A Bigger Scratching Post

From a writing prompt on Reddit: Your friends are actually superheroes, but they think you already know because you mistook their secrecy for them being a throuple trying to hide their relationship.

((NOTE: For some reason I’m not able to post the story onto Reddit. I’ll keep trying, but for now, enjoy.))

Samantha chewed on the inside of her lip as she sat down. She knew this conversation had been coming. Inwardly, she kicked herself for getting irritated the day before. She new her words were harsh and maybe she had been a bit unreasonable, but at the same time …

“Sooo… you do know why we want to talk to you,” Nate sat on the arm of the couch, his eyebrows furrowed in worry, “Right?”

“I have something of a notion, yeah,” leaning back in the recliner, she crossed her arms. Marcus and Amanda were already seated on the couch across from her wearing similar worried looks.

“What you had said the other day,” Nate rubbed a hand on his thigh, a definite sign that he was nervous. “Look, we–“

Samantha shook her head, “You don’t need to explain, okay? I know I sounded upset the other day, but I guess I was just in a mood and feeling … feeling like you guys just don’t want me around anymore or something. I mean, I know what you guys go out to do and I’m not a part of that — don’t want to be a part of that — but I guess I’ve just been feeling abandoned, and –“

Amanda sat up, the worried look getting heavier, “Wait, you… you know what we do?”

She sighed, “Of course I know what you guys do.”

The three of them exchanged looks of surprise.

“H-how long have you known?” Marcus managed to finally get out after the moment of stunned silence. “I mean, how could you have known?”

She rolled her eyes, “Oh please, I knew something was up when Nate gave that really lame excuse of being late for his bowling practice. You don’t even bowl!”

Nate winced and looked abashed, “I … I might? .. or maybe not.” His shoulders slumped in resignation.

“And, Amanda, maybe keep track of who’s funeral you’re going to? You’ve said twice that you had to go to your Uncle’s funeral and you only have one Uncle.”

Amanda opened her mouth, then snapped it shut, “I said it twice?”

“Mmhmm, and Marcus, I love you, but you really don’t know how to quiet your body language.”

Marcus’ mouth hung open a moment, “I … well… wait, what do you mean?”

Samantha sighed and leaned forward again in the seat, “Every time you three go into the corner to have one of your little meetings you grab hold of either Amanda’s or Nate’s arm or shoulder or drape and arm over one of them. I know you’re a hugger, but the physical contact between you three just screams how close you guys are.” She added quickly, “That and I saw you get your duffle bag from your trunk before all three of you piled into Nate’s car. You really need to be more careful about that.”

The looks of guilt the three carried made her heart clench. She really didn’t want to out them like this. Honestly, it didn’t matter to Samantha what they did behind closed doors, but it was putting a strain on their friendship. At the end of the day, she didn’t want to lose them as friends. She had to make that known.

“Guys, look, you are full grown adults allowed to make your own decisions and what you three do is your choice,” she shook her head, “but stop with the lies. That’s what hurts more than anything else. You didn’t have to hide any of this from me. You know I’m not the type to judge like that. My anger the other day wasn’t because of you lying then leaving, it was because it felt like you guys didn’t trust me.”

Samantha felt her eyes well up, “And it really really hurts to think that.”

“Oh,” Amanda immediately got up, then went over to her to kneel in front of her and take her hand, “Oh, Sammy, I’m so sorry. We never ever meant to hurt you with this.”

Nate chimed up, “We just thought it would be better if we just didn’t tell you about it. Thought it would protect you if you didn’t have to cover for us, too. Please, believe that.”

“I know, I know,” Samantha took the tissue Nate offered and dabbed her eyes with it, “that’s why I can’t stay mad at you guys. I figured that was the reason. It just… you know I had that bad breakup with Tom then lost my internship at the law firm and then.. then you guys–” She felt her breath hitch, more tears came, and she felt stupid for getting so emotional.

“Oh crap, we didn’t–…” Marcus sighed and got up. “We are shitty shitty friends, guys. Let me get us some drinks.”

After Marcus got them something to drink and Samantha got all her tears out there was a more relaxed sense in the room. Like a burden had been lifted from their shoulders. The three sat on the couch while she cradled the glass in her hands, tissue box nearby in case the flood gates opened up again.

“So where do we go from here?” Nate’s worried look never really left.

“Well, I’d like to say that it goes without saying, but let’s not make assumptions,” Amanda took a quick drink, then looked at her, “Sammy, you do know that you can’t tell anyone about this, right?”

“Of course I won’t tell anyone,” Samantha shook her head. “I can only imagine what your families would think about this. Nate’s family would probably disown him.”

“Dad definitely would,” he drained his glass and immediately went to pour another.

“And Amanda, your mom would practically evaporate on the spot.”

“Burn me in the steam cloud while she was at it too,” Amanda snorted.

“Marcus your grandmother would drag you to church and beg the priests to perform an exorcism on you, after trying to drown you in holy water.”

Marcus barked a laugh, “Unfortunate, but yeah she probably would.”

“Definitely wouldn’t tell your mom and dad either.”

“Oh, but they know.”

Samantha’s eyebrows shot up, “They do?”

“Yeah, they’re fine with it,” Marcus nodded. “Heck, my dad is the one that trained me.”

” ….. what?”

“What?”