Finally Lovers

This story just popped in my head one day. I am taking a break from my "Sex After 60" series to write it. I may write a follow-up to this story based on reviews. Let me know if you would like me to continue their story.

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Tabby

My name is Tabitha Wilson. Everyone calls me Tabby. I live in New Haven, MO. I have two best friends. Taylor Jones was my logical best friend. Taylor and I have known each other our entire lives. Our mothers had been neighbors and best friends their entire life. They fell in love about the same time and got married in a double wedding. They ended up buying homes side by side. Taylor and I were born three months apart.

The summer before we started 1

st

grade, Thomas Anderson moved in across the street. He went by Tommy. He was one month younger than Taylor and two months older than me. Our mothers took us with them when they welcomed the new family to the neighborhood. That is when Taylor and I met Tommy. The first day of school our three mothers walk us to school together. Taylor and I were devastated (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little.) to find we were not in the same class. Tommy was in the same class with me though, so we sat next to each other. By the end of 1

st

grade, Tommy and I were best friends also.

Taylor

Tabby and I have been best friends for as long as either of us can remember. Some of my first memories are of our families or more specifically our mothers spending time together. Our mothers always cleaned house together. First one of our homes and then they would move to clean the other home. They always did any shopping together. Our families took most of our vacations together. Of course, our fathers became best friends also, but they were not as close as our mothers.

Tommy moved in before 1

st

grade. Our mothers along with Tabby and me welcomed his family to the neighborhood. Tommy's mother became good friends with both our mothers fairly quickly. Tabby and I became friends with Tommy. In 1

st

grade, Tabby and I were not put in the same classroom, but Tabby and Tommy were. I was a little upset when Tabby and Tommy became best friends in 1

st

grade. Still Tommy was a nice, kind, sweet boy, so we became good friends also.

Tommy

I moved to New Haven, because my father got a job in the Pepsi plant there. I was upset, because I lost my friends when we moved there from Columbia, MO. That changed fairly quickly. Tabby and Taylor's mothers welcomed my family to New Haven. Our mothers all became good friends. Tabby and Taylor were nice to me, so that helped me get over losing my friends back in Columbia.

Tabby and I became best friends during 1

st

grade. Tabby and Taylor were upset they were not in the same class together, but Tabby and I were, so we sat together. I felt a sorry for Taylor since she was not in class with us. I think Taylor was a little jealous at first, but eventually we became good friends also. Tabby started telling people Taylor was her best 'girl' friend and I was her best 'boy' friend.

In 2

nd

grade, we got lucky and were all in the same classroom. The teacher had to separate the three of us or we talked to much. That is when we got our nickname. One of our classmates, Jonathan 'Johnny' Johnson, started calling us the 3-T's. Johnny lived a block away from us and was a friend of ours also.

Tabby

The three of us became inseparable. I loved the 3-T's nickname Johnny gave us. We did almost everything together. In junior and senior high school, we always ate lunch together. We did slightly change paths in junior and senior high school. Taylor and I liked theater. Tommy and I sang in choir. Tommy was in one play and said it was not for him. Taylor said she could not carry a tune in a bucket. I would never say it to Taylor, but she was a horrible singer. Taylor and Tommy both loved chess and were in Chess Club together. We all tried sports in school, but the three of us could not play together. We instead started playing on a coed soccer team away from school. We all decided to attend Washington University in St Louis together the end of junior high. I wanted to be a teacher, Taylor wanted to be a RN and Tommy wanted to be an electrical engineer.

Taylor

Boy did the three of us have fun in high school. I loved being in plays with Tabby. I wish I could sing, but I went to all of Tabby and Tommy's concerts. Tommy came to all of Tabby and my plays. Tommy and I became closer friends, because we played chess we had some free time. We got quite good at chess. Chess actually helped me get into Wash U. They thought highly of people who were in chess club.

We got into some trouble, but we were good kids. About the worst was when we were almost 15. We took Tommy's dad's car for a joyride when his dad left the keys in it. I am not sure it was actually a joyride as we only got a couple blocks before the cop pulled us over. It happened on a Sunday afternoon. Our punishment was we were grounded and could not spend any time together for two weeks. We could not walk to and from school together, but we did get to eat lunch at school together. We were miserable. Our mothers took pity on us and took all three families out to dinner together on Friday five days after the joy ride after we promised to be good from then on.

