The Promise
Copyright© 2024 by DB86
Chapter 2
“Did you go to the party, Neil?” Maggie asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Neil slumped forward and braced his knees. “Yes, and I wish I hadn’t. Thirteen-year-old me, completely smitten and out of my element — what could go wrong, huh?”
“Spill it! What happened?” Red chimed in, leaning forward with eager anticipation.
“Be patient, Red,” Neil replied with a chuckle. “I’m coming to that.”
“When Steve and I rang the doorbell, Glenn’s dad greeted us at the door and sent us downstairs.
“A wide-open basement greeted us. A long table laden with chips and cheese dip stood against the wall, a cooler overflowing with ice and cans of soda positioned beneath it. Loud music blasted from a corner, making conversation difficult.”
“Let’s get something to drink,” Steve said, as we moved across the room to the snack table. We busied ourselves with cheese sticks and cola and looked up uneasily when Glenn Haskett came downstairs with about six guys.
To our immense relief, he gave us a nod and said, “Hey guys,” before he leaped onto the sofa next to the girls and made them laugh and squeal.
The room was full of kids I didn’t know. I felt completely out of place. Steve looked as uncomfortable as me. We didn’t belong there.
Then, the doorbell rang again, and a sigh of relief escaped my lips as Gabrielle and her friends entered the room.
There she was. At last.
She paused on the bottom step, scanned the room for a moment, and found me. My heart pounded as our eyes met. Her face lit up with a smile, and in that instant, the awkwardness, the unfamiliar faces — it all melted away.
Five minutes later, I found myself slow dancing with Gabrielle. Gathering all my courage, I leaned in and...
“You kissed her! I knew it!” Maggie squealed, throwing up her arms. “I knew you two were meant to be.”
A shadow flickered across Neil’s features. “Yes, I did. Steve told me that if I didn’t kiss her, she’ll think you was not interested.”
“So, how was it?” Red pressed, his curiosity piqued. “The kiss...?”
Neil shrugged. “Well, I didn’t have anything to compare it to. Gabrielle didn’t complain, so I guess it was as good as a first kiss can be. I thought she and I were an item then. I started thinking about where I would take her on our first date.
“After our dance, Gabrielle walked to her friends. They were looking at me and giggling.
“A bunch of kids went outside to sit on white plastic lawn chairs arranged in a circle on the grass, even though it was too cold to be sitting outside without a jacket.
“Steve and I sat down on a couple of chairs under the deck because we didn’t know anyone on the grass. I checked my watch. My parents expected me to be home by eleven.
“Then, the most unexpected thing happened. That new girl, Megan, spotted us and approached, stomping up the grass as if she were on a mission. Steve sucked in a breath, and I wondered if he might have a thing for her because she was kind of cute. Compared to Gabrielle’s undeniable beauty, Megan possessed a certain charm, a quality I found endearing.
“She stood in front of us and greeted me...”
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