Chapter 12: The Stars
Leaning back, propping himself up on his elbows, Dil gazed up at the stars. It was a clear night, and the tiny pinpricks of light blinked down at him.
"See anything? E.T., maybe?"
He smiled. Reputations died hard, apparently. Even with best friends. "I see possibility," he said, turning to look at Kim.
She smiled back and took a sip of beer. She titled her head back and looked at the stars too. "They're pretty," she murmured.
"Yeah." The smile dropped from his face. His fingers drummed nervously against the stone wall he was sitting on. "Kim, I'm sorry I dragged you here. The party kinda sucks."
"No! I mean, well, yeah. The party does." She chuckled a little, her dark eyes sparkling. "But I'm glad I came. First, it's made me really glad that I decided to go to community college, because all this is so totally not for me. Second, we got free beer. And third, it's a nice night."
For a moment they both watched the sky in silence. The muted thumping of a dance beat came from inside the house, but out on the back patio the soft hooting of a faraway owl was more audible. Nearby a couple made out drunkenly, but otherwise Dil and Kim had the backyard to themselves.
Dil's smile slowly returned. "Yeah," he said, almost to himself. "It really is a nice night."
"Hey, Dil?"
"Hmm?"
Kim paused, then asked, "Are you drunk?"
"What?" He turned to look at her. Her eyes were intense, but otherwise her face was inscrutable. He shook his head, still smiling. "I've had less than a beer. Of course I'm not drunk."
"Good." She took a deep breath. "Because I really want to kiss you."
Dil blinked stupidly for a moment. This was unexpected. But—he realized almost in the same instant—not unwelcome. "Think that'll make things weird between us?" he said mock-seriously.
Picking up on his light tone, Kim grinned. "Probably."
"Just checking," he replied and leaned forward. A small gasp escaped her just before their lips met. She tasted vaguely of strawberries, and Dil had always loved strawberries.
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Author's Notes: Thanks for being so understanding about last chapter's mix-up. I am so firing my fact-checker, lemme tell ya.