Page 38 of The Death of Kisses

I watched him for a moment longer as he turned and pushed through the crowd, a sort of magnetic pull in his departure.

Carrie chuckled loudly and grabbed my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor. We moved together, swirling and swaying to the pulse of the music, losing ourselves in a rhythm that felt like magic after just two months of knowing each other. It’s incredible how quickly time slips away when you're caught up with someone you just click with. We danced until our feet ached, and when we finally paused, my heart was pounding so loudly I thought it might burst.

“So, are you seeing anyone yet? I know you didn’t turn down that fucking god of a man for nothing,” she slurred slightly, already tipsy from the drinks.

“I met someone,” I shared breathlessly, my eyes sparkling with excitement. “We vibe really well, and I—” I froze, my breath catching as I saw her. “Oh my God, she’s here.” I nearly broke down, overwhelmed with relief and anxiety after all weekend spent worrying if she was sick or hurt—I couldn’t believe she’d be here, in this place, of all nights.

“Carrie, I want you to meet Charlie,” I finally managed to say as Charlie stepped forward, her presence making my heart race even more. “My girlfriend.”

Charlie stood frozen. For a second she just stared at me like she hadn’t heard me correctly. Then she smiled.

“Hi,” she said softly, her smile lighting up the space between us, and Carrie squealed with pure excitement.

“Oh my God, it’s taken forever for her to come out,” Carrie exclaimed, her voice bubbling with genuine happiness. “I’m so excited for you both!”

I leaned a little into Charlie’s shoulder, swaying to the music, feeling a warmth spread through me, my face flushed, alive with a tingling sensation that whispered everything was exactly right. In that moment, the world seemed to stand still—heart pounding, hopes soaring, and nothing in sight but this perfect, fleeting everything. For the first time in days, I felt safe.

27

GIRLFRIEND

Present day - October 20th - Town of Redmont - Population 12,234 - 18 yr old

Girlfriend. She called me her girlfriend. The moment her words blanketed my soul, the world around us dimmed into insignificance. The music faded into a distant echo, and the bustling bodies dissolved into nothingness. Carrie could have said a hundred things—words of love, promises, dreams—and I wouldn’t have caught a single one. All I could hear, pounding through my chest, was that one single word: girlfriend.

The rest of our time there was a hazy blur—just the feeling of her. Girlfriend.

Carrie stumbled toward her car, and after ten grueling minutes of searching her own hand for her keys—which were already in it—I finally called her a taxi.

“Thanks, babe,” she muttered with a sweet, sleepy smile as I helped her into the cab, tossing a few bills to the driver to get her home. Anna’s dazed, drifting mind, barely registering the soft, unconscious way she clung to me.

I carried her carefully to my bike, gently setting her on the seat while I pulled a hair tie from my wrist, braiding her curls out of her face. When I was done, I slid my helmet over her sleepy head. I held her upright as I climbed onto my bike, feeling every inch of her little body pressed against mine.

Her arms instinctively wrapped around my waist, gripping me tight as I navigated through the parking lot at a slow, steady pace. Once we hit the interstate, my hand stayed on her thigh, steadying her as I wove through the night traffic that had nothing better to do than crawl forward at nearly three in the morning.

Seeing the huge PineRidge sign, a fleeting thought crossed my mind—I almost wished I didn’t have to take her home. But reality hit hard. We had school, obligations, and I couldn’t afford to miss another day. Court mandates weighed heavy, and I rolled my eyes, pulling over onto a quiet side street to carry her back to her house.

The way she leaned into me made it easier to carry her piggy-back style, but every step was a tease—her sheer fabric brushing against my back, the heat of her skin seeping through, igniting something wild inside me. Girlfriend. That word bounced around my mind like a pinball—spinning, reckless, unstoppable.

Nothing would be wrong with kissing her. The dark laugh in my throat rumbled deep as I gently set her down just outside her window. Carefully, I pried it open, warm air spilling out into the night as I looked at her.

Cradling her cheek in my hand, I leaned in softly, giving her a feather-light kiss. She smiled drowsily, her eyes half-closed, and I whispered, “Come on, sleeping beauty, time to climb back through the window.”

She looked at me, then at the window, hesitating for a moment before stepping up. As she bent over to slip inside, I got the most glorious view—her rounded ass wiggling enticingly into the room. My lips pressed into a hard line, but I couldn’t help the breathless rush of desire that shot through me.

She straightened up, fixing her skirt, and I didn’t bother hiding my gaze—I was completely captivated, turned on just by the memory of that perfect, tempting shape.

When I hesitated and didn't rush to follow her through the window, a flicker of sadness crossed her face—her pouty lip trembling just enough to break my heart. That vulnerable, longing expression made it impossible to turn away. I sighed deeply, my chest heavy, as I finally stepped through the window and into her room. Her giggle erupted like a soft bubble of joy, but I could sense the haze of alcohol still clouding her mind, making her even more fragile, more real.

“Stay with me,” she murmured, her voice yearning, as she slowly slid her skirt down her legs—the gesture so intimate, so raw, it felt like an echo of her soul. Every conscious thought vanished as I watched her undress, every fiber of my being drawn helplessly into her. She was an open vulnerability, a flame I couldn’t resist, and in that moment, nothing else mattered but staying close to her, holding onto this fleeting, intoxicating connection.

I froze completely, rooted to the ground as she silently tiptoed closer to me. My entire being was suspended in anxious anticipation, breath held tight in my chest. And then, in that moment, her eyes sparkled with a mischievous gleam, igniting a fire within me that burned brighter than any words could express.

Her lips hovered just above mine, tender and electric, as she leaned into me with a longing that was impossible to ignore. I could have pulled away, played it safe, but she chose me—her eyes burning with desire, her heart craving what only I could give. She wanted me with a fierce, undeniable passion, and in that moment, everything else faded away.

I pulled her close, my hands possessively cupping her frame, anchoring us together in a suffocating embrace as I gently but insistently backed her towards her bed. My lips never left her skin, trailing tender kisses as we tumbled backward onto the softness of the mattress. My knee deliberately opened her legs, my body pressed against hers, igniting sparks that threatened to set everything aflame. She was pulling at my shirt, her fingers fumbling with reckless urgency, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at her clumsy attempts—her senses still clouded by alcohol, by longing, an unfiltered desire. Her delicate sunflower necklace swayed gently between us as I pressed my lips to hers in a deep, passionate kiss, feeling every bit connected to her.

Finally, I managed to slip free of my jeans, and in that instant, nothing stood between us. I felt everything—the heat of her body pressing into mine, the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat as it pounded wildly in harmony with my own.