IT'S HERE. THE END.
guys, it's been seriously amazing writing this for you, and even better hearing what you thought. I honestly did not expect to be this upset to end this collection, but all good things must come to an end, right? :(
I've deliberately saved this theme for last, and I hope it serves as a satisfying conclusion for you all. enjoy!
THEME: #8 ~ Toothpaste
"Like this," he's saying, reaching around her for a ruler.
She nods distractedly, trying to focus on the graph paper and his painstaking lines. His arm brushes against hers, skin to skin, and a butterfly flutters in her stomach.
She isn't sure when this started: overthinking words, stealing glances during class, agonizing over appearances. She fights the urge to sit on her fidgeting hands, starting when he asks her something. She nods again and he seems satisfied, continuing on about angles and measurements.
His hair is tumbled over his eyes in soft curls and she bites back a sigh.
Howie Kemp was still, and would always be, a silly, over-analytical boy. He would always be better at some things. He would always be the boy-next-door. A bore.
But here, in the quiet of his room, he was something different. Something foreign and beautiful. He turns to her as she thinks this, lips moving, but pauses when their gazes meet.
They'll never remember how it began, nor who started it. It doesn't matter, either way. The outcome is the same.
All she can think of is that it's unsurprising that his kiss tastes like toothpaste.
He breaks contact first, leaning back as her eyes slip open. His flushed face sharpens into focus so that she can see the color seeping under his collar.
"W-what," he begins, voice strained. "Sorry, I…"
They stare at each other for a moment, her heart hammering at her ribs (what, what, why-), and then he's pressing his mouth to hers again, swallowing any budding excuses. They pull back slowly, resting their foreheads against each other.
"…I guess this makes us 'kissing cousins,'" she murmurs.
He shrugs, holding her gaze. "We were friends first."
"…How about girlfriend?" she whispers.
His smile is shy but sure. "Even better."
thanks so much for sticking with me! review for old times' sake? :D