Tabby and I were not allowed to date until we were 16. Johnny and I kind of became an item in our freshmen year of high school. When I turned 16, Johnny asked me out for a date. We had a great time and decided to go steady. Johnny decided to go to Wash U with the 3-T's and get a degree in healthcare administration. We were both hoping to work at the same hospital.

Tabby

I was thrilled for Taylor when Johnny asked her out on a date when she turned 16. Of course, they were basically an item, but they could not officially date until then. They went out on a few 'dates' before she turned 16, but Tommy and I were along on all of them. It was just 'friends' having fun. Of course, we had all been friends since 1

st

or 2

nd

grade. Taylor's parents liked Johnny and knew his mother who was divorced, so they were happy when they started dating.

I got a big surprise when I turned 16. William 'Bill' Davis the outstanding quarterback of our high school football team asked me out for a date. I accepted instantly. With Taylor and I dating, Tommy seemed to pull back some. Sure, we still hung out when we could and ate lunch together at school. It just seemed we did not hang out together like we use too. I was disappointed when Tommy dropped choir our senior year.

Tommy

I could hardly wait for Tabby to turn 16. I was attracted to my best friend. I planned to asked Tabby for a date when she turned 16, but that self-centered jerk Bill Davis swooped in and ask her out on a date before I could. Bill stole my would-be girlfriend. They became an item. I quit going out with Tabby and Taylor as much, because Bill was with them most of the time. I dropped choir my senior year, because Bill was in choir also. I went out on some dates, but I was stuck on Tabby.

Tabby

After just over two years of dating, Bill proposed to me about a month before graduation. Bill got a football scholarship to MU in Columbia. We figured we could make it work, because we would see each other almost every weekend except during football season. I was shocked when Tommy announced just days before graduation that he had enlisted to serve in the Army for two years and he was leaving for basic training in a week. He had been planning to go to Wash U with Taylor and me in the fall. I was sure there was more to the story, but he insisted it would allow him to finish college with little or no debt.

Taylor

Tommy was going into the Army and not going to Wash U in the fall? What is going on? I talked to Tommy to see what was going on. He said he had just changed his mind and wanted to take a couple years off before starting college. Besides the Army would provide financial assistance with college. I was sure there was more to it like Tabby, but Tommy would not open up. It was all a little strange.

Johnny and Tommy both decided to change names near the end of high school. Johnny decided to go by John and Tommy decided to go by Tom. Of course, our mothers including Johnny's, Tabby and I continued to call them Johnny and Tommy. My young brother and Tabby's younger sister normally called them John and Tom as did Tommy's older brother and sister. Johnny was an only child.

Johnny surprised me the night we graduated by proposing. I accepted of course. We decided to wait until we graduated from Wash U and he and I got jobs before we would get married. We were sure he could find a job locally and hoped I did also. It would be perfect if we were able to work in the same hospital.

Tommy

I had hoped Tabby would realize what a jerk Bill was and break up with him. I was disappointed when she and Bill announced their engagement. I needed to get away and think. I enlisted in the Army for two years. I would take some college classes while in the Army and the Army would help pay for my education after I completed my enlistment. I would then decide what to do. I figured I would most likely go ahead and enroll in Wash U after my discharge from the Army.

To say Tabby and Taylor were surprised when I announce my decision to enlist in the Army would be an understatement. Tabby and Taylor both talked to me about why I enlisted in the Army, but I did not tell them the real reason. They were going to have a going away party for me, but it was combined with the party to celebrate Taylor's engagement. I enjoyed the party, because I got to celebrate with them before I left for basic training.

My basic training was going to be at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I would then be sent to South Korea for a year.

Ta ylor

Tabby and I started classes at Wash U. We were both missing Tommy, but it bothered Tabby more than me. She was always been closer to Tommy. To make matters worse for Tabby, she only saw Bill on weekends. I was lucky Johnny was attending Wash U with us. The three of us shared a two-bedroom apartment. My parents were not happy that Johnny and I shared a room, but accepted it, because we were engaged. Tabby had the other room.

