"Where were you?" I ask Marlene as I walk into our room and see her laying down face up on her bed with a dreamy look in her eyes.
"I went to give Uriah my present. "
"Could you tell me what it was now? I'm dying over here!"
"OK, but don't tell anyone. I kissed him." A surge of disappointment filled Lynn. She had always thought of Uriah as a best friend, but she wanted to be more than that to him. She masked her expression with a cheerful smile.
"Really? That's great! How did it go?"
"What do you mean, how did it go? It was a kiss on the lips that lasted for a little under 10 seconds. We kissed twice. The first time I kissed him and he kissed back, and the second time was vice-versa."
"Well…?"
"Well what?"
"Is he a good kisser?"
"Why do you care?"
"Just curious. Was he?"
"Yes, he was actually really good. Surprising that was his first kiss. I hope I did well; it was my first kiss too."
"It WAS?" A wave of shock came over me. How could someone like Uriah not have kissed someone before?
"Lynn, do you like Uriah?"
"Yeah, he's my best friend… Duh."
"No, I mean do you have a crush on him?"
"Maybe. But don't stress it, he's yours now. But don't drift apart from him. Make sure he knows it wasn't just a birthday kiss and it was a relationship starting kiss."
"Well, OK. Hey, Lynn?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever notice that Uriah doesn't have a best guy friend?"
"What about Four or Will? Actually, you're right. They're not his good friends."
"Well there aren't that many nice guys in Dauntless when you think about it. Peter, Eric, Zeke? I can see why he prefers to stick with girls like me, you, and Tris."
"Yeah, I guess. How did we get into that conversation?"
"Who cares, it's over now. By the way, Lynn, Uriah loved your present. When I walked in he had already set it up and started playing with Jeanine's face on it."
"Ha, that's pretty cool. You know what? I'm OK with being his best friend and not his girlfriend. I'm happy for you and Uriah. Congrats."
"Thanks for being so cool about it, Lynn." It was a nice gesture, but I was still a bit disappointed. But why cry over spilled milk? They DO make a great couple.
"Do me a favor, Mar. Don't tell Uriah that you told me. I want to see if he tells me on his own."
"No prob, Lynn.