Marcus and Donna had been best friends since childhood.
The redhead and the youngest Specter had met when they were only nine years old as both of them were new to school. Until now, Donna lived in Cortland with her parents before her father lost all their money and was forced to move to Hartford, causing the little girl to leave her friends and everything she loved to start her life over almost three hundred miles from the city that had seen her grow up behind her. If she had been terrified to arrive for the first time in a public school — she had been in private until now — all alone, without friends, she'll always remember the day she was sitting in a corner of the courtyard on a bench by herself and was surprised to see a young boy sitting down next to her.
«Hey. My name is Marcus»
«I'm Donna»
«Nice to meet you»
«You don't have to stay with me because I'm alone, you can go with your friends. It's alright»
«I don't have friends yet. I only arrived a week ago, I'm new too»
«Oh really? Where did you live before?»
«Boston»
«Boston? Really? I heard it's a good city»
«Yeah, life was good there»
«Why did you move, then?»
«My parents got divorced, and my mother stayed there with her new boyfriend, so we moved here with my father and my brother. You?»
«My father lost his job, and we had to leave Cortland for here»
«Oh»
«Yeah»sighed the little girl.
«You want to share a bit of my cookie?»
That day, Marcus and Donna had become inseparable, best friends in the world, sharing the same class every year, and even if, over time, they had their own friends and their own hobbies, that did not prevent them from constantly staying in touch with each other. Now seventeen years old, as the two friends were seating next to each other in the Specter's kitchen, looking at the different schools Marcus could apply to while comparing the programs on offer, the redhead muttered.
«What about this one?»
As Donna was eating an appel, her gaze still fixed on the screen, she heard Marcus hummed before he sighed.
«I don't know. It's huge, and I'm pretty sure I won't be accepted»
«Dude, don't get down on yourself, you have every chance of getting in because you're a great studentwith good scores »
«Yeah, but enough for Stanford? I'm not convinced»
«Well, you can just apply to other colleges even if I'm sure you could do Stanford. Look, here, you have the University of Pennsylvania, Kellogg, or even Booth School in Chicago. They're all good»
«Yeah, you're right»
As they continued to chat about colleges, they didn't even hear the front door slam as footsteps followed behind them.
«Hey, loser»
As the young man tapped his brother on the shoulder, he then leaned over Donna's shoulder, biting into her apple as she groaned while looking at him before whispering in her ear.
«Hey, you»
Harvey.
Donna had met Marcus's older brother for the first time a few months after arriving in Hartford, at the moment she went to the Specter's house to work on a school presentation with her best friend. She would never forget that day, when she had just turned ten, as she was working in the dining room and a young boy had come down the stairs to greet them with such a special smile. It was the first time she had a crush, and as he had just entered high school and was the captain of the football team, he seemed so cool that Donna felt herself blushing every time he looked at her. Since then, years have passed, and even if she still had a little crush on him, he was her best friend's brother first and foremost.
«What are you two doing?»
«Looking for college»sighed Marcus.
«You have an idea, brother?»
« Not really, there is Stanford, but it's the best in America when it comes to business school»
«So what? You're talented»
«That's what Donna said»
«Well, Donna is smart»chuckled Harvey as he winked at her.
«Of course I am»
«What about you?»
«I have already put together my application for Yale»smiled the redhead.
«I'm not surprised»
«Let's just hope I'm making it»
«Of course you will. Come on, you're the best. You have a second choice anyway?»
«What? Are you afraid I'll get into Harvard? You know, so I might be watching you or something?»giggled Donna.
«Oh, please. Anyway, how far along are you two with your applications?»
For another twenty minutes or so, the three young people discussed the end of the year, university applications, and choices, until Marcus looked at his brother.
«What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have class?»
«Nope. My teacher's absent, so it's a long weekend for me. I thought I'd come by and see how my loser brother was doing»
Harvey had left home almost three years ago for Harvard, where he was taking courses to become a lawyer, his dream being to one day leave Connecticut and make it in New York. Although he had his room right on the university campus, whenever he had the chance, taking advantage of the two-hour drive, he would drive home to spend time with his father and brother. As college choices were quickly forgotten, the conversation was now turning to the latest game Harvey had won, the redhead discreetly bit her lip as she watched him flex his arms as he showed off a throw he had made during his football game, revealing his bulging biceps and lower abs as he raised his arms to mime the move to his brother. If Donna was rather discreet, a fan of theater and literature, Harvey was quite the opposite. With his mid-length dirty blonde hair and his particular smile, at twenty-one, the future lawyer was rather popular, handsome, and above all, a real flirt, but if only from the outside, he gave the impression of not giving a shit and being arrogant, she knew who he really was: sweet, caring, and deeply kind. A few minutes later, as Harvey turned around to grab a drink from the fridge, he whistled before speaking.
