Chapter 10. First Kiss
1364 Words
She didn't know how she got home that afternoon. She remembered walking out of the school grounds in a haze, confused and giddy at the same time.
That was her first kiss!
One hell of a first kiss!
Amelia bit her lower lip, her mind playing what happened on that staircase over and over.
He said he was in love with her.
Laurence confessed to her on that staircase. And what did she feel about that? She asked herself as she spaced out in the middle of hanging the wall decor in the shed.
Sure, she couldn't deny the immediate attraction she felt in response to his kisses. But was that reaction enough to give him a chance?
Ugh.
Milly closed her eyes in frustration.
Calling herself confused would be a big understatement. She still couldn't quite get a grasp of her feelings for him. He made her feel things that were utterly new and foreign to her, yet if she allowed herself, she would want those again. And maybe more. But that was the exact same reason why she was wary of him. All of it seemed so sudden for someone who hadn't entertained any guy before, let alone been in a relationship.
"You've been in that position for more than five minutes."
A voice came from behind her.
Amelia turned to see her aunt, standing in the doorway to the shed, holding a small thermos and two identical mugs in hand.
"Hi, Aunty."
Milly greeted her with a soft smile.
"Sorry I was spacing out for a minute."
Her Aunt Rosie came in and placed the thermos and mugs on the small side table near the window.
"Yes, you were."
Her aunt chuckled.
"What were you thinking anyway?"
She asked.
"You didn't even notice me coming."
Taking a seat on the old recliner next to the table, Rosie poured the coffee she brought and placed the other one across from her, signaling Milly to take it.
"I know, I was just deep in thought about something."
Milly grabbed the monoblock chair she was using near the table and faced her aunt.
"Is everything going well at school?"
Her aunt continued, slowly sipping her coffee.
"Yeah, everything's cool."
Amelia gulped the hot liquid gingerly, grateful for the caffeine hitting her senses to attention.
She was way distracted earlier to make any good progress with the work she intended to do that weekend.
"I heard you auditioned for the school orchestra."
Her aunt inquired.
Amelia was grateful for a subtle change in topic. She couldn't let her aunt know that she was thinking about other things except her schooling.
"I did..."
She hesitated, the result of that wasn't guaranteed yet and she didn't want to feel too confident in case she missed the chance.
"And?"
Rosie prompted, clearly wanting more details than that.
"And... um, it's still in the air."
Milly laughed softly, meeting her aunt's curious expression with a smile.
"I mean, the results won't be posted until I guess, Monday or Tuesday, next week."
Her aunt nodded in understanding; if she wanted to press her further, she chose not to at that moment.
Rosie knew her niece's capabilities and had full trust that she could handle school without much help.
"You did good with the shed."
Her aunt smiled thoughtfully, pleased with the improvements she saw in the old structure.
It used to be her haven too, but now that she became busy with work, Milly could take over what she left there and by the looks of it, her niece did a better job than her.
"It's all thanks to you, of course."
Milly responded with a compliment.
Her aunt had always been supportive of her, but giving her the place that was dear to her heart too was something special, and Milly couldn't be more thankful for her generosity.
They sat there for a while, talking about the shed, then the garden that her aunt desperately wanted to tend to if her time allowed, and their strange family, an unusual structure for someone not familiar with them, but Amelia loved them for who they were, a close-knit, strong, and loving bunch of women.
That must be the longest weekend Laurence ever spent. For the first time in his life, he wanted it to be over. It took all his self-control to let her go on that staircase yesterday. But he knew he had to. In fact, he was still unsure of her feelings for him. There wasn't any indication in the past that she liked him at all. She may have responded to his teasing, but the truth was, he didn't know if she felt anything for him.
Laurence let out a loud sigh.
"You okay?"
Ron asked.
They were lounging at Hobius cafe, their usual spot whenever they feel like hanging out on a weekend.
"You been out of it since you came."
His friend continued, grabbing some nachos on the small platter in front of them.
"Yeah, man, you alright?"
Matt joined in, sipping his iced coffee while scribbling something on his phone.
Laurence leaned back on the leather sofa he was in and closed his eyes.
"I'm fine, just tired."
He quipped, not wanting to give his friends any idea that his mind was elsewhere.
"Don't tell me you're having girl troubles?"
Ryan asked, he noticed his lack of interest early on.
"I don't see you with any girl, though."
His friend continued.
"I'm fine, just slept late last night."
Laurence had to make up a believable reason, he couldn't exactly blurt out that he was thinking about his cousin and that she was giving him a hard time.
"Wanna go get some booze tonight?"
Jaden finally inserted himself in the conversation.
He had been on the phone with his current girlfriend for almost half their time in the cafe.
"Hey, I'm down if you all are."
Matt instantly agreed.
He wanted to let off steam too.
"I said I didn't sleep well last night and you wanted me to get drunk now?"
Laurence scoffed at his friends.
"The more reason we should get booze, man!"
Jaden sounded more excited at the prospect.
"We can go to your place..."
Ryan suggested, looking at Laurence for approval.
"My place? Why not yours?"
He asked, silently hoping Ryan agreed so they could head over to his house.
"Not sure, man."
His friend hesitated for a second.
"It's mom's day off, I don't think I should bring you guys there."
Ryan explained.
His friends had been to his house countless times, but drinking while his mom was there was still uncomfortable, even if she was usually just cool about them.
"But if you guys just have a beer or two..."
Ryan considered, it wouldn't sound off if they would just pass the time at the pool with a couple of beers.
His mom wouldn't mind that. She even preferred them hanging out at home rather than somewhere else.
"That could work."
Laurence easily agreed, citing his lack of sleep as a reason he couldn't handle any more than a can of beer.
Finally agreeing on something, Ryan drank the last of his coffee and grabbed his backpack to go.
Amelia leisurely glided against the cool water in the pool. It was a little over six in the evening when she felt she wanted to stretch her body a bit from cramping too much in the shed the whole day. With her aunt leaving for dinner with her friends, Milly changed to her swimsuit and lounged at the pool house with her favorite boy band on speakers.
She had been going laps back and forth for maybe half an hour when she started feeling tired. I should get out, she thought. Only wanting to get a little bit of exercise, she hadn't planned on spending too much time in the water.
Just a few more, she chided. Arms extended to her side, Amelia allowed herself to float freely, relaxing her body more and taking her time, staring up at the early evening darkness slowly seeping in the sky.
Laurence stopped in his tracks, dumbstruck by what lies in front of him.
- Writer
