Fifteen Going on Grown Up

by Stephanie M. Turner

  She told them all and quickly disappeared before her friends could protest. As she had been sitting next to Corrine with Clia opposite it meant the two boys could sit down next to each of the girls.

  Hally fussed with her hair and makeup in the ladies long enough to give her friends some time with the boys. She didn’t stay too long so as not to make it too obvious and when she returned to the table the four seemed to be getting along quite well. At least there didn’t seem to be any awkward silences. She slipped onto the bench next to Rhys and smiling said.

  “Queue.”

  Corrinne and Clia gave her such a disbelieving look that she felt herself blush; which she quickly covered up by sipping her coffee, and to her relief saw Wes coming over with their order. He beamed at her as he laid out their food, Gregg and Rhys’ too. Hally was very proud of the way he had arranged this little get together for Corrinne and Clia and felt her heart swell with love. This sudden flood of emotion took her by surprise and did not go unnoticed by Wes.

  “Hally, are you ok?”

  He asked full of concern.

  “You look all flushed.”

  “Um… oh…yes I’m fine, just suddenly got a bit too hot. Too many layers, it’s cold outside.”

  Quickly she slipped out of her jumper even though the top underneath wasn’t particularly thick. Wes gave a slight concerned frown but didn’t say anything further. Corrinne however gave her a look that told her straight away she didn’t believe what she had told Wes and that she would be questioned later.

  After they had all eaten, Wes brought them fresh drinks and slid onto the bench next to Hally. He told them he was taking a quick break which pleased Hally. It did however mean that Clia and Rhys were a bit squashed together but from what Hally could see, neither minded. In fact her two friends were chatting to Wes’ friends like they had known them for ages. In fact they were all chatting like the whole group had been friends for a long time. Hally was almost disappointed that they had to leave and carry on with their shopping.

  “Why don’t we all get together this evening?”

  Wes asked as he stood up to go back to work and the girls prepared to go back to the bustle of Christmas shopping. Rhys and Gregg nodded immediately and Corrinne and Clia agreed too. Hally thought for a moment, not wanting to spoil what could be a great evening; but worried about visiting her Gran.

  “Go and see Gran for a little while and then we will come and meet you there.”

  Wes told her, reading her mind.

  Hally beamed relieved, and again felt her emotions building in her chest like a dam ready to burst.

  “Thank you Wes. That’s a lovely suggestion. Oh but aren’t you doing a split?”

  He gave her a quick peck and grinned.

  “I came in really early and promised to work through until five, so I wangled the evening off.”

  The girls left the boys still sitting in the café and began the afternoon session of shopping. The rain had now turned to sleet and the temperature had dropped considerably. They tried to stay inside the stores as much as possible and chatted about Gregg and Rhys as they shopped.

  “Wes is an angel.”

  Clia told Hally.

  “He’s an absolute angel.”

  Corrinne told her sincerely. Hally smiled at her friends and felt happier than she had in a long time. For just a few moments all her family’s problems were buried beneath the tide of emotion she felt for her friends and their happiness and her boyfriend. Corrinne noticed the change in Hally.

  “So… what happened in the Hotspot then?”

  It took Hally a moment to realise what her friend was talking about, then felt her cheeks growing warm at the memory of her intense feelings.

  “You’ll think I’m crazy.”

  She mumbled.

  “Sweetie, we know you are a crazy bird, so nothing will surprise us.”

  Clia told her in her ever so grown up voice. Both Hally and Corrinne laughed and as Hally mulled over the two gifts she was looking at for her mum, finally came clean.

  “I think, I really do think that I love Wes.”

  Both her friends gave a deep sigh. Then Clia, rolling her eyes said.

  “We know that already. We thought something serious had happened to you.”

  Hally looked at them in pure astonishment. Her mouth formed a perfect O and she almost couldn’t speak.

  “What…what…do…you mean, you know?”

  She stammered. Corrinne laughed heartily.

  “Hals, we can see it in your face, your voice, everything about you, especially when he’s around you.”

  “Oh, do you think Wes knows too.”

  Hally asked sounding worried.

  “Probably.”

  Clia and Corrinne replied together, and at the devastated look on Hally’s face.

  “But hey sweetie, I think he feels the same way about you. Just because it’s not said doesn’t mean it’s not felt.”

  Clia said. Hally remembered Wes nearly about to say something and then changing it and the smile returned to her face.

  “Well, now it’s your turn.”

  She indicated to both her friends. They all laughed and Corrinne and Clia nodded in agreement.

  “So. Which one for mum? Oh I’m going to buy both.”

  Hally announced taking both gifts and putting them in her basket.

  As promised Wes and the others picked Hally up from her Gran’s that evening.

  “How’s Gran today?”

  Wes asked gently.

  “Mum says she’s had a really good day and the time I spent with her she was quite lively.”

  Hally responded. Wes smiled took her hand and kissed her on the cheek.

  “I’m very happy to hear that. So, if it’s ok with you we thought we would go to Corrinne’s. Her parents are out at a Christmas party so she asked if we could all go there.”

