Clearly I was still getting over the utter shock of it all. Over a month later, and I was still baffled by the kiss. He, on the other hand, seemed to take it very well. He began to acknowledge me more, scratch that, much more! We had intelligent conversations, he opened doors for me, and flirted with me; oh did he flirt with me.
He had several pet names for me, my favorite being Butterfly and least favorite Butterbutt. But they varied, Hottstuff, Bumblebee, Cutie, the simplest being Babe. They changed with his mood. Not only were there names but gestures too, tickling me, playing with my hair, tracing letters on my back, heck, breathing on me! My neck was especially sensitive, and he loved to torture me. But of course, with every great thing must come a down side; he was a guy, so naturally his main greeting was slapping my ass. He knew what it got him though, a red handprint on his normally laughing face.
People swore we were dating. How many times a day was I asked that? Eh, I lost count. For all I knew we could have been… well, except for the fact that we didn't see each other anywhere else than school, and we hadn't kissed since the incident.
One thing was for certain though. I couldn't deny it any longer. If this wasn't love, it was the biggest crush I would ever have. I was unbelievably angry because of how perfect he had to be. I wanted him so bad, and I was almost certain he wanted me. (He didn't look at other girls the way he did me). I needed him; I literally think that he was holding on to my life. My only question, "Why aren't we together?"
I felt a light pressure on my back as he drew the figure of a letter with the eraser of his pencil. His hot breath tickled my neck.
We had developed a game. He wrote letters on my back, and I had to interpret them. How convenient that his desk was located right behind mine, amazingly we'd never been separated. Our English teacher was either blind, ignorant, or hell just stupid. I liked the third option.
I felt him trace lightly, 'J-A' uh oh I missed the last two letters. "Jail?" I whispered as a guess.
"No," he breathed. He repeated the word on my back, "J-A-D-F? No E!"
"Jade?" I turned around.
He smiled and nodded.
"How'd you come up with that?" I asked.
He kept smiling, "It's the color of your eyes."
I instantly blushed and turned around; it didn't help that his breath was still on my neck. I mentally cursed myself for being so soft. Fighters weren't normally like this. Why did it have to feel so good?
I took a few moments to regain my composure. He was soon whispering in my ear. "I'm going to write you a message. Take it word by word."
I nodded lightly, "Kay."
He began with the first word. "Meet?" he nodded starting the next word 'M-E.' "Me?" He nodded again. Next word, "After?" …wait where was he going with this? Another word, "School?" I put it all together, "Meet me after school."
He didn't nod but simply whispered, "By the old theater downtown." It was commanding and firm, not an 'if you want to' kind of thing. The game stopped, and not long after the bell rang. He followed me out of the classroom giving a small wave goodbye at the door. I had one hour left.
I couldn't focus all of class. 'What did he want? Did I do something wrong? Does he hate me?' The questions didn't stop. I ran over every corner of my mind, every possibility brought forth (along with several fantasies). They all made sense, yet they didn't. Ughh, what was I saying? My mind was jumbled. 'Damn it, Butch! Why so secretive?'
The clock ticked ever so slowly until I finally heard the echoing sound of the bell. I was out in a second, at my locker, and swapping books at the speed of light. 'Why don't I have one of those little locker mirrors?'
"What's the rush?" I heard a voice say to me. My sister's red hair swayed behind her as she walked towards me. My other sister skipped lightly behind her. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
I really needed that mirror…I couldn't lie. "I'm meeting someone. Bubbles, I need your mirror!"
The blonde curls on her head bounced with her huge gasp, "Is it a boy? Buttercup who?"
Blossom simply stared in shock.
"Just give me the stupid mirror."
"Not until you tell me who it is," she said sneakily. If we were still children she would have stuck her tongue out at me.
"Ughhh," I groaned.
"Just say…"
"It'sButchalrightnowgivemethemirrorbeforeIhurtyou!" I said quickly.
She needed no translation, "Buttercup, that's so exciting!"
I grumbled, "Whatever," before she pulled out a compact from her bag. I grabbed it hastily and took a quick survey of my appearance, 'Good enough.'
I handed it back, "Thanks. Tell the Professor I'll be home a little late."
"Sure," Blossom nodded.
"Thanks again!" I said before running outside into the cool, cloudy day. I could smell rain coming. A black cloud hovering over the direction of downtown looked potentially threatening. I would have to make it quick, so I would have to fly.
I stuffed my book bag into the trunk of my Avalanche. The truck had been used when I got it, but I still loved it to death. It was a beautiful black color with one of the most powerful engine's to boot (I had Mitch install it; he works at a shop now). I rechecked that my keys were in my pocket before I took off in the direction of town; my blurry green streak followed me.
Town had changed. It was bit cleaner now, more uniform. Supposedly, it was because crime had slowed. Don't get me wrong, there was still enough to be a hassle but nothing like when we were kids.
As I neared downtown, I began to think of old theaters and one stood out, the Galactica. It had been closed down ages ago after almost being completely demolished during a battle with Him. The building still stood, but the damage couldn't be fixed.
I spotted it from a distance, yep, tattered, old, broken and soon hopefully beautiful, meaningful (to me at least).
I soon approached landing on the pavement looking for Butch. Thunder rumbled harshly.
'Where is he? Why isn't he here yet?'
Maybe he took his car…
Maybe it was a setup…
Maybe he meant tomorrow…
"Buttercup," I turned to see him leaning against the side of the building. He had on a leather jacket with his hair in a limp ponytail on his neck. Normal…so it was no real special occasion.
With his finger he motioned for me to come to him. My feet found movement. My eyes were fixated on his expressionless face. As I reached him, he lightly pulled me into the alley on the side of the theater. His back was to me; he didn't say a word. We simply stood for a moment.
Almost suddenly he turned to me. I was a bit startled, but that changed in a second. Very startled was my expression as he pinned me to the wall the same way he had during our first kiss. He stared at me with fiery eyes. Maybe passionate?
"Buttercup," he finally spoke, his husky voice very low, "perhaps, I haven't made this obvious enough, but I want you."
My heart did a flip-flops in my chest.
"You're probably wondering how I'm so bold now," his eyes still shining, "I really don't know, I suppose that's what you do to me."
Before I even had a chance to respond his mouth was on mine. My eyes widened. Within milliseconds, his tongue was prying open my mouth. He roughly took his time to roam over every space. I was frozen in pure amazement. I couldn't move. It was a fantasy I'd never expected to come true. He felt my unresponsiveness and pulled away.
I groaned from aggravation. Why did he have to stop?
"I don't care if you don't like me that way," he said with a half smile on his face, "that doesn't change my feelings."
What!? "What's that supposed to mean?"
He gave a small shrug, "That I'm going to keep pursuing you even despite if you keep pushing…"
"Not that," I interrupted.
His eyebrow raised, "what then?"
"The part about me not liking you that way."
He laughed, "naturally I would assume that. Well, considering you've never kissed me back either time."
Well that hit me hard. It was true.
"Well I was startled."
"You're not now," he smiled to me. An idea struck me like the lightening that flashed in the distance.
"Exactly," I said before breaking out of his grip and pinning him to the wall. I wasn't sure if it was the sound of ipact or the thunder I heard, but it didn't matter. He was where I needed him to be. Before he made a response, I crushed my lips to his only to have him more than eagerly answer back.
If he was shocked by his sudden boldness, I was shocked beyond belief by mine. And as it became more intense, the clouds let loose just as they had threatened. I'd always heard it was heaven to be kissed in the rain, but whoever said that was wrong. It was a million time better.