Tabby

God, I missed Tommy. He was one of my two best friends and was supposed to be in college with Taylor and me. Why did he go in the Army? At least I get to see Bill most weekends. I went to a couple MU home games, but I didn't see him when it was an away game. During the break between 1

st

and 2

nd

semester something seemed a little off about Bill. He said it was nothing. During 2

nd

semester, Bill quit coming home every weekend. Something was wrong, but Bill said it was just that he still had training for football and needed to study more to keep his grades up.

After we completed our 1

st

year of college, Bill dropped the bomb on me. Poppy Smith the head cheerleader at our high school had enrolled at MU. She was a cheerleader there also. Poppy and Bill started hanging out with each other after football games. After a few games, they started seeing each other. Just before the end of 1

st

semester they had sex. Bill had decided to stop seeing her while he was home with me for the holidays. Unfortunately, they started dating again. They were engaged now and he was calling off our engagement, the bastard.

First Tommy joined the Army. Now Bill jilted me. I was done with men. All men could go to hell. Tommy came home on leave before his next assignment when he got back from Korea. To hell with Tommy. First, he deserted me and then Bill left me. I refused to see Tommy during the two weeks he was home on leave. I stayed in my room the entire two weeks he was home.

Tommy

Great, I get back from Korea and took two weeks leave. I arrived home and found that Bill had just called off his engagement to Tabby. I wanted to ask Tabby out, but she was just as mad at me as she was at Bill for some reason. She refused to see me. After two weeks, I had to report to my next assignment at Fort Rucker, Alabama. I would complete my enlistment there. I thought Tabby was just depressed and hoped she got over it while I finished my enlistment.

Taylor

I felt bad for Tabby and Tommy. Bill called off his engagement with Tabby. She almost broke down completely. Tommy came home on leave and wanted to see both of us. Tabby refused to see him. She would not even leave her room during his visit. Tommy had to report to his new assignment and was unhappy he did not get to reconnect with both of us. It really bothered Tommy that Tabby would not even see him, because she was so mad at him.

Tabby did not leave her room until two weeks after Tommy left. Slowly she came out of her depression. By the time we had to return to Wash U, she was pretty much back to normal, except she had hardened her heart. She wanted nothing to do with dating. She was still friends with Johnny, but she only tolerated most men. Slowly during the 1

st

semester, she came to terms with her lose. She started making friends with men, but still refused to date at all. She said she was never going to date again.

Tabby

First Tommy surprised us by going into the Army and left for basic training. My relationship with Bill helped me come to terms with Tommy leaving. Next Bill left me for Poppy. I went into depression. To hell with men. I was depressed and refused to leave me room. Tommy came home on leave, but I didn't want to see him. Taylor helped me with my depression. By the time we had to return to Wash U, I was okay, but I avoided men. Johnny helped me see not all men were assholes. Still, I swore off dating. I never wanted to date again. I would devote myself to teaching.

Tommy

I completed my enlistment at Fort Rucker. Thankfully, Tabby seemed to have forgiven me. I got to reconnect with her and Taylor. Of course, Johnny was included as an honorary member of 3-T's now. I asked Tabby for a date. She said she was never dating again. She was devoting her life to teaching. She was finally not with that jerk, but she would not date me. I turned to Taylor for help.

T aylor

Tommy came to me for help. He finally told me why he left for the Army. He had fallen for Tabby. Before he could ask her out, Bill swooped in and took her away. He couldn't stand to see them together all the time in choir, so he quit choir. Next, they became engaged. Tommy a little heartbroken and had to get away. He decided to enlist in the Army. Now Tabby was free, but she had sworn off dating. What should he do?

I talked to one of the professors I took a class with. He planned to be a psychiatrist, but decided he liked teaching more. He said he could not give professional advice, only his opinion. He suggested Tommy just be a good friend to Tabby. Show her he would be there for her. Promise to never leave again. He could occasionally ask for a date again, but he should back off if she said no. He said that Tommy should not get his hopes up. It may work, but it was also likely not to work.

Tommy

Taylor told me what her professor advised. What did I have to lose? I would just have to be patient and hope Tabby came around. We all went to Wash U in the fall. We got a three-bedroom apartment. One bedroom for Taylor and John. Tabby had her bedroom and of course the last bedroom was for me.