  Hally gave Corrinne a deep understanding look. Originally she was going to the party with her parents. As an only child she often went out with them rather than be alone, now Hally could see the excitement in her friend’s eyes at the thought of having not just her closest friends round; but a whole group. Corrinne had had a couple of boyfriends before, but like Hally they had only been brief relationships and none to take home. With a deep sigh Hally realised they were all growing up and the fears she had experienced about drifting apart resurfaced. Determinedly, she pushed them aside and resolved to thoroughly enjoy the evening.

  The evening went very well indeed. The six spent the time chatting and finding out about Gregg and Rhys. They had met Wes because they worked with his dad who was a builder, and both boys were training in the building business. They listened to a variety of music and played some board games, girls against boys, which the girls won most of the time. The boys insisted jokingly that they had cheated, but Clia indignantly told them it was because girls concentrated better than boys and since the games had required thought and tactics, it was obvious they would beat them. Hally and Corrinne agreed with Clia which started a playful argument and left everyone laughing.

  The girls took themselves off to the kitchen still giggling to fetch refreshments. Hally knew it would be an ideal opportunity to question her friends about Gregg and Rhys. However she didn’t have to start the conversation, as soon as they were out of earshot of the boys Clia put her hands together and raised them to her face.

  “Oh my goodness!”

  She exclaimed in a slightly hushed voice.

  “Your Wes really came through. I mean Rhys is just so fit, but well, it’s not like he knows it, you know what I mean. He’s not vain with his looks, he’s just so sweet and that accent…”

  Clia stopped. She simply couldn’t say anything more at that moment. Hally smiled at her friend’s delight and raised her brows to Corrinne.

  “What about you?”

  Corrinne smiled a soft, sweet gentle smile.

  “What can I say, I’m happy.”

  It was enough and all t
hree girls giggled and hugged.

  “Hey, have you three got lost or are you cooking up some new strategy for the next game?”

  Wes called out.

  “Just coming.”

  Hally replied. Hurriedly they put together a tray of drinks and snacks and returned to the lounge to continue the evening.

  On the way home arm in arm with Wes, they chatted about the success of his two friends getting along so well with her two friends.

  “How did you know they would hit it off so well?”

  She asked.

  “I didn’t really. It’s just, I’ve got to know Gregg and Rhys quite well over the past couple of months. I just thought well, they are quite a lot like me in some ways and since you and the girls are similar too, well I just hoped they would like each other. I think I sort of knew who would go for who too.”

  He told her. Hally smiled to herself.

  “Well let’s hope they work out as well as we did.”

  Wes stopped in the street and turned her into the circle of his arms. It was very cold now, the sleet had stopped and his breath came out in little clouds as he looked down into her eyes. There was just enough light from a nearby streetlamp for him to see her face.

  “Your cheeks are all rosy and you have a little pink tip to your nose.”

  His voice was quite husky and Hally felt warmth spreading through her body despite the cold air. She pressed against him and as he lowered his head and kissed her, through the thick layers of winter clothes she felt something she hadn’t experienced before. Wes’ body was reacting in the way any normal young man’s would. At first she felt a little afraid, but the warmth in her own body quickly turned to fire and she pressed closer, kissing him back. His kiss deepened and he wrapped his arms tightly around her pressing closer too. Quite suddenly she felt something build inside her and flood through her entire body, she shuddered involuntarily, gripped his shoulders tightly and felt her breathing quicken, and then the feeling began to subside. Wes stepped back releasing the contact between them but still holding her. Hally held onto him as the cold air began to seep back into her body. She didn’t know what to think, she thought she knew what had just happened, but it was all so new to her that she felt confused and a little embarrassed. She didn’t know if he knew, she didn’t know if she could tell him and worse she didn’t know if anything had happened to him too. Suddenly she felt so very young and inexperienced. All the times she had talked openly with her mum and friends had not prepared her for this moment and she did not know what to do or say.

  “Hally it’s alright.”

  Wes whispered. His voice seemed to come from far away for a moment and then she felt his gloved hand lift her chin to look at him. Then so very gently he said.

  “I know what just happened to you, I’m not sure I should have let it but it is ok. Was it the first time?”

  Hally felt tears sting her eyes and didn’t know why. She let out a little sob which soon turned to a flood of tears. Wes wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair soothingly. For a while they stayed that way and soon the tears began to lessen. In a shaky voice Hally finally replied.

  “Yes… it’s…I’ve never. What… did anything…you?”

  She couldn’t get out the right words, in fact she really had no idea what to say to him.

  “Hally, babe, no I didn’t (and at the worried look she gave him) but it’s ok. I enjoyed it just the same. Look, it’s getting very cold here, let’s get you home and we can talk about this in the warm.”

  Hally didn’t know if she would be able to talk about it in a nice cosy warm room face to face. But she knew he was right about one thing, it was getting colder and as they continued the walk home the first few flakes of snow began to fall.

  Thankfully when they reached Hally’s house, there were only a few lights on which told Hally her parents were already in bed. As usual they knew where their daughter would be and who with so felt comfortable going to bed while she was still out, and even though it was only just gone eleven had been going to bed quite early for a while now. Hally knew this was because of the stress and strain of Gran and also because everyone knew that a late night call could come at any time.

