American Honey

The thunder rattled the window and she jumped. Rhea moved a little closer to me. Before I fell asleep Rhea was snuggled up as close as she could get to me.

“Tanner,” Rhea calls.

I groan and roll over, hitting my shoulder in the close confines of my bunk.

“Tanner, get up.” Rhea nudges me in the back.

“No.”

Rhea sighs, “Fine, I’m goin’ to the pool by myself.”

The thought of seeing her in a bathing suit has parts of me wide awake now. I roll in her direction, “You’re not goin’ to the pool by yourself.”

Rhea raises her eyebrows, “And why’s that?”

I throw my legs over the side of the bed and hop down. My thighs, stomach, and chest touch Rhea’s body. All I have to do is bend my head down and my lips would meet hers. I’ve been fighting this kiss forever now and pretty soon I’m not going to be able to stop myself.

I wink, “Because I’m comin’ with you.”

Rhea shivers and goose bumps break out across her skin. “Come then.”

I take a step back; my dick springs to life at the word come rolling off her tongue. She has no idea what she has been doing to me for years now. I’m afraid to tell her, afraid she’s too young, too afraid to screw our friendship up because of my hormonal urges but things are changing whether I want them to or not.

Rhea laughs and walks away, “Let’s go, Tan.”

Chapter Three

~ Age 16 ~

Rhea

Things are altering.

Time is passing.

People are changing.

My heart is breaking.

Families are falling apart.

Falling in love isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Friendships are diminishing.

Have you ever had that feeling deep in the pit of your stomach that something wasn’t right? No matter what I did, no matter how I tried to distract myself from that feeling, nothing was working.

My friends were all starting to arrive for my sweet sixteen birthday party. Mama and Daddy decided to throw me a huge party. It was meant to be a surprise but in a heated argument they let it slip and ruined the surprise for me. The fighting between my parents was getting worse with each passing day. Daddy was working more and more and he hadn’t come home yet after having left early this morning. Mama is distracted these days, barely functioning and not noticing what’s going on around her. Tanner is being more distant than ever. He hardly ever talks to me anymore unless it is just the two of us. I sent him a text this morning wishing him a happy birthday and he has yet to answer his phone.

The doorbell rings again, “Sweetheart, can you grab the door?” Mama asks. I don’t know why she couldn’t do it; she was sitting on the step just staring into space.

My friends Sarah and Bella stand on the porch dressed up in pink and black dresses giggling and carrying on about Lord knows what. Those two are forever laughing and getting in trouble.

They squeal, “Happy birthday, Rhea!”

I hug the both of them before they enter the house. After they pass by me I take a step out onto the front porch and glance over towards Tanner’s house. He’s home. His bedroom light is on but yet he still hasn’t answered my text.

I decide to try one more time before giving up.