, ah, probably go to bed. I’m going to be exhausted tomorrow.”

  “Probably,” he said. His leg covered mine, and he didn’t make any attempt to move. He slowly lowered his head, and his eyes never left mine. This time he kissed me slow and deep, and I found myself breathless again.

  “Evan, I really…”

  “I know, I know.” With a sigh, he rolled onto his back, turned his head, and looked at me. “You probably need a pillow and blanket, right?”

  “Yeah. That’d be great.”

  He stood and motioned for me to follow. There was a linen closet in the hall. From the topmost shelf, which I never would have been able to reach, he pulled down a pillow and a fleece blanket.

  “Thanks.” I was having trouble meeting his eyes. He pulled me into his arms again and kissed me. It was light and quick.

  “Goodnight, Meara.”