Chapter 3

Serah opened the door to reveal an enthusiastic Snow. "Serah!" he shouted with glee as he picked her easily off her feet to swing her around in an embrace. Serah's breath was taken away as Snow manhandled her like a rag doll - he was being too rough with her, something she was starting to find annoying instead of endearing. Snow placed Serah back onto solid ground and looked her over. "You're not dressed yet, babe?" he asked, and welcomed himself into the house. "Do you want me to wait until you finish?" he said sweetly, as he plopped down onto the cream colored sofa in the middle of the living room.

Serah stood in one spot and stared at Snow as if he was a stranger. Her head was still cloudy and confused about what she had attempted to do a moment before Snow arrived.

Snow laid his arms across the couch and turned to look over at Serah. "Serah?" he called out to her. Serah still didn't respond - she was too lost in her own thoughts. "Yoohoo, are you there Serah," Snow beckoned, as he walked back over to where she stood to wave a gloved hand over her face. "Or are you lost in your thoughts again?"

Serah felt the slight breeze from Snow's gesture and blinked back to reality. "Huh, what?" she said dumbly, as Snow towered above her with a quizzical look on his boyish face.

"You okay, baby?" Snow said in a more serious tone and looked over her with concern.

"I-I'm fine," Serah lied. "I'll go get dressed now, okay." Without another word, Serah quickly trotted back up the stairs and out of Snow's sight.

Snow looked at Serah running up the stairs and shrugged his shoulders as he sat back on the couch to wait.

Serah slowed down as soon as she reached the top of the steps and leaned against the hallway wall and closed her eyes. She felt as if she was about to have a panic attack as her breathing became ragged and her heart felt like it was literally thumping out of her chest. "Calm down, Serah," she whispered to herself. Suddenly, she felt as if she was a fish out of water - as if she was in another reality. Suddenly, nothing made sense anymore.

She continued to walk down the hallway until Lightning popped out of her room. Serah immediately froze in place and flinched.

Lightning had a small smile on her face as she approached closer towards Serah.

"Hey Serah," Lightning said, a bit more chipper than she wanted it to come out. Serah looked at Lightning in stunned silence. Lightning fidgeted awkwardly with strands of her pink-tinted hair. "Y-you getting ready to go out with Snow?" Stupid! Lightning scolded herself. Of course she's going out with Snow! Did you really need to ask such a redundant question!

Serah only nodded and said, "Mmhm." There was that awkward tension in the air again - Serah was getting sick and tired of it.

Lightning felt as if she was going to puke - she had never felt so nervous in her life, and around her own sister too! This is ridiculous! Lightning thought to herself. Just when Lightning was about to run away again, Serah unexpectedly flung her arms around Lightning's neck and kissed her deeply and passionately.

Lightning backpedaled and slammed her back against the wall. "Ouch!" she mumbled in pain against Serah's lips. Serah released her hold on Lightning and backed away.

"I'm sorry, Claire!" Serah said in a panicked voice and searched her for any injuries.

Lightning rubbed at her sore back, but waved her hand dismissively. "It's okay, Serah. I'm fine," she assured her.

Serah looked guilty as she too rubbed at Lightning's back to soothe the pain. "I-I didn't mean to be so rough…" Serah said apologetically and looked down at the floor - embarrassed at what she just did.

Lightning smiled and lifted Serah's face up to look at her, "No need to apologize," Lightning said sweetly as she moved in to give Serah a more proper kiss.

Serah looked at Lightning's pink and supple lips and readied herself for their first real kiss. Her knees were trembling as she anticipated the pure ecstasy that was soon to take over her entire body.

Lightning pressed her lips against Serah's softly and gently and held her face in her hands.

Serah felt her heart well up with joy as she wrapped her arms around Lightning to deepen the kiss. Lightning tasted like everything she dreamed she would taste like - sweet and addicting - a taste made especially to satisfy her every craving.

They were lost in their own little dream world where nothing else mattered. Pain and sadness did not exist in the little fantasy they shared together - only love and joy was prevalent amongst them, and Lightning was certainly feeling both. Lightning had to resist the urge to pinch herself - still not believing what was happening was not entirely real, but it was. Whether it was wrong or right, Lightning knew it was what made her happy, and that was all that mattered.

Serah tightened her embrace on Lightning, wanting to feel even closer to her as she continued to taste the deliciousness of Lightning's mouth. She was so lost in their kiss she had completely forgotten that Snow was still waiting for her downstairs. Wait, Snow! Serah reminded herself as she opened her eyes back up, but it was too late - Snow was already tromping up the stairs calling out for her.

"Serah, baby, are you done yet?" Snow turned the corner and saw Lightning and Serah with their lips still locked together. He stopped moving and stared in disbelief at the scene before him.

Serah immediately pulled herself apart from Lightning and backed away from her with her eyes downcast to the floor.

Lightning hadn't realized what was happening until she spotted Snow staring at them with his mouth hung open in utter shock.

Oh, great, Lightning thought.