Chapter 22: A Girl Like You
"Mom, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry."
While Dil Pickles continued apologizing profusely to his mother, Kim Finster nervously chewed on her lower lip. She stood near her father's van, kicking at loose bits of gravel in the driveway with the toe of her sneaker. This wasn't good, not at all. Getting Dil in trouble for being out past curfew was not an auspicious beginning for a romance.
Fortunately, Didi Pickles was a naturally forgiving woman, and when Dil mentioned that Chuck had gotten hurt, she immediately rushed over to Kim and enveloped the girl in a hug. "Oh, sweetie! Your poor brother!" Didi patted her hair. "You let Chuckie know that we're so sorry, okay?"
"Will do, Mrs. Pickles," Kim gasped out, ribs almost shattering from Didi Pickles' death grip.
"Well, then, I guess I'll leave you kids to say good-night." Didi released her hold on Kim and, on the way back to the house, gave her youngest son a similar affectionate-if-deadly squeeze. Just before she disappeared back into the Pickles' house, Didi turned and regarded them quizzically. With arched eyebrow she asked, "There wasn't any drinking at this party, was there?"
"No, ma'am," replied Kim and Dil in perfect unison.
As soon as Didi was safely inside, Kim took a step towards Dil. He quickly closed the rest of the distance and, bending down, kissed her. She breathed in his scent—a little smoky from the frat house, a little sweet from the beer, a little bit naturally salty—and felt his warm arms wrap around her waist.
Kim frowned thoughtfully. This felt good. This felt right. But she couldn't help but wonder. "Dil?"
He grinned lazily. "Yup?"
"You don't think … " Kim bit her lower lip. "You don't think this all happened just because we're the only two left in town. Do you?"
Shaking his head, Dil pulled Kim a little closer. "No way," he declared. "Who else would have gone to that stupid party with me? Who else would put up with me coming by the Java Lava every freakin' day? Who else would make me laugh as much as you do?"
Kim looked away. To her embarrassment, she felt a slow blush begin creeping up her neck.
"You're special, Kim," Dil concluded, leaning down a little to look in Kim's eyes. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "And even if I went to all corners of the galaxy—which I totally intend to do someday, by the way—I could never find a girl quite like you."
With a grin Kim punched him lightly in the arm. "I bet you tell that to all the alien girls."
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Author's Notes: Exams are over, so updates should be more often. Here's a last look at Dil and Kim—what cuties. Next up we have Tom and Lil, and I shall endeavor to make their last chapter a good one, as a peace offering to all the TL shippers out there.