Phylis, Anthony and Fredrick stood around Beth’s grave. Phylis was the only one who had tears on that cold January day. Anthony and Fredrick hung back, knowing their shared guilt might temp them in to telling their closest friend in the world what really happened to her lover.
Anthony thought about the summer everything had changed. The four of them had been friends since first grade. They were so close growing up that the constant teasing and “foursome” joke grew old very quickly. They had spent every waking moment having fun and laughing together.
It was the summer before they were supposed to leave for college that everything changed. Anthony and Fredrick were oblivious to the two girls falling in love all around them. They missed the shared glances that lasted a moment too long. They weren’t part of the all night phone calls.
By the time September came around, things had heated up for the girls. They may have been putting more clothing on to stay warm, but they were taking more off around each other.