«Well, well, well. What's all this? What did I miss?»
«I'm having a party tonight»
«Here?»
«Yeah»
«And you didn't tell me?»
«You were supposed to be at Harvard»
«And am I invited?»
«I thought high school parties were shitty? Mister fraternity party»chuckled Marcus.
«Well, am I only coming if Donna's coming? So, you're coming?»
«I don't know yet»smiled the redhead.
«Why not?»
«You know why, Harv»
«What? You got Shakespeare to read or something?»
«Shut up»giggled the redhead.
«Well, Mark is going to be there»
«Marcus!»
«Wow, who is Mark?»asked Harvey.
«No one»
«Clearly he's someone. So?»
«Harv, forget about it»
«He's her crush»
«Marcus. Are you serious?»
«You have a crush?»
«I don't if I can say it's a crush, he's just… cute?»
«Yeah, you have a crush»snorted the futur lawyer.
«Anyway, what do you want to eat for lunch?»asked the redhead.
As Donna had just changed the subject, the three teenagers continued to chat before sharing a pizza in the living room. In the afternoon, taking advantage of Gordon being on tour with his band, Donna helped Marcus to arrange the house for the evening while Harvey had gone to visit friends in the meantime. The hours passed, and while about thirty young people had invaded the living room, the music blaring loudly in the room, alcohol already in all the glasses, Donna was still in the kitchen, which overlooked the entire room, observing everyone until she felt a hot breath on the back of her neck.
«Hey»
«Harv, what are you doing here?»
«Well, when I hear the word party, I'm never far away»
«Not surprised»snorted Donna.
«So?»
«So what?»
«Who's Mark?»
«I hate Marcus»
«Hey, come on, it's me»
While he had whispered that still behind her, his hot breath caressing the back of her neck, Donna shivered before speaking in a low voice.
«The boy over there»
«With the red t-shirt?»
«Yeah»
«Right»
«Right? What does that even mean?»giggled Donna.
«He's not... that bad»
«Well, if I have your approval, it's all good, right?»
While both of them were laughing, Harvey, who had been behind her until now, moved to find himself next to her and continue the conversation.
«Go talk to him»
«Are you crazy?»
«What? You have a crush on him. He's all alone, it's now or never»
«Yeah, but that doesn't change me that it wouldn't work»
«Why not?»
«You see the girl in blue over there?»
«The blonde one?»
«Yeah»
«What about her?»
«She's his ex»
«So what?»
«He has an ex, Harvey»
«And?»
«And I don't»
«So what?»
As she looked up with an embarrassed look, Harvey understood what she was implying and whispered quietly so no one would hear.
«Hey, Donna. Just because you don't have experience doesn't mean you shouldn't try your luck»
«Harvey»
«What?»
«I never... you know... kissed anyone. I don't wanna make a fool of myself»
As the redhead muttered the last words, she looked down as Harvey was surprised by what she had just said. Donna wasn't as extroverted as him, far from it, but she was sociable, had lots of friends, and when she wasn't reading Shakespeare or doing theater, she was participating in parties, outings, etc., which made Harvey confused about what she had just said. Seeing her slightly ashamed, he grabbed her hand to squeeze it and whispered, making sure no one was around them.
«Donna, who gives a shit?»
«Harv, it's… embarrassing»
«No, it's not»
«Yeah, it is. Can you imagine? Like, by pure chance, he's interested in me, we'll talk, it'll go well, and then, the moment he'll lean in to kiss me, I'll remain frozen without knowing what to do because I never learned to do that»
«I'll show you»
At Harvey's words, Donna gasped softly before raising her head to look at him with wide eyes. She couldn't believe it, he hadn't just offered to kiss her to show her how to do it for someone else, it wasn't possible. Harvey, the guy she'd had a crush on for almost seven years, her best friend's brother, the flirt — no, there was no way. If for a few seconds no one said anything, it was the redhead who whispered first.
«Excuse me?»
«I can show you»
«What?»
«Look, you know me. I don't get involved with anyone, I'm not looking for anything serious, I don't have a girlfriend, and I probably never will. For me, kissing is like greeting someone, you know? I'm pretty sure you know how many girls I've kissed over time? Especially since I am at Harvard? A lot. So a kiss with you means nothing: I kiss you, I show you how to do it, then we forget about it, and you run to Mark's, hoping he'll be the one who kisses you by the end of the night. Look like a plan, right? So? What do you think?»
