Tanner

It was about midnight when Shelly called. I had been up doing my research when I heard my phone ring. Checking it, wondering why my alarm for a break didn't go off, I saw that she had already called me four times before. I don't know what happened but my phone didn't notify me. 

"Hey, sorry I-"

A sob was on the other line. I froze as I never wanted to hear the sound again. I stood up on impulse and knocked over everything on my lap. My papers went flying, the book almost dropping on my toes, but my mind was on Shelly.

"What's wrong?"

"I-I...I'm having these really sad thoughts. I just...you didn't come to the fence and I had a conversation with my mom about my dad and so I thought you did what he did. Not like you are him and then I told myself you weren't him but-"

Her words made sense to me, although I'm betting she thought they didn't. I let out a curse word before I threw my jacket and shoes on. Why had I forgotten about it? My homework had been on my mind and I told myself that that was what I needed to do before I reached her. Brushing past my father, I opened the sliding door and rushed to the fence.

"Are you outside? If not, I'm right here."

Within seconds, I heard the door open on her side. She hadn't talked to me while she was coming but she didn't hang up either. What had happened?

Her father.

How had I forgotten about that too? My entire body went into panic mode to figure out how to help her feel better. When I got into these moods, she left me alone. But I couldn't leave her alone. Everything would rush back in and she didn't like it. She didn't know how to manage it.

"Shelly? Do you want me to come over?"

"No, I just want you there."

"Okay."

I was relieved but I still felt like I should do something. Taking a quick look, my family was staring at me through the sliding door. So, jumping the fence wasn't going to happen.

"T-Tanner?"

"I'm here, Shelly."

"Why do bad things happen when good things did? I've been so well without him and then he comes and thinks it's okay," she sobbed.

"Shelly, things just happen. You'll be fine. Everything will. Sometimes things we don't like happen, and sometimes things we do want happen. I wish I could tell you that to your face and not the fence but," I just sighed instead of saying anything else.

"How do you always know what to say?" I heard a sniffle on the other side.

"I don't know, I don't think it's good advice. It's just what I think."

"Do you read Pinterest or something?"

"Susie always says them randomly. I don't know, she's weird like that."

After a sniffle was a laugh. It sounded like she choked on it but it still counted. Ease washed through my body at it. She was calming down now.

I liked how a few quick words between us were able to make her that way. It only reassured me, if I ever needed reassurance, that she did love me. Only someone you love can say simple things and calm you down.

It had been on my mind for the past few hours. She loved me. Euphoria rushed through my body, with ease, and my heart raced again. I wanted to hear her repeat it.

But first I would reassure her that I loved her. She would always have someone on her side.

"I love you, Shelly. With almost all my heart."

"Almost all?"

"I have to have room for dogs and chocolate and Netflix and-"

"Shut up, Tanner."

"I mean, it's true. What about you, Shelly? How much do you love me?"

She let a quiet beat pass. And then another and another. Until she broke it by saying, "I don't know. But I know you're the first person I've romantically loved. And everyone knows that firsts end up with all the unfiltered and pure love someone can ever give another person."

And for the moment, she had forgotten about the sadness.

*******

A/N:

I think first anything always gets the full everything. Your first time trying sweets determines if you'll get a sweet tooth. Your first time walking decides if you're going to be a runner. You're first love determines how much love you will pour onto another person, romantic or not.

Firsts get everything. And anything after gets a modified version of that.

And here's a modified version of the pervious author's note:

𝐀/𝐍:
I'ᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴡ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴏʀ Vanilla3heads ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ sʜᴇ's ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ, ᴠᴏᴛᴇ AND ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ. (I ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ marun33, ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ᴠᴏᴛɪɴɢ!)