Read Online Forever by Judy Blume - Free Book Online Page B

nervous about touching Michael. Once I got over
     being scared I let my hands go everywhere. I wanted to feel every part of him.
    While I was experimenting, I asked, “Is this right?”
    And Michael whispered, “Everything’s right.”
    When I kissed his face it was all sweaty and his eyes were half-closed. He
     took my hand and led it back to Ralph, showing me how to hold him, moving my hand up and
     down according to his rhythm. Soon Michael moaned and I felt him come—a pulsating
     feeling, a throbbing, like thebooks said—then wetness. Some
     of it got on my hand but I didn’t let go of Ralph.
    We were both quiet for a while, then Michael reached for the tissue box by
     the side of the bed. He passed it to me. “Here . . . I didn’t mean to get
     you.”
    â€œThat’s all right . . . I don’t mind . . .” I
     pulled out some tissues.
    He took the box back. “I’m glad,” he said, wiping up his
     stomach.
    I kissed the mole on the side of his face. “Did I do okay . . .
     considering my lack of experience?”
    He laughed, then put his arms around me. “You did just fine . . .
     Ralph liked it a lot.”
    I settled next to Michael with my head on his chest.
    â€œKath . . .”
    â€œHmmmm?”
    â€œRemember last night when I said I loved you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell . . . I really meant it . . . it’s not just the sex
     thing . . . that’s part of it . . . but it’s more than that . . . you
     know?”
    â€œI know . . . because I love you too,” I whispered into his
     chest. Saying it the first time was the hardest. There’s something so final about
     it. The second time I sat up and said it right to him. “I love you, Michael
     Wagner.”
    â€œForever?” he asked.
    â€œForever,” I said.

10
    â€œDo you still like each other?” Jamie said, as soon as I got
     back from Vermont. She and Mom and Dad were waiting up for me in the den. I collapsed on
     the sofa. Seven hours in a Volkswagen is a long time.
    â€œWell, of course we do . . . why shouldn’t
     we?”
    â€œDaddy said sometimes spending a lot of time together can end a
     romance faster than anything else.”
    My father actually blushed when I looked at him. “Were you hoping
     this would end it?” I asked.
    â€œDon’t be silly, Kath,” Dad said.
    â€œThen why would you have said such a thing?”
    â€œIt was a general discussion . . . not one about you
     and Michael.”
    â€œWe also discussed how being together can make a romance even
     stronger,” my mother said, to rescue my father, I think.
    â€œWell, that’s more like it!” I said, looking at Dad.
     “Being together made ours stronger.”
    â€œI’m glad,” Jamie said.
    When I got into bed, half an hour later, my father
     came into my room. “You think I don’t approve of you and Michael . .
     .” he began.
    â€œDo you?”
    â€œOf course I do. I’m just afraid you’ll get too involved
      . . . that’s all.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with being involved?”
    â€œMaybe that’s the wrong word. What I mean is, I don’t
     want to see you tied down.”
    â€œWho’s tied down?”
    My father sighed. “Will you stop throwing questions back at me . . .
     what I’m trying to say is, you’re too young to make lifetime
     decisions.”
    â€œI’m not making lifetime decisions.”
    â€œYou have to consider the future, Kath.”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œThere you go again.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said, “. . . but the future will
     take care of itself.”

    The next morning I waited until my father had gone off to his tennis
     game and Jamie left for school.