«It's insane, Harvey»
«No, it's not. It's just a kiss»
«Look, it's —»
«Hey. There you are»
As Marcus was smiling at Harvey while Donna was still shaken by the words of the boy next to her, she see her best friend looking at her with a questioning look.
«You okay, Red?»
«I'm great, yeah... great»
«Alright. What about you joining us?»
«Sure — See you, Harv»
«See you — and think about what I told you»
As he watched her walk away, Harvey swallowed hard. Why had he been offered this? He knew it was a terrible idea because Donna was... Donna. Aside from the fact that she was his little brother's best friend, she was also so perfect that he had always thought it was best not to approach her — well, not like this — and yet, he had just offered to kiss her, something that would mark a no return. Deep down, he hoped she would accept so he could finally have the opportunity to kiss the lips that attracted him since he was old enough to think of girls in that way. But inside, he preferred that she refuse and forget this proposition, not allowing him to taste something that he might not be able to do without after. As he watched her chatting with friends from afar, he decided to leave the kitchen to isolate himself in his bedroom, waiting for the party to end. For her part, after talking with Ashley and Ines about college choices — the topic of the moment — Donna realized her phone was almost dead and excused herself to go look for a charger in Marcus's room. But as she climbed the stairs, the noise already less present, she stopped dead when she heard Harvey calling her. The first door at the top of the stairs was the older brother's, a room she never really went to because she had no reason to, but as he sat on his bed, headphones on, gamepad in his hands, she saw him pause his game before taking everything off and getting up.
«Hey»
«Hey. Did you leave the party?»
«Well, I told Marcus that high school parties were shitty»
«Of course»snorted Donna.
«Um, I wanted to ask you, I didn't upset you or make you uncomfortable earlier, right?»
«No, don't worry»
«Are you sure? Because really, that wasn't my intention»
«I know Harv, it's just that— »
As the students started yelling downstairs, covering the discussion between the redhead and the future lawyer, Donna unconsciously entered the room before closing the door behind her to be quieter. Barely inside the older brother's bedroom, she sighed before approaching him.
«We live in a society where we expect so much from girls, and I'm just afraid that it's shameful»
«Well, if I can give you my opinion, I think you should do the fuck you want, no pressure»
«Yeah, it's easy to say»
«I didn't propose to you because I agree with this stupid theory. I mean, I don't think that, because you're seventeen, you absolutely must have already kissed a boy, but if you're really ashamed of it, my proposal still stands»
«I don't know, Harv»
«I'm just showing you»
For a few seconds, Donna hesitated before sighing and murmuring almost inaudibly.
«Alright»
«Alright?»
Well, Harvey was surprised. He never would have thought that Donna would have accepted, but as she settled on the edge of the bed next to him, taking a deep breath, the future lawyer felt his heart accelerate, torn between excitement and fear of what all this could cause for them after.
«Are you sure?»
«Yeah»
«Okay»
As Harvey moistened his lips, he saw Donna look at him with wide eyes before closing them when Harvey approached slowly. He first placed his lips on her cheek to slid them up to her jaw, placing an open-mouthed kiss there, then placing another one on her cheek again, brushing the corner of her lips as he did, thinking for a split second before capturing Donna's closed mouth between his lips, feeling the butterflies in his stomach go crazy. As soon as he moved away, he opened his mouth a little more to catch her lower lip between his and pull lightly on it, Donna quickly understanding the way to do it and imitating him, opening her mouth slightly in turn. For a few more seconds, they continued to kiss quite simply, their lips sliding against each other, barely separating to breathe before continuing again and again. Feeling like he wanted more, Harvey moved his body a little closer to hers, sliding his hand along her jaw to rest it on her cheek, while Donna did the same by sliding her fingers into his dirty blonde locks, scratching his scalp in the process. Taking advantage of the redhead's lower lip between his, he slid his tongue very gently on it, but as Donna pulled back slowly, clearly surprised, Harvey couldn't stop and quickly captured her mouth again to continue kissing her. After a few seconds, he tried again, and when she opened her mouth this time, Harvey quickly slid his tongue inside, hearing the redhead moan into his mouth. For Donna, she didn't even understand what was happening to her anymore. Between the feeling of his lips, his tongue against hers, his hand against her face with his thumb caressing her cheekbone, his hot breath against her skin, and his muscular chest crushed against her breasts while their knees were brushing, she was going crazy. Both of them had lost the little reason they had left, and while Harvey was nibbling Donna's lip, the redhead felt the second hand of the future lawyer rest on her hip while she took the opportunity to put her second hand on his neck. The moment they separated, both of them opened their eyes to look at each other, their dark gazes a mixture of desire and… love? Anyway, realizing he wanted more, he closed his eyes again before capturing her lips again, and the moment he felt Donna initiate the French kiss this time, he pushed the redhead with his body until she found herself lying on the mattress, Harvey straddling her, both of them kissing passionately, until the young man slid his hand under her t-shirt to gently caress the soft skin of her hip.
