Chapter 8B Continued
1038 Words
Weekend Fun and Surprises (Continued)
The laughter and chatter from the family room gradually died down as the group settled in. Sade’s older brother was still lost in his game, barely glancing up from his controller, and Isla was busy flipping through a magazine she’d found on the coffee table. Paul, leaning back in his chair, seemed content with the quiet atmosphere, but Dre looked over at Sade with a playful grin.
"Hey, Sade," he said, his voice low enough to keep it between the two of them, "can you show me your room?"
Sade raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She was pretty comfortable around him, but she hadn’t expected this. She didn’t mind, though—it felt natural.
“Sure, come on,” she replied, standing up and leading the way. She glanced over her shoulder as she walked, catching Dre’s gaze. Her heart fluttered a little, but she shook it off. It was just Dre. He was her boyfriend, after all.
As they walked through the house, Sade showed him around, pointing out the living room, the kitchen, and the family room where everyone had gathered earlier. “This is my room,” she said with a small flourish as they reached her door. She opened it and stepped inside, gesturing around. “This is where my computer is, and that’s my bed over there. I have some stuff on the shelves, and that’s where I keep my clothes.”
Dre walked in, glancing around, clearly impressed by her space. It wasn’t anything extravagant, but it was cozy and personal. Sade loved it here. It was her sanctuary, the one place she could truly be herself.
She shut the door behind them, then turned to him with a curious look. Dre took a few steps closer, his expression shifting from casual to serious. There was something in his eyes, a question hanging between them. She could feel the tension in the air, like something was about to shift.
Dre didn’t waste time. He took another step forward, closing the gap between them. “Can I ask you a question?” he said, his voice dropping lower, almost a whisper.
Sade, caught off guard, nodded, her heart skipping a beat. “Sure, what’s the question?”
He was standing so close now that she could feel his breath on her skin. He leaned in a little, his gaze intense as he looked into her eyes. “Can I kiss you?” he asked, his tone almost a challenge, but with a hint of hesitation, like he wasn’t sure how she’d react.
Sade blinked, surprised by the question. She hadn’t expected it, not really. Of course, they were dating, and kisses were part of that, but the way he was looking at her—so close, so expectant—caught her off guard.
“I'm surprised you're asking,” she replied with a soft laugh, trying to mask the sudden rush of thoughts running through her mind.
Dre raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “What do you mean by that?”
Sade shrugged, trying to sound casual. “No reason in particular,” she said, her voice light, though her heart was racing. She could feel the shift in the room, the way the air seemed to thicken around them.
“Well, can I?” Dre asked again, his voice softer now, and there was something genuine in the way he asked. It wasn’t demanding. It wasn’t rushed. He was simply asking for her permission.
Sade hesitated for just a moment, then nodded, the faintest smile crossing her lips. “Okay, sure.”
Dre leaned in, his hands resting lightly on her waist as he tilted his head slightly. He bent down, capturing her lips in a soft kiss. It wasn’t passionate, not the kind of kiss she’d felt before. It was simple, sweet even, the kind of kiss you’d give someone you cared about but weren’t exactly crazy about.
When he pulled back, his eyes searched hers, looking for some kind of reaction.
“How was that?” he asked, his voice hopeful.
Sade couldn’t help but laugh, her cheeks flushing slightly. “It was good. It was good,” she said, her words almost a little rushed. She smiled at him, trying to cover up the strange feeling that had settled in her chest. It wasn’t a bad kiss. It was fine. It was just... not like the kiss she’d had with Marco.
The memory of Marco’s kiss flashed in her mind—intense, passionate, like it meant something. She had never thought of it that way before, but now, in the quiet of her room, with Dre standing in front of her, she realized something. She didn’t feel the same way about Dre as she did about Marco. She liked Dre—she cared about him—but it wasn’t like that. There was something more with Marco, something that made her heart race in a way it didn’t with Dre.
But she couldn’t think too much about it. Not right now.
She looked up at Dre, her smile returning, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Come on, let’s go back downstairs before they think we’re doing something. And my parents are out shopping, but if they come back and catch a boy in my room, I’ll be grounded for eternity.”
Dre laughed, grabbing her hand. “Yeah, we don’t want that.”
They made their way back downstairs, Sade feeling a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. As they walked down the stairs, her mind replayed the kiss with Dre, but it couldn’t stop thinking about the one with Marco. It wasn’t like she didn’t enjoy being with Dre—it was just different.
Two kisses in one week, she thought to herself, her heart beating a little faster as she tried to process everything. This is insane. Just insane.
She glanced over at Dre, who was still holding her hand, and tried to push the thoughts of Marco out of her mind. They made their way back into the family room, the others none the wiser about what had just happened.
- Writer
