Update time! The next few chapters are kind of long, mostly due to dialogue. Sorry, I couldn't resist xD! I hope that you don't mind the increase in length, and that you continue to enjoy/review!


Dear Molly,

I walked around for most of the day in a blissful fog, unable to think of anything but the feeling of your lips against mine, and the look on your face after those lips had parted.

By late evening, I knew that I had to see you. I had to ask you the questions that had been running through my head incessantly.

Are we a couple? Like, an official couple? Do you like me as much as I like you? Can we kiss again soon? What kind of shampoo do you use that makes your hair so soft?

All of these questions were on the tip of my tongue when you opened your door for me.

"Hey." You said, blushing.

"Hey." I replied, blushing back.

So much for a wave of questions.

After a few moments of standing at the door awkwardly, neither of us knowing exactly what to say, you remembered yourself and invited me in.

As I walked inside, I spotted a small, comfy looking red couch. For some reason, I felt the need to ask your permission to sit. I knew that, if I sat down on it, it would imply that I was planning to stay for awhile, and I wasn't sure if that was what you wanted.

You looked at me, looked at the couch, and nodded.

I plopped down on the couch, making myself at home while you walked into your kitchen and went to work on something.

"I was just getting hungry. You want something to eat?" you asked.

I was about to tell you that you didn't have to do that. But what came out of my mouth was, "Sure."

I guess I was worried that, if I said I didn't need anything to eat, I would have to leave.

I watched you as you cooked, mesmerized by how effortless you made it look. Your lips were pursed in concentration as you expertly stirred a steaming pot.

The lips that I kissed. That's all I could think of when I looked at them. Those were the lips that I kissed. And they were also the ones that kissed me back…

I tried to shake those thoughts out of my head. I knew that, whatever happened, I couldn't get too lost in looking at your lips. If I got too lost in them, then I would want them again. And if I wanted them, and you didn't want to give them to me, I would be heartbroken.

"Food's done!" You announced cheerfully, placing two plates of spaghetti on a small wooden table. I sat down across from you, and let the delicious smell of spaghetti travel up my nose.

"It smells amazing!" I told you. You smiled, and said that I could get started.

It was strange, eating with you. It was completely different from eating together on the beach, more formal somehow. I could feel your eyes trained on me as I ate, but every time I looked up they would return to your plate.

"This is wonderful, Molly." I said in between forkfuls of food.

You laughed your lovely laugh. "I'm glad you're enjoying it!"

"Is spaghetti your favorite food?" I asked. It wasn't similar at all to the bigger questions that were plaguing my mind, but at least it was a question.

"Nope. Strawberries are my favorite food." You said.

My face lit up. "I knew it!" I shouted without thinking.

"Hmm? How?" you asked, puzzled.

"You've always smelled like strawberries." I said, kind of embarrassed. I hoped you wouldn't read too much into the fact that I had taken the time to notice what you smelled like.

"Really? Luke, I've always thought that you smelled like a combination of pine trees, perspiration, and bananas." You must've seen the look of horror on my face, because you continued.

"Don't worry, it's a good thing! I actually really like it…" You trailed off, giving me a shy smile.

"Do you ever get lonely here, Molly?" I asked you, kind of out of the blue. Actually, it was really out of the blue. Heck, I don't even know where it came from!

"What do you mean?" You asked. I guess you didn't know where it came from either.

"Well, you're always eating here alone. By yourself. Doesn't that get lonely?"

You shook your head. "Not really. Only on festival days, I suppose. It gets a little lonely then."

I then remembered that Christmas was in about a week. You would be eating on Christmas eve all by yourself. I couldn't let that happen.

"How about you come over to my place for Christmas eve dinner, then?"

"W-what? No, that wasn't at all what I was asking. I mean, I don't want to intrude—"

"Nonsense! Molly, you are coming to eat with my family on Christmas eve. No ifs, ands, or buts. I'll carry you there if I have to." I told you seriously as I stood up and pushed my chair in.

You sighed. "I guess I don't have a choice then, do I?"

"Nope!" I told you with a smile. "Dinner was awesome. I'll tell Pops to expect you on the 24th."

You nodded tiredly in response.

"G'bye, Molly. Sweet dreams." I said.

"Good night, Luke." You replied. I quickly bent down and kissed you on the forehead before running for home.

I was careful not to look back, but I hope that you were smiling.

Yours (making your dinner table less lonesome),

Luke