KISS ME

CHAPTER1- "STUDYING"

You reach through the darkness and clutch my face in between your hands. You tell me not to move. You tell me I'm perfect in every way. You lean in close. I can feel your breath on my face. It smells like peppermint, your favorite candy. You close your eyes, and I pray this moment will last forever. Then, just like that, the lights flash on. That was it? It was so fast. I didn't even feel it. I'm I just that deep in thought? Did I miss it? Did I miss my first kiss because I was thinking? What a bonehead mistake.I think to myself. I'm such a bonehead. I want to cry. But I won't. Not in front Alex. Not in front of the best thing that ever happened to me.

Now I hear it. Someone's coming into the basement, into mypart of the house. I hear the nob turning. I shuffle to the other side of the bed and grab my backpack and spill its contents out on my sheets.

"How's the "studying" going?" Typical Bo, always ruining my life with his older-brother curiosity.

"What do you want Bo?"

"Just checking on things. That's all."

"Well, we're fine. Now get out of my room before I have to drag your sorry but out of here."

"Hey. I'm just trying to be a responsible adult. I mean, I am the only adult in the house right now..."

"Wait. You're saying mom and dad aren't here? As in gone."

"Ya, they left, like, five minutes ago."

"I bet Jully, would like to hear all about how well your doing watching your little sister all by yourself. In person. Don't you think?"

"Ya, I bet she would. I'll be back in 25 minutes. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone. Got it?"

"Ya, sure. Besides. Doing stupid things is your job. Not mine."

"Very funny. Bye."

"Bye."

"Your brother's something else Dannell."

"I told you. It's Danny. Not Dannell, not Dannella, or anything but Danny. Call me anything else and I knock you into next week. Capeshe?"

"Got it, Temper girl."

"Grrrrrr."

"Geez. Lighten up."

"Sorry."

"It's ok. Now were where we?"

"I think about here," I said leaning forward. BUZZZZZZZZ. BUZZZZZZZZZZ. "Oh for crying out loud."

"It's ok. Answer it. I'll be back."

"Ok," I picked up my stupid pink phone and read the annoying text from my friend Jace. Danny, I need your help. Kate ran off and I can't find her. I think she might have gone to the reservation. She won't answer her phone. And neither will Nick. I think her drinking problem is starting again. I don't know what to do. Help me. Please. Kate is Jace's steady girlfriend. She has a wickedly big alcohol problem. And Nick is her ex who she still has light feelings for. "Dam it."

"What?"

"Jace was a bonehead and let Kate leave him again. I need to go help him. Sorry."

"It's ok. Go. I'll wait."

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I will forever owe you."

"No. You just owe me a kiss when you get back."

"OK. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

"Go. Before I decide to keep you all to myself."

"OK. Bye," I said rushing up the stairs.

"Bye."

After about an hour of searching, I finally found Kate. She was hanging around an old bar on the west side of town. I texted Jace to let him know I found her. I found her. She's at 24th and Weldon. I'll bring her over. –DANNY. I got her in the car and drove her over to Jace's, who the second we pulled up, ran out of the house and embraced Kate in his loving arms.

"Jace I really have to be going. Alex is probably wondering where I am."

"Alex is over? Hugh. Never thought he was your type. What's he doing there?"

"Relax. We're just studding."

"Ya. Studding. That's what you guys are doing. Right."

"Shut up. Like we'd do anything serious with Bo in the same house."

"Isn't that Bo on the other side of the street with that girl?"

"What?" I replied turning in the way he was pointing, astonished. "It can't be. He's supposed to be at Jully's."

"Then what's he doing here?"

"I don't know. I must investigate."

"Danny, I don't think that's a good... idea," Jace said calling unsuccessfully after me. I followed Bo and the mystery woman around for about half an hour when he walked her up to her door.

"I'll miss you Kelsey. I wish you weren't leaving so soon. It seems like we met yesterday."

"Bo, we did meet yesterday. In algebra remember?"

"Oh. Ya. I was trying to make it romantic."

"Oh. Sorry."

"It's OK. I'll see you tomorrow when I pick you up to go to the airport?"

"Ya. See you then," Ohmygosh. Bo's with another girl!