Anna's POV
The library was definitely quiet. Probably because we were the only ones there. I should have expected that because very few people would spend their free time lurking in a library.
An old lady, the librarian, walked up to us and asked if we needed any help. Merlis asked where the human anatomy section was and she led him away. I was left to wonder around the shelves, admiring how well kept it was.
It wasn't a large library. Everything was on one floor so I could see Merlis through the gaps between the shelves and the top of the books. Once he got settled in, the librarian left him alone to browse the section. He reached up and pulled out a white book. And that was all that was left for me to see. His back was towards me so catching a glimpse of his face when he read about the female body wouldn't happen.
Heat prickled my face as I raised my hand to cover my eyes. I was embarrassed. Why though? Everyone already knows how the female body looks like so why am I getting so red at the thought of Merlis knowing? He's going to have to know if he's going to stay any longer in the human world. That means he's also going to need to know about...that.
I slid onto the floor, ducking my head into my lap.
Darn it, Anna! Stop thinking like that!
There wasn't a mirror nearby but I knew that my cheeks were ablaze. I can feel the heat radiating through my hands. All of this because Merlis, a seventeen year old male, doesn't know something every kid finds out about in middle school. Getting up, I dragged myself to find the bathroom and cool off.
It wasn't hard to find. The mirror showed exactly what I imagined. A pervy girl with tomato cheeks.
I slapped myself.
Anna. He's your friend. Yes, he's kind, smart, cute, not to mention single, and all around one of the best guys you've met but that doesn't mean he wants to do romantic things. For all you know, he could be secretly into guys.
I walked out of the bathroom a couple minutes later, cooled off and somewhat back to normal. When I drew my attention to the human anatomy section, Merlis wasn't there.
Maybe he went outside?
I decided to ask the librarian. She pointed outside, like I suspected, saying that he wanted to sit outside.
Walking out, I wasn't expecting to see Merlis crouched down and covering his head.
"Merlis? Are you ok?" I asked, worried something was wrong.
He raised his head once he heard my voice, showing me a shade of red brighter than a burning flame. It covered his whole face, traveling all the way up to his ears.
His mouth was like a goldfish. "Humans...babies...uuh," he half mumbled to me with a voice of shock and embarrassment. He drew his gaze right into my eyes. "Why!? That's so…"
He read about human sex. My cheeks went ablaze.
"...intimate. Do you humans really put-"
"Merlis! Yes. That's how it works. Now you know how babies are made," I quickly spit out.
His eyes travel across my body, making me feel naked and exposed. I wanted to turn around and hide.
"So 'into your pants' means… they want...to…"
"Ya...that. It's not always to...make babies. Most times it's just for…" I took a slow breath, "enjoyment and pleasure."
"How can that be enjoyable!? Have you-"
"No!" I felt on fire. "Never! It's just what everyone says it's like. They say, omg I can't believe I'm having his conversation. It will hurt at first then it'll feel good. I don't know! Why do you want to know!?" My voice was increasing in volume the longer I talked. I never thought I could be more embarrassed. "Don't ask me! The farthest I've gone was a kiss. Yes, there was some inappropriate touching from Jake but I would always force him to stop. Why am I even telling you this!?"
I slid down the wall, wanting nothing more than to disappear from existence. Everything just slipped from my mouth and I couldn't stop it.
We sat in silence, letting our cheeks return to their somewhat regular color. From time to time, I could feel him looking over at me. I tried not to look back.
"Sorry. This must have been really embarrassing for you," Merlis said.
"You think?" I said back to him, with a little bit too much snark.
"Would you like to hear about...Inklin-"
"No, Merlis. I think this is enough embarrassment for today. I'm sure even you don't want to talk about that."
I took a deep breath, ready to move onto another topic. I couldn't get mad at him for being curious. I also want to know more about Inklings just.
"Anna, if it makes you feel better, I haven't...kissed anyone before either," Merlis slowly told me, causing me to look over at him. He stared at me from his elbow, like a hunter poking out from the grass. Funny enough, he was anything but a hunter right now. He looked so timid and embarrassed.
I let out a small laugh.
"Do you want to change that?" Those words left my lips before I could recognize what I just implied. I brought my hands up to my lips and wished that I could just keep them closed forever. Now there was no way that he can't figure out that I liked him. I basically just told him. My head slid into my legs to the point where my neck started to hurt. Maybe snapping my neck wasn't a bad idea.