Tabby and I became close again, but I was stuck in the friend's zone. Every month or two, I would ask Tabby for a date. Of course, she would get upset and tell me she was never dating again. At the end of the school year, I was starting to give up hope. I wished I had not decided to enlist in the Army.

They worked weekends during school and all summer. I needed to do the same. We had decided to take a canoe trip on the Current River in southern Missouri before starting our summer jobs. Some of our other friends were going and we would all meet at the campground. My father allowed me to take the family van. Tabby, Taylor, John and two friends who lived in New Haven were riding with me.

I was helping Tabby carry her stuff to the van. A car was driving too fast and I could tell he was likely to hit us if we did not get out of the way quickly. Tabby froze when she heard the guy lock up the brakes on his old car. At the last-second, I dropped Tabby's stuff and pushed her out of the way. I got hit and stuck my hand out as I fell toward the street.

Tabby

Tommy and I were crossing the street. I heard the driver lock up the brakes. I froze in fear. At the last-second Tommy pushed me out of the way. I turned back and Tommy was laying on the street motionless. Thankfully Taylor was getting ready to cross the street with her stuff. She yelled, "Don't touch him." She dropped her stuff and ran out to check on Tommy.

Taylor

I saw it all in slow motion. It turned out a drunk driver was driving too fast. He must not have been paying attention. At the last second, he locked up the brakes on his ancient car. Tabby froze, but Tommy pushed her out of the way. I watched in horror as the car hit Tommy. He went down hard and hit his head on the pavement.

I yelled at Tabby to not touch him. I ran out and checked on him. I knew not to move him. I checked his pulse and thankfully he had one. He seemed to be breathing normally. I called his name several times loudly, but he did not respond. Tabby seemed to be going into shock. I had her lay in the grass and put something under her feet.

By that time, Tommy and my mother were coming out of their houses to see what was going on. Tabby's mother was at work. I told them to not touch Tommy. It was important to not move him at all. I told my mom to call 911. The firetruck and a police car showed up at almost the same time. An ambulance was not far behind. I told them I was a nursing student and had checked his pulse and it was good. He also seemed to be breathing normally. I had made sure no one moved him. I also told them he got hit by the car and then hit his head fairly hard on the pavement.

They carefully stabilized his neck and got him on a backboard. They checked his vitals and loaded him in the ambulance. He was unconscious the entire time. Tommy's mother rode in the ambulance with him. Tabby and I put our stuff back in our homes. I had called Johnny and he picked us up. As we were leaving for the hospital, mom said she would contact the other parents first and would meet us at the hospital.

Tabby

Taylor had me lay down and raised my feet. She said she thought I was going into shock. I laid there and watched as help arrived and took care of Tommy. One guy came to check on me. I told him I was fine and to help Tommy. I was praying for him to be okay. Johnny came and took Taylor and me to the hospital in Washington after they took Tommy away in the ambulance.

On the drive to the hospital, I was lost in thought. Tommy may have saved my life, but he had definitely stopped me from getting hit and injured by the car. I felt Tommy might love me and he had kept asking me to go on a date. I realized I had been an idiot. Bill hurt me badly, but I knew in that instant I was in love with Tommy. Why had I not gone on a date with him? What happened if he died or didn't recover? I prayed for Tommy again. I decided that when he regained consciousness, I was going to tell him how I felt about him.

We got to the hospital and Johnny dropped us off at the emergency door to check on Tommy while he parked the car. They would not give us any information except to say Tommy was being treated. The doctor did come out and had Taylor describe what she saw. His father showed up. We found out Tommy had a badly bruised left hip, leg, ribs and arm where the car hit him. He had injured his right wrist when he hit the ground based on the swelling. Thankfully, there were no broken bones. They were going to keep his neck stabilized until he woke up as a precaution. His head had hit the street fairly hard. They were sure he had a concussion, but were more concerned about some minor brain swelling. They decided to keep him unconscious until at least Monday to let the swelling go down and let him heal some. They did say it was fortunate Taylor had witnessed the accident, because she was able to describe what happened to Tommy so clearly.