  As they approached the back door Hally realised that she didn’t want to have a discussion about what had happened. She needed to deal with this herself first and work out her own feelings about it. She unlocked the door and then turned to Wes.

  “I think I need to be by myself.”

  She told him. Looking devastated Wes replied in a shaky voice.

  “Hally…are you upset with me…I… did I…was it?…”

  He couldn’t finish his sentence and Hally realised that he sounded very close to tears. She wasn’t quite sure how to handle this either, usually Wes was the one comforting her when she cried.

  “Wes, I’m not upset or mad at you, I just feel a bit strange and need to be by myself.”

  Not since the first few weeks of going out with Wes had Hally felt so uncomfortable and nervous. Wes pulled her into a hug and whispered into her hair.

  “Hally please call me tomorrow. I’m sorry.”

  Without moving Hally hugged him back and felt her heart wrench. He really did think he had done something terrible, but she really needed to be alone. She whispered back.

  “Wes, it’s alright, please don’t say sorry…and of course I will call you tomorrow.”

  She kissed him lightly on the lips, wanting to give a fuller kiss but afraid she wouldn’t be able to control her body. She then turned and stepped into the kitchen. Dejectedly, Wes turned and with his head down against the snow walked away.

  Hally quietly went through the house and up to her room. She desperately didn’t want her mum to wake up, even though she knew she could talk about it to her she didn’t want to talk to anyone. As she began to undress she thought about the feelings she had experienced. Her body still tingled in places and standing in her underwear she looked at herself in her mirror, she almost expected to see something different, but her body looked just the same as it always did. It was how it felt that was so different.

  Climbing into bed in just her panties Hally left her lamp on and lay in the semi-light thinking. Of course she knew about orgasms, she was after all fifteen and a half, she had read about them in magazines, talked to Corrinne and Clia millions of times, well lots anyway she told herself. She had even had conversations about the subject with her mum. She had also had some different but similar feelings the times when she had explored her body, though these were very few. But what she had felt with Wes was new, big and a whole different experience.

  It wasn’t just the physical response, how every muscle in her body tightened, how her breathing had got faster or the explosion inside that made her shudder all over; no, but how she had felt emotionally at the same time. She was completely overwhelmed with love for Wes; she wanted to cling to him forever, kiss him forever, never let him go. She wanted to laugh and cry and squeal with joy all at the same time. She could not comprehend how so many emotions could take place all in such a short time. Because, she realised, it had been a short time. Even though at the time it had seemed to last forever, to go on and on it had just been moments.

  This thought brought on a whole new stream of thoughts. If her moment as she thought of it happened so quickly and made her feel like she was feeling what then would it be like if Wes touched her properly, or even if they went all the way. Laying in the dimly lit room Hally felt her face begin to burn. Even though she was alone she felt embarrassed thinking about that and then realised that she was also beginning to feel a heat low down in her body too. Turning onto her side she gave a little groan and whispered into her pillow.

  “Don’t think about that Hally. He doesn’t want it to happen and you don’t really either. It’s not right yet, there’s plenty of time. Think of something else or you won’t get any sleep tonight at all.”

  Trying very hard to put all thoughts of Wes and how gorgeous and sexy he was o
ut of her mind Hally finally drifted into a very restless sleep. She awoke several times during the night from dreams she barely remembered but which left her body throbbing and almost aching deep inside. When morning eventually came, she arose feeling as though she had hardly slept. She wrapped herself in her dressing gown and peeped through her blinds to see a deep white world outside. She glanced at her clock and saw it was only just after eight then glimpsed movement in the garden. Nathan was already outside taking over large steps to trudge through the snow. It was already up to his knees and snow was still falling. Hally smiled and decided to put last night behind her and go outside and build a snowman with her little brother. But first she would text Wes. She picked up her phone and quickly typed a message.

  hi are you ok im fine everything is alright what are you doing today im going to play in the snow with natty for a bit will I see you later xxxxx

  Hally pressed send and then went off to shower. When she came back to her room her phone indicated a message had come in. Still wrapped in her towel she read the message from Wes.

  hi babe im so glad to hear from you i was very worried that you had gone off me mum and dad asked me to look after ellie so they could get some shopping done do you want to come round i would really love it if you did i have chocolate and hot chocolate xxxxxxxxxx

  Hally giggled to herself and quickly sent a message back saying she would come round late-morning. She then dressed in jeans, jumper and thick socks and headed downstairs ready for some snow fun with Nathan. Her body felt normal and she felt very happy, she was going to see Wes later and more importantly she was going to meet Ellie at long last.

  Hally arrived at Wes’ house warm and a little out of breath. The snow had settled everywhere, in places quite deep and especially near Wes’ home at the edge of town. Wes opened the door to her and pulled her into a tight hug as soon as she was inside.

  “I am so glad you are here.”

  He told her as he squeezed her. Hally held him back and was glad that her body was behaving normally. He helped her out of her coat and sat her down and pulled her wellingtons off. They had no time for further discussion because a tiny dark haired toddler came waddling into the kitchen waving an empty cup.