«Harvey, stop»
Hearing Donna's voice was like a cold shower, a harsh return to reality, as he realized he had gone a little too far and that the simple «I'll show» had quickly transformed into «I want to go further with you». He knew that the aftermath was going to be awkward, so, in a split second, he put on his mask of arrogance and straightened up on his knees, still straddling Donna. As she was slightly panting, he smirked at her before speaking.
«I think you're ready, right?»
«What? Oh, yeah, sure. Hum.. Thank you?»
«You're welcome. I am at your complete disposal, you just have to ask»
As he moved to leave the bed, letting the redhead get up in turn to leave the room without a word and a last look, Harvey waited for the door to close behind her to run into the bathroom to rush under the cold shower to try to calm his ardor and the fire that had started inside him, the feeling of the redhead's lips against his and her body under his looping in his head. For her part, Donna had left Harvey's room on trembling legs, still completely shocked by what had just happened. It was her first kiss, alright, it was a lot of feeling and pleasure, alright, but we were talking about Harvey, her best friend's brother, the guy she'd had a mini crush on for years, but what had just happened was anything but innocent, and if she hadn't put a stop to Harvey, she'd probably still be in his bed, but without her top. As she arrived downstairs without realizing it, she heard Marcus calling her.
«Hey, Red. Where have you been?»
«What?»
«You've been missing for twenty minutes, where have you been?»
«Oh, um, I went to get a charger from your room because my phone died»
«But your phone is in your hand»
«Oh yeah, um, I couldn't find it»
«Well, you won't need it»
«Why?»
«Mark was looking for you»
«What?»
«Yeah, he asked me where you were. Come on, go ahead, go find him»
Suddenly, Mark wasn't really interesting anymore, but seeing him waving at her from afar, she gave her best smile before taking a deep breath and approaching him, trying to think about something other than Harvey's muscular chest against her breasts.
«Hey»
«Hey Donna, I didn't see you anymore. How are you? Are you having a good evening?»
For a few minutes, the two teenagers chatted about everything and nothing, and even if the conversation was nice, Donna couldn't stop thinking about the kiss with the young man upstairs. At the end of the evening, as Mark was tipsy but not drunk, when they were on the terrace and he approached her, the redhead dreaded the moment. Three hours ago, she was passionately kissing Harvey, trapped between his muscular body and the mattress, but now she was outside, trapped between Mark and the wall, and if she expected the same explosive feeling she had felt, she was surprised to feel almost nothing when Mark's lips landed on hers. If the kiss was not unpleasant, she tried to enjoy it a bit more and initiated a French kiss like Harvey had done earlier, and when Mark responded, she hated it instantly. As the future lawyer had slid his tongue against hers so passionately and delicately, she felt like she was suffocating with Mark, feeling the taste of vodka in her mouth, and decided to pull away to simply smile at him. At the same time, Harvey, who had been playing four video games in a row, had gone downstairs to get himself some beer before quickly scanning the horizon for the redhead, and as he looked everywhere, he heard Marcus coming towards him.
«Yo, bro. You finally came out of hiding?»
«I was in my room playing video games — have you been drinking?»
«Not much, don't worry»
«And Donna?»
«What about her?»
«Has she been drinking?»
«Donna doesn't drink»
«Alright»
«She's with Mark, actually»
Hearing his brother's words, Harvey swallowed hard at the thought that she was with another guy right now. He knew that this kiss was only for training, to show her, but god, it had never felt so good. In order not to seem suspicious, he did his typical smirk before whispering.
«Really?»
«Yeah. She disappeared from the party for a moment — she was looking for a phone charger apparently — and Mark kept asking where she was. So I pushed her to join him, and now they've been gone for at least ten minutes»
«Where?»
«No idea, I just hope not in my bed»
«Hey, don't say that»
«What?»said Marcus, surprised.
«Nothing. Anyway, I'm going to go for a run»
«Alright»
«See you, bro»
«See you. And it better be done when I'm back»
As he left the house to start his run, he stopped abruptly when he saw Donna against the wall, a guy pressed against her — probably Mark — as they were kissing. Harvey would never admit it to himself —certainly not to Donna — but right now, it was like being stabbed in the heart.
He never thought that kiss would have changed things for him. And yet, it did.