Chapter 10

It was almost 2pm when Seth and Marissa left the café, and it had been almost an hour without any conversation. Both were stuck for words following an undeniable moment that had occurred, a moment that was the climax of something that had subtly been growing for weeks. They just sat there, quietly pondering what to do next, all the time not losing eye or physical contact. It wasn't until the waitress commented on the pair that either of them spoke.

"I wish I had what you two have."

Seth and Marissa looked up to acknowledge her, to which she began to speak again.

"Being totally into someone else that you don't care what you do or what people think. It's nice." The waitress then flashed the pair a hopeful smile, the first they had seen from her in the time they had been there. She laid the check on the table, and returned to her station.

Marissa and Seth reconnected the gaze they had previously had, only this time with dialogue.

"Ok, so what is happening? I mean, between us." Seth enquired, his mind confused by the proceedings.

"I'm not quite sure." Marissa said, looking at her hands, trying to conceal that she knew exactly what was going on. She took in a deep breath before restarting, "It's just, Ryan and Summer both left just as it was getting tough and you stayed. And with us hanging out so much lately, you being so incredibly, unbelievably sweet and kind, you are so much more to me than just a friend, and well, I don't know…" Marissa stopped mid-sentence, unsure of what to say next. She looked up at Seth to see if she could gage any idea of how he was thinking, whether what she had just said was a bad or good thing. To her surprise, his face remained expressionless, which made her worry. "Seth, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was saying. I've messed this up now, haven't I?" She said, slowly getting up from the table, a tear gradually falling down her face.

"No, it's" Seth began to speak only to be cut off by Marissa who was making her way towards the door.

"No, don't say anything. I know what you're gonna say so I'll just be in the car. I'm sorry."

Seth just watched as she exited the café, the waitress also watching with fascination. He scrambled through his pockets, pulling out his wallet to pay for their meal. He counted out the money in a haste and left a handsome tip for the waitress who was just staring at him, waiting to see his next move. As Seth quickly paced towards the door, the waitress called out to him.

"Guys just don't get it, do you? All she wants you to do is kiss her."

Seth stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the waitress, whose words were the catalyst of reaction in his mind, as everything that had happened, all the little moments and all they had said to each other over the last few weeks had fallen into place.

He flashed the waitress a smile and turned back towards the door, his mind strangely clear. He walked, almost marched, over to his car and fiddle with his clothes and hair, sure of what his was going to do. He could see Marissa sat on the bonnet, her right hand rubbing the right side of her forehead.

"Marissa." He called out, making her jump.

"I'm so sorry Seth, I didn't mean to scare you. I know you just want to be friends, I've been so….."

It was Marissa who was this time cut off from her sentence, the soft pressure of Seth lips on hers silencing her. The embrace was short as Seth pulled back to gage her reaction. She stood still, not moving, keeping her eyes closed.

"Marissa?"

She slowly opened her eyes, as though she was just waking up, a smile creeping onto her face. Neither said anything, the moment not needing words. Her face alone confirmed the way she was feeling, and Seth, for once, knew what he had done was the right thing.