I drop my books to the floor as soon as I got into my room. The bathroom doors between mine and the room containing the Terrible Wicked Witch of Texas are open, and I hastily jump up to shut mine, locking it tight and hoping Lauren didn't hear me come in. The last thing I want is to have a run in with her after the Friday that I had.

I feel anxious so I switch off my light and climb into bed. The stars that Karma and I had put up a long time ago, seemingly in another life, glow a dim greenish. If only I could board a spaceship, get out of Austin for a bit, maybe check out Mars or the poor icy demoted Pluto for a vacation if you know… there wasn't imminent death involved in those scenarios.

I shove my earbuds in and try to lose myself in my favorite Pandora station, but it just isn't working for me today. I keep seeing Karma's face next to mine, feeling her lips on my skin. My stomach swoops and dips. I wish I could erase that day when I decided kissing Karma in front of the whole school was a good idea.

I thought maybe if I kissed her once, I'd get this weird sensation at the back of my mind to go away. Of course life doesn't work that way. The feeling intensified and with it brought me a whole host of new problems and new feelings. All I wanted was to spend my Friday night with her in front of Netflix and maybe a Dance Mom Marathon or five. There is a new documentary coming on tonight, and I debate on calling her.

My hand reaches for the phone only for me punch in a few numbers and quickly hang up. I can't do this. I can't hear her voice right now without wanting to kiss her again.

I kissed her once, and now I can't get it out of my damn mind. I can't get her off my damn mind.

I switch the station to something a little less Alt Indie Love Song to my favorite classical station. The soothing sounds of the piano wash over me, and I feel my eyes get heavy. The weight of the day, of the entire week really, seems to float away. If I could just close my eyes without seeing her face then I'll be okay.

My eyes drift shut only for her name to flash across the back of my closed lids.

"Crap!" I yell in frustration, sitting up and flinging my iPod across the room.

I hear Lauren in her room start to blast her music to drown out any signs of life coming from my room as she usually did.

I feel like I just have no escape. I want to do nothing more than run until my legs give out or drive until I run out of gas, but I suck at running and I also don't have a license. So either way, I'm stranded here, like it or not.

Usually in these funks, I'd walk over to Karma's house and sit with her on her comfy sofa while her parents made tea or some vegan cookies. I need more friends. Shane seems okay, but it was too early to just invite him over out of the blue.

I flip my lights back on. I don't have to look at the stars; I don't have to see her face. Instead, I grab a book I can get lost in and settle in my bed. My phone vibrates a couple times, but I don't hear it, finally too consumed with a world better than the one I was currently residing in.

Forget those spaceships. Just get me books.

I read until my eyes felt heavy. Before I was any the wiser, I slipped into a light sleep.

"Amy," calls a soft, familiar voice from the other side of the door. "Amy, let me in."

I trudge out of bed and open the door, surprised to see Karma peering intently into my eyes the moment it swings back.

"What are you doing here?"

"You weren't answering any of my calls," she says simply, draping herself over my bed and crooking her finger at me. "Come here."

I sit awkwardly at the edge of my bed. She just rolls her eyes and pulls me backward. We lay there in silence for a few moments until her fingers start gently tracing patterns on my bare arm. I shiver. I know she feels me shiver. The heat in my face, I'm sure, makes my cheeks the color of her terrible sunburn a couple years ago when we stayed in that cabin on the lake. She says nothing though, only continues the path up and down my arm. It's enough to lull me into a sense of security.

"Amy?"

"Hmm?" I barely manage to mumble. My skin is sparking with electricity.

"Do you love me?"

"Of course," I find myself saying before my brain can second guess anything my mouth decides to come up with.

"Kiss me," she says. Commands.

Instead of nodding or saying anything, I lean forward and capture her lips. The fireworks explode in my stomach as she runs her fingers through my hair. I feel confident enough to let my hand rest on her hip. I tangle my free hand in her hair and kiss her deeper. She tastes like Kool-Aid and freedom and… And a million other amazing things, I'm sure, but I just can't think clearly enough to describe them. She pulls away and presses soft kisses to my neck. My heart beats faster and faster until

"Amy! Get up! Time for dinner!" Lauren shrieks.

I sit up, hand over my thudding heart.

"Crap…"