First Kiss
Mindy is writing down something in her notebook, sitting at the desk near the kitchen wall. She smiles as she writes, humming to herself quietly.
Mark is looking through the fridge. He closes it, walking out of the kitchen.
It's the evening. The sunset colors shine through the living room's windows.
"Looks pretty out there, doesn't it?" Mark spoke, leaning on the kitchen bar wall.
Mindy looks up from her notebook. She looks at the windows. "Yeah, seems to be from the look of it." She looks back at him. "Colors are an amazing thing, right?" Mindy says, laughing softly.
Mark nods. He walks over to the couch, sitting down.
"So, what are you writing?" Mark asks, turning his body to look at her.
"Just some jokes I've been thinking about throughout the day. Did you want to hear them?"
"After you are done, sure."
Mindy smiles, continuing to write.
I'm glad she's now happy, Mark thought, turning to look at the blank TV. He taps his fingers on the couch, waiting.
After a moment, Mindy places the pen down, looking over at Mark. She closes up the notebook and goes to sit next to him. She opens it, looking through it.
"Got some good ones? Hopefully they are better than those dark jokes that you love so much." Mark chuckles.
Mindy nods, giggling softly. "Here's one: People say money is not the key to happiness, but I always figured if you had enough money, you can have a key made."
Mark smiles. "That's a nice one, Mindy. Have any other ones?"
Mindy flips the page. "Why are frogs so happy?" She pauses for dramatic effect. "They eat whatever bugs them!"
Mark laughs. "That's a great one!"
Mindy closes the notebook, holding it close to her chest. "Thank you. I've been thinking about some of these for a while, but never got to them." She then gets up, placing the notebook on the wooden desk. "I wish I could show the whole city my jokes, but I know not all of them would like them like you do, Mark."
Mark turns to look at her. "Why do you say that? You're good."
"I just get self-conscious about these things." Mindy rubs the back of her neck. "I don't know what other people's humor is like, so I have to give out a variety of things to please others. That's my thinking, though."
"Yeah, you are right."
Mindy walks over to him. "So, did you want to sleep on the couch like last week?"
"I'd rather sleep in a soft bed than the couch."
"Understandable. I would say the same thing if it were with you." Mindy sits next to the inkling. She looks down at herself, seeing that she didn't change out of her tank top and sweatpants. Mindy sighs to herself. "I'm so lazy that I don't change out my clothes," she says, laughing to herself.
"Hey, don't look at yourself. I'm still in mine, too."
Mindy looks at him, smiling. "I can see." She pushes up her glasses. She starts to stretch her arms, yawning.
Mark looks at the middle of her body. Seeing the outline of her ribs like that made him think of something.
"Hey."
Mindy looks at him.
"Do you wanna get some sleep? You look a little tired."
"A little, but I can stay up, Mark."
Mark grabs her left hand. "Come on, you need some rest."
Mindy smiles, rolling her eyes. "Why are you trying to drag me?"
Mark stands up, leading her towards the bedroom. "Why not? You trust me, right?"
"Do I have to answer that?"
Nighttime.
Mindy is asleep, tossing and turning here and there. Mark looks over at her.
I want to try something.
Mark taps her on the shoulder. Mindy groans, turning her body towards him.
"What is it?" she mutters, rubbing her eyes. She sits up. "I want to sleep."
Mark sits up. "I know, but I want to ask you something."
"Tell me."
"Have you ever been kissed before?"
Mindy's eyes widened. "No, I never. This is my first relationship with someone. I don't know, but I have had thoughts about it."
"I just remembered my time where I lived before the move. I was dating this inkling, who was one of my best friends. We had kissed a few times. After we had broken up, I was wanting to never feel that way since it would remind me of her."
"Do you still feel that way with me?" Mindy spoke, gripping his right hand.
Mark turns on the lamp that was near his side of the bed. "I really don't, Mindy. You are different from her, and I should know that."
Mindy smiles.
"You know, sometimes when I see you smile, it looks fake, like you are putting on a mask."
"I'm not."
Mark looks away from her, changing the subject. "Would you like to know what a kiss feels like?"
"Can you describe it?"
"Well, I remember her saying that it made her feel like she was on air in the clouds, it made her happy. She always had told me that I was the only one in her mind as we shared our kisses."
Mindy places one of her hands on his shoulder. "That sounds sweet." Mindy feels her face becoming warm.
"Are you thinking about something?" Mark asks her.
"Yeah."
"Starting to fantasize?" Mark teases.
Mindy looks up at him and stares into his eyes. Mark places a hand on the side of her face, caressing it. Mindy smiles, laughing a little.
"Are you sure about this? I only have known you-"
Mark places a finger on her lips, silencing her. "Does it matter? You love me, and I feel the same way."
Mark places his arms around her, pulling her close. He then leans into her, touching his lips with hers. Mindy's voice gives out a muffled sound as he pressed his lips against hers. Mindy wraps her arms around his body, giving into the kiss. She starts to grip his back, slowly digging her fingers into his back. Mark rubs the octoling's back as he kisses her.
After a moment, Mark breaks the kiss, holding Mindy. Mindy breathes softly, smiling. She still has her grip on Mark's back.
"So," Mark says, breathing softly. "How was that for your first one?"
Mindy leans her head against his chest. "Thank you," she spoke softly.
Mark chuckles quietly, looking down at her. "You liked it?"
"Yeah, I did."
The two let go of each other, laying down on the bed. Mark turns off the lamp and fixes the covers so it goes over both of them.
"Goodnight," Mark says, closing his eyes.
Mindy smiles, closing her eyes. She wishes that the kiss lasted forever.
