It was two things, I think, that allowed us to break the barrier of what sex was supposed to be. One I already mentioned, but I think the other the fact that we were both virgins, physically if not mentally. For myself, my life just moved too fast for me to ever get a chance to deal with the subject, but I have no idea how Celes could have possibly stayed as naïve as she was. We were both from completely different worlds. Mine was a rural innocence, hers was an urban jungle, and yet we both shared about the same knowledge and attitude towards sex. It was something vague and held no special meaning. It was a world to be explored if we wanted. We had already been through one adventure and we were eager for another.

I have to ask, why do women always close their eyes when they kiss?

Why do men for that matter?

Sorry, I'm getting off track. Life went on as it has that tendency to do and since that small little story had a happy ending, the fallout didn't last as long. A couple days of sunny weather and summer breezes and we were as right as rain once again. Nothing gets rid of the blues like a picnic, I found out.

Celes sat beside me staring at the sunset while I lay down head on my hands, staring up at the clouds. The sky was a deep red, almost like blood, but that was because it was dusk. For the most part, the sky had now become different shades of orange, as it had been ever since that day when the world twisted. Many times I wondered if it would ever change back. The waters changed, only now they were orange too instead of polluted. I adjusted pretty well, orange was my favorite color. Celes' favorite color was black.

"Why do people always close their eyes when they kiss?" I blurted out after the sun had finally set. Celes looked down at me and I was rather surprised at just how radiant she looked in the soft evening light. Ice Queen indeed! Only the ignorant could associate her with the cold.

"I's just wonderin is all." I answered in response to her playfully questioning stare. She chuckled softly and brought her head down right over mine.

"You are so lucky I love you, ya ignorant fool." Then she kissed me with her eyes wide open. I gotta say, staring into her pools was a lot more creepy and less romantic than I thought it would be. I started to giggle uncontrollably and struggle, but she wasn't letting me go without a fight. Finally I pushed her off of me.

"Okay!" I laughed, "Sheesh. Who knew the eyes were that creepy? I tell ya, sometimes I think nature smokes some of the laughin weed to make people like that."

"Not just any people dear." Celes replied, staring at me with a wry smile. She lay on her back beside me, her body pointed in the exact opposite direction. Wow, did I feel good!

My stomach suddenly lurched and my eyes were blinded by short bursts of bright white light. My ears were assaulted with a high pitched sound and then they were gone, except for my stomach cramp. My eyes were blurry and there was a ringing in my ears that was growing louder and then softer in undulating waves. All I could see was a vague green darkness and Celes' voice coming from very far away. Her voice was impossible to make out, but it comforted me and no one could do that but her. My mind felt sluggish and I wasn't aware that I lifting myself off the ground until my vision was more than two feet above what I assumed was grass. I couldn't feel myself. My vision was clearing and I could recognize Celes' voice but couldn't make out what she was saying. I couldn't see her anywhere. I felt a vague tugging on my shirt and the world swirled. I felt like I was about to throw up and was suddenly aware of another voice. It didn't sound human, but like something that was trying to imitate one. It roared an angry speech I didn't understand. Suddenly the bright light flashed again and I winced my eyes closed in pain. I felt a tug in the back of my jaw and the high pitched sound returned slowly turning itself into a very audible scream. My eyes shot open though I didn't want them to. I was screaming.

I saw Celes face and she was glowing with a bright radiance that revealed her to be a goddess. I instantly stopped screaming. But she wasn't a goddess, only a woman. There was no glow. She looked so real and beautiful. I felt a wave of dizziness and my eyes rolled back into their sockets.

"No! Nononono, please don't!" I heard her voice now as clear and sharp as a crystal shard and I forced my eyes back onto her. I fought the dizziness. I stared into her and she came into focus. She was crying. I reached up to touch her and her face grew further away from me. I could see my arm trying to reach her, but she was miles away. A terror possessed me then more horrible than I could ever remember having. I lunged my entire being after her. The world tilted again and her face was close to me once again, but I was looking down on her. My hand fell upon her shoulder and wrapped around it in a death grip. The other hand wrapped around her neck, pinning her head to the ground and I stared into eyes wide with fear and innocence. Something was hurting her and it was me.

I pushed myself away and she seemed to stay close in my eyes, still terrified. I put up my arms to my face and turned away.

"Get away! I'm bad! Stay away!"

I was surprised at how distant my voice seemed. In my desperation, I realized that I'd somehow gotten to my feet, but I couldn't find any solid ground. The whole world was dark and blurry, like someone's impressionistic painting brought to life and it kept tilting in all directions. I stumbled around trying to run away and stay balanced at the same time. I had to get away from her cause I hurt her. A bright flash passed before me.

"…no…"

The world twisted to ninety degrees and all went black. If I had any dreams or nightmares, I didn't remember them when I woke up.