Hayloft Kids
7: Plans and Horrors
"Sure thing, bro," said Zak, grinning. He'd wanted a shot at Cricket, and here was his cue.
I'd asked him to go and stir Cricket up a little - flirt, ask her out, anything. If Cricket liked him, she'd drop me, and then I could focus on Maggie.
Speaking of Maggie, where was she?
I found her sitting on the top of the cliff, swinging her legs as she sat on a boulder.
I came behind her noiselessly and stood silently.
"You can come and talk, you know. Not like I have a dagger at this time," Maggie's invitation surprised me.
I recovered, walked around the rock, and sat beside her.
I laced our fingers together, hoping she would ease up.
'dAs I hoped, she responded. She didn't pull away and leaned her blonde hair against my shoulder.
"I know I have a bad temper, Johnny. Eve though It's you who has the red hair," I had to smile. "I try everyday to try to control myself, and sometimes it works, but usually I end up blowing up and hurting someone," she said. I was surprised. Maggie hasn't been that open before.
Maggie turned to me, her eyes searching. "I'm sorry," she said sweetly and sincerely.
I smiled at her.
"Forgiven," I replied.
We hugged then. Maggie was pressing her face into my chest so hard I thought she'd bore through. When she began jerking her head, I realized she was laughing.
Then we kissed again. It still felt like an electric shock. But we weren't frenching, like that day in the hall. We were just kissing ordinary, which was fine, too. I could feel Maggie's breath come in little puffs, and I felt her eyelashes flutter softly against my cheek. I had both hands on her face and she was still clinging to my jacket. She smelled like buttermilk and I realized she'd been in the barn.
The moment was spoiled by a sharp gasp.
Maggie and I detached and looked around.
We both thought uh-oh at the same time: Cricket was standing there, her hands to her mouth, her eyes huge and round.