Since Way Back ↷ Jeff Atkins

↷ TWENTY TWO

Though Kat kept her brows furrowed, as if she was lost in a daze that Devin nor Hannah took notice of.

''Biggest bitch ever,'' Devin continues, exchanging glances over at Hannah. ''Told anybody in sight someone's crush. So when she saw what was in my notebook, word went around, but a lot of people thought it was a rumor because of how Justin had looked back then.''

Shrugging her shoulders, Hannah asks, ''What do you mean?''

''Are you kidding me?'' Kat piped up, her features remaining and her tone coming off flat as she remarks, ''Kid was a sandy blonde Harry Potter mixed with Jack Johnson.''

Devin nods her head, ''Yeah, nobody liked him. But, Justin got curious, and he wanted to see me. So all the girls in our grade had pulled me away at lunch while all the guys had pulled him to corner us together in the courtyard. He straight up had asked me if I liked him and since I was ballsy back then, I told him, yes.''

Devin couldn't help but giggle at the memory. ''The guys encouraged him beforehand that if I said yes, he had to kiss me. So he did.''

''Was he good?''

Devin jerks back. ''Good? Kid tried to shove his tongue down my throat before his lips even touched mine.''

Hannah had laughed at this with Devin following along shortly but Kat was still not responsive. It was setting the whole mood off.

''Hey, Kat,'' Devin calls. ''You okay? I mean, if you weren't comfortable with that, it's okay to tell me.''

She forced a meek smile and tells her, ''Forget about comfortable, more like juicy.''

''Who was your first kiss, Kat?'' Hannah asked while switching into a different position on her bed. She began to lay down and propped an elbow and rested her head on her hand to keep her up.

Grabbing her cup from the nightstand, Kat starts pushing herself off of the bed and tells them, ''I'll tell you once I get my refill.''

Hannah's parents were still running their local Pharmacy at the hour and they were doing a late night shift considering Hannah was having company over, so Kat didn't have to make a pit stop for any small talk on her way towards the kitchen.

Kat had dropped her cup on the counter and reached into the back pocket of her jeans and fished out her phone, dialing Jeffery Atkins phone number.

''Hello?'' She greets questioningly, her voice small and hushed. She looks around to see if any of the others had followed her.

''Kat?'' He groans. His tone was hoarsed and raspy, as if he just woken up. ''What's up?''

''I need you to know something and I need you to not tell Devin or anyone and not act out.''

He was silence, but the line wasn't. There was ruffling heard, motion was going on.

Jeff Atkins had pushed himself off of his bed and asked with a clear of his throat, ''What is it?''

× × ×

A couple of hours have passed. It was two in the morning, where Kat and Devin shared the inflatable air mattress while Hannah had her bed to herself.