"Yes," came a small whisper. So quiet, like a dandelion in the wind that I could have just thought it up. I knew I didn't though when Merlis shifted closer to me, only a few centimeters between us.
I lifted my head. I couldn't lie that I've imagined kissing him. In each one, I was the one who made the first move. Merlis didn't seem like the type too. It's just that I didn't think it would happen, could happen.
He turned his head, taking only a second to look into my eyes for any kind of resistance before I felt the warmth spiral into me. His lips were so much softer than I thought possible. Clouds might be a good way to describe them. It made me wonder how they would feel in the dead of winter when the cold dried them stiff. The taste of fruits slipped into my mouth, creating a hunger deep in my stomach that couldn't be appeased. But it disappeared as soon as the taste became stronger. Merlis had pulled away, leaning his head back against the wall. His lips were somewhat puckered out, which I'm sure mine were too.
I smiled a giddy smile.
"Hey, that's cheating," I said.
"You're the one who said all's fair in love and war."
Merlis's POV
For the rest of the day, there really was nothing else my mind could focus on than Anna. It seemed like the same thing for her. We would catch each other stealing glances, looking away in embarrassment.
I still can't believe I kissed her.
It just happened. Her cheeks were a pretty crimson red against her tan skin. Something in the back of my head just told me to go for it. There was nothing stopping me.
"Do you, Merlis?" Anna asked me.
I zoned back in to see Anna waving a hand in front of my face. My mind went blank. What were we talking about?
"Do I what?"
"A phone. Do you have a phone?" Anna asked, rolling her eyes in playfulness. She knew I wasn't paying attention.
"Not with me. I usually leave it at my apartment," I answered her.
"Then what's in your pocket?"
I fished my hand in my pocket only to pull out my phone.
"Huh. I don't remember putting it there."
"That's so cute!"
Anna swiped the phone from my hand.
"It looks like a squid! That's too adorable! I want one."
She clicked open to the lock screen, showing an old picture of Papil and I.
"It's you and Papil! Wow, you guys look younger."
"That was a long time ago."
"What's you p- never mind. You should put a password on your phone. Never know when it'll get stolen."
I didn't disagree as I watched her shuffle through the minimal apps I had.
"Not much here. Wait, is that app called Squidbook?"
Anna point to the app I probably used most often.
"Ya. It's a book app. I read...sometimes. Maybe a lot."
Anna gave a little stab to the side of my stomach.
"Nerd."
"Says the artist."
"True, True. Hey! Let's take a picture together!"
Anna opened the camera app on the phone and held it out. I bent down slightly, putting my head next to hers.
Click
"Now be angry."
I raised my eyebrows but did it nonetheless.
Click
"Now silly face."
I crossed my eyes and puckered my lips.
Click
"Omg what kind of face is that?" Anna asked.
"What? You said funny and your chuckling right now so what's the problem?"
Anna gave me back my phone but pulled out hers instead. It looked similar to mine but was just a plain rectangle.
"Let's take a few on mine. Do the silly one. I want to keep that one."
"Fine cause you asked."
We took a few more photos, even one of me as a squid.
"Ok, Ok. Last one."
I looked up at the camera, closing my eyes and putting on a cheesy smile. What I didn't expect was a jab to the side of my stomach and a clicking sound right after.
I opened my eyes to catch Anna running down the sidewalk.
"Get back here!" I yelled playfully as I sprinted after her. I had to see how that photo turned out. Once Anna rounded the corner, I heard her yell, "Hurry up, slowpoke!"
I smirked. Now this was a competition.
Once I rounded the corner myself, my eyes locked on to Anna. Her hair was wildly swinging side to side as she sprinted with all she got. An easy target.
I stopped, bent down into a sprinting position, and took a deep breath. In the blink of an eye, I shot off. Her figure grew closer with each step. The wind whooshed past me but my ears were focused on the sound of Anna's breathing. One more step then I could see the individual strands of her hair. I was almost neck and neck with her when she turned her head to me, staring wide eyed. Then I overtook her, running past buildings and people. The wind felt nice against my skin.
"Watch out!" Anna yelled.
My shoes skidded against the concrete as I braced myself for an impact. By the time I already made a full stop, Anna was a good couple yards ahead of me. She was laughing and trying to say something at the same time but I couldn't make it out.
"Dirty trick," I whispered beneath my breath, sprinting after her again.