Memories Forever

Chapter 3 - Knock Knock

Felicia and Gretchen stopped Karen as she made to exit the lawn and asked her what they would do today. The community center had a youth function that day and Gretchen had been invited to attend

‘So girls, do we go to the center later at noon to attend the youth program?’ Gretchen asked,

‘Um… what’s the program about?’ Felicia asked disinterestedly. She wasn’t looking forward to attending a meeting of 16 year olds. Gretchen rolled her eyes laughing in reply ‘It’s not going to be boring’

‘Oh I never said it was going to be boring, but maybe it’s not just for my age or needs right now…’ Felicia answered her, smiling softly

Karen nudged her and grinned at her ‘Don’t mind her Gretch, she’s like our big sis you know’ They laughed as they went into the house.

‘Hey….but today is the twins birthday, their 16th, so they will be having a get together’ Karen remembered

‘Oh yea that’s true….’ Felicia replied. They had forgotten to call up their next door neighbors to wish them a happy birthday

‘Let’s call them now…..’ Karen said, getting out her cell phone to make a video call

After a couple of rings a sleepy voice answered… ‘Hello….’

‘Happy birthday Gina!!!’ the three girls squealed into the phone as Karen put the phone on speaker

‘Yea..Thank you ladies….Gosh it is my birthday Finally 16’ Gina squealed in reply, doing a dance on her bed

‘So what ….you are not legal yet to do anything girl’. Gretchen snorted in reply. The girls recalled when Gretchen turned 16 a few months ago; she had snuck out of the house to a party and came back drunk. She was grounded for a month and became the topic of discussion for many a family devotion.

‘Mm… Hello to you too Gretch. Not all of us can be as wild as you’. Gina answered laughing, sticking out her tongue. They all laughed and talked some more

‘How’s Phoenix? Put him on the phone’. Karen asked

‘Hm, you’d have to call him yourself on his own cell phone’ Gina pouted in reply.

‘Still pouting coz you are sharing his birthdate?’ Gretchen teased

‘..or you mean he is sharing my birthdate…’ Gina answered rolling her eyes

The three girls laughed and said they would call him later. Gina and Phoenix are twins and their birthdays were always fun to celebrate. Each not giving in to the other so their mutual friends had to celebrate them separately. It was going to be the same today.

‘So what have you got planned? Felicia asked Gina

‘Come over by 3pm, girl’s hangout then we will join up Phoenix and his crew by 5pm for the birthday party here at home. My parents have planned a big celebration for us' Gina said excitedly

‘Oh cool! Finally we get to celebrate you two together' Karen said

‘Yea yea…see you girls later, tata’ Gina answered

‘Byeeee….later’  the three girls responded ending the call

Karen walked towards the staircase heading to her room to go freshen up before coming down for breakfast. Felicia and the girls had gone to meet Emma and Claire in the garden for their morning chores before they would go freshen up.

‘Hey…wait up’, Archer called out to Karen as she turned to take the stairs. He had just come out of his room, all refreshed and ready for a lazy morning hang-out with Karen

‘Hey…. Thanks for helping us workout. Where did you learn all that?’ Karen asked him

‘Oh I have been going to the gym for over two years now’ Archer said smiling at her

‘Oh that’s why you are now muscular and all’ Karen said, marveling at his handsome build 

‘It’s called ripped and shredded baby..’ he said with a wink, pulling her to him in a side hug as they went upstairs together

‘Aren’t you going to get your chores done?’ Karen queried, halting their walk

‘Nah… Uncle and I already did ours last night’ he replied. Martin had spent the whole of yesterday sorting out papers in his study and Archer had subsequently cleaned and dusted the room, putting things back in their rightful place and cataloging all books. He worked till late in the evening and so had been given the morning off house chores

‘That’s good, well I am not exempted from chores today. I have to make the bed in my parent’s room and do the laundry’ Karen said, not looking forward to any of it

‘Oh okay…right...let me stay with you then and help you with that’ Archer replied, walking with her towards her room

‘Oh okay thanks Arch’ Karen smiled, reaching up and placing a kiss on his cheek. She had been wishing silently that he would come with her so they could spend some time together while she worked.

They had been near inseparable since he moved in, until Emma noticed and began engaging Archer with more house chores to keep them apart. At a time she told Martin to have a boys talk with Archer while she would have a girls talk with Karen so that no one would corrupt her daughter’s innocence, she thought.

The pair walked into Karen’s room and Archer told her he’d wait for her while she took her bath before they go do her chores. She nodded and went into her bathroom, locking the door

On second thought, she unbolted the door and climbed into the bath tub, giggling to herself and began another daydream of Archer. Then she heard.. 'knock knock....'

‘Hey… mind if I come in?’ Archer said softly, coming into the bathroom

She jolted in shock wrapping her arms across her chest, trying to cover her body from his intense gaze. 'Ar-cher...' she stuttered ‘You are not supposed to be in here’ she gasped

‘Really baby…then why did you unlock the door…?’ Archer smirked in reply slowly walking to her, peeling off his clothing

 Karen gulped as she stared at him

‘Mmm…you are beautiful…so so beautiful’ Archer said gazing at the beauty before him

He looked into her eyes, pulled her close and kissed her, exploring her lips in her first kiss experience.

Karen was lost in the euphoria of the kiss and just when she was about to give in and enjoy the moment some more, she heard Archer call out…..from the bedroom?

‘Aren’t you done bathing girl? You’ve been in there forever’ Archer bellowed, tossing the book he was reading aside. ‘I swear these books of yours are just too cheesy’ he said shaking his head and calling out to her once more to hurry up

‘Oh Almost’…she shouted back, jolting out of her daydream and quickly drying up, wearing her clothes and walking out of the bathroom into the room. ‘Sorry’ she told him shyly

‘What’s with you?’ Archer said looking at her puzzled, wondering why she was all breathless and shy but he shrugged it off and pulled her from the room

‘Okay come now let’s start your chores… I need to eat breakfast. The earlier we are done with the laundry the faster we can go get breakfast’. Archer said, hurrying her out of the room

Karen shook off the lustful thoughts she just had. Even though she secretly wished she could have that experience, she knew she needed to shake off the thoughts No girl my age needs these kinds of thoughts right now she thought, following him out of the room

Archer held her hand, entwining their fingers as they went along. They entered her parent’s room to begin cleaning the room and sorting out the laundry. As they set up the washing machine, Archer flashed her a wide smile, leaning over the machine, stroking her cheek.. ‘Beautiful Karen… your 16th birthday comes up next Saturday…Whatch you got planned?’

Karen smiled ‘Haven’t planned much yet. The girls will come over that’s for sure. And then we’d hang out I guess’

‘Hmm okay I will make sure we do something fun for you. Just leave it to me’ he said pausing momentarily to think about the event and what he will need to plan to make it a great day for her

Karen hugged him happily and began to sing gleefully as she thought of the things that could happen on her birthday.

‘Suddenly happy yeah?’ Archer remarked, amused

‘Yea.’ She said happily, gushing about all her dreams and Archer took note, chuckling and giving her ideas as they both planned out the events for the day. The room cleaning and laundry temporarily forgotten

Anyone eavesdropping would think the pair lovebirds unfolding and they would not be far from the truth...