Prompt Fifteen
First Kiss
(Season Two)
"You know what just occurred to me?" Claire looked up from her textbook.
"What just occurred to you?" Jim hadn't lifted his head; he was staring at his book, eyes glued to the text. He was chewing absently on a piece of carrot – she couldn't share snacks that her parents would notice were missing from the fridge, but Claire was the only one that really cared much about veggies in the house – and she waited a moment so he could finish. She didn't want him to choke.
"We haven't had a normal first kiss."
The change was immediate. He sat upright, startled, and Claire tried not to laugh. "Uh w-uh, what?"
Claire lowered her gaze back to her textbook. "Well, our first kiss was the play, which doesn't really count. And the one when you came out of the Darklands was more of a, 'Wow, our adrenaline is going crazy and we're alive and I'm so happy to see you even if you smell,' kiss. Neither of them were very normal."
"Oh. Yeah, I guess they weren't." Jim rubbed the back of his neck and Claire felt bad for her amusement. "Did…did you want to try a normal kiss?"
"The idea had crossed my mind. Since Toby's not here and we've got a second to ourselves." Claire set her book aside, shutting her homework in it to keep her place. "I didn't mean to spook you."
"No, you didn't! I just…I wish I could brush my teeth…or something." He looked so sheepish that she could help but giggle. "What?"
"Nothing. You're just cute is all." She reached over and grabbed a carrot from the tray on her nightstand and took a bite. "There, now we both have carrot breath. We're even." Jim grinned a little and she sat on the floor beside him, scooting closer. "Could be worse. I could've ordered pizza with garlic sauce."
"And anchovies," he added. Claire leaned toward him with a small laugh and he took her cheek in his hand. Their lips met and this time it wasn't a dry, theatre peck or a frantic motion of relief. It was just nice and warm. His lips were soft and Claire threaded her fingers lightly through his hair. It went on for two seconds, maybe three, before they pulled back a little. Jim's face had gone pleasantly pink. "That was nice," he mumbled.
"It was. Even with the carrots." Claire glanced down a little. "Hm."
"What?" He lifted a hand and touched his mouth. "Something wrong?"
"No, I'm just going to do that again." She pulled his fingers out of the way to give him another kiss. Jim tilted his head and the kiss went on a little longer.
When she drew back she shyly tucked her head against his shoulder. Jim put an arm around her, warm and affectionate. "Well," he said, "let's call that our official, first kiss of actual dating, huh?"
"M'kay. Though for the record, I didn't mind the first two." Jim leaned against the wall, chin brushing against her forehead.
"Claire, I'm starting to think you just wanted to kiss me again," he said seriously. She mimed clapping.
"Excellent deduction! Your prize is another kiss." This one she snatched quickly and Jim hugged her, both of them giggling at their silliness. The front door downstairs shut and they went quiet. "Fudge knuckle. You'd better go, last thing we need is my dad spotting you in my room."
She helped him throw his textbooks in his backpack and he climbed out the window. "I'll distract them downstairs. See you tomorrow," Claire whispered. Jim hesitated and, before he ducked out of sight, pecked her on the cheek.
"See you tomorrow." His face was flush with excitement and she waved him on. Jim disappeared from her window and hid the vegetable tray under her bed before opening the door to greet her parents.
Jim closed the front door behind him, sighing with relief. "Hey Mom, I'm home," he called, setting his backpack down. Mom was in the kitchen, and even the smell of her cooking couldn't worry him. Hard chicken and gluey dumplings? Who cared? Mom looked up from the pot on the stove and paused, cocking her head to the side. "Something wrong?"
"Oh…no. Nothing." She smiled and looked back to the pot. "So did Claire help you study?"
He froze. "Uh…some. How'd you know I was with Claire?"
Mom shook her head. "I know that starry-eyed look honey. And you might have a little lip gloss on your mouth."
End of Prompt Fifteen