I went out to the back field after an hour and sat under a big oak tree, picking at the tall grass around me. I figured Alan couldn't arrange things with his dad. Sky had been making fun of me, saying that Alan had just wanted to get my hopes up, thus angering me. So I went outside, not bothering to tell anyone.
I closed my eyes and leaned back against the tree. The rays of the dying evening sun pressed against my face, and I somehow felt a little lonelier. I always felt my mom closer when I was outside, especially when it was beautiful out.
"Hey," Alan called softly, and I opened my eyes to see him making his way across the field, the grass almost to his knees. "Coach said you would be out here."
I smiled. I hadn't told anyone I was going outside, and I was a little touched that my uncle kept an eye out for me. "You found me."
He sat down in front of me, resting his chin on top of my raised knees. "Sorry it took me so long to get here."
"It's okay."
"I had to like twist my old man's arm to make him let me come over."
I smiled.
"Why do you smile?" he giggled.
"I still can't believe you did that at lunch today," I laughed.
Alan grinned. "I had to tell you somehow. You kept pushing me away. It's like you were trying to convince me that Summer is better than you."
"That's not what I was trying to do. I have Little Sister Syndrome," I told him. "And you could have just written me a letter."
"Yes, but would I have come out looking so damn charming that way?"
I shook my head, still smiling.
"Waaaait a minute," he said slowly, looking at me with quizzical eyes. "What do you mean by 'Little Sister Syndrome?'"
Sighing, I explained, "You have no idea what it's like being Summer's little sister, Alan. She's so beautiful, and I'm…I'm not Summer, that's for sure. Whenever I fall for a guy, they just think of me as like, another little sister. I mean, they care about me and everything, and they feel protective of me, but…you know? You wouldn't think of kissing your little sister."
He leaned towards me, and gave me the most beautiful kiss.
"You see, that was not like kissing my sister," he said. "You're perfectly everything, Lyric."
I blushed instinctively. "Thanks," I mumbled, for lack of anything better to say.
Alan laughed and kissed me soundly.