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TWENTY
ELLIE
“Youwhat?!”
I wince at the high-pitched sound of Claire’s voice playing over the Bluetooth on my speakers as I drive into school. I quietly gasp as I locate an empty spot almost as soon as I pull into the packed parking lot, a miracle for morning class hour standards.
“I told you. Rhylan Matthews showed up at my house, and he took me out for a drive. And then we went to a party, and I saw that Richard person that you work with.” I jerk the gear shift into park and sit, finishing out my conversation with Claire.
“Okay, hold up. You’re going to have to rewind back to the beginning. What the hell was he doing at your house?”
I sigh deeply. “Honestly, I don’t even know.”
“Is the guy stalking you or something?”
“No. At least, I don’t think so.”
“Holy shit, Ellie. What is even happening? Rhylan Matthews shows up at your house, and you talk about it so casually. Like a relative was visiting or something.”
I don’t know what to tell her. Was it something? Or nothing? I have no answers for her. Just the simple fact that he appeared in front of my house, completely unannounced and out of nowhere. And we kissed. Wekissed.
My history of romantic relationships isn’t that extensive. There was a short-lived boyfriend in junior high who I would hold hands with during lunchtime and pass intricately folded notes to, followed by a handful of dates to school functions like football games, homecoming, and prom. I dated around when I first started college, enjoying the party scene and meeting new people as best as I could. Claire coaxed that side of me to the surface. Without her, I would have missed out on a lot of coed experiences. Experiences that I thoroughly enjoyed and equally regretted. And then there was Jimmy. We dated a whole seven and a half months my sophomore year of college until we parted ways right before summer break when he decided to go to Spain to study abroad for his junior year. There was no passion or heartbreak, just a mutual understanding that what we had had run its course and we would part ways as friends. Last I heard, he stayed in Spain, shacking up with a local and foregoing a college degree altogether. None of those relationships were passionate or life-altering but meaningful enough to have made a dent and left a fond mark.
But this kiss…
Fireworks was the only way to explain it. I always thought describing any kind of romantic encounter as fireworks to be cliche and cheesy. I always rolled my eyes at the notion, but this was exactly that:fireworks. I had never been kissed the way Rhylan had kissed me, so passionate and hungry. It was enough to erase everything working against us, just for a moment.
“Okay, don’t freak out over what I’m about to tell you because I honestly don’t even know what it means, but it just happened, and I’m so confused and—”
“Just tell me,” Claire interrupts.
“We kissed.” My words are a whisper, as if someone else but Claire might hear our conversation. Or maybe it’s that I don’t even believe the words myself, so if I whisper them instead, I can hold on to it being a dream a little longer. Then maybe I don’t have to face the reality of what that kiss meant.
Claire screams through the phone. Actually, the sound that comes out of her is a sound wave that only canines can recognize. I reach for the knob to lower the volume, wincing once again at the sheer loudness.
Then, as if intrusively invading my thoughts, I smile. Images of our night together flicker through my mind. Good ones and bad ones, all making me feel things that I can’t place. My emotions are a wreck, but I can’t even protest the warmth in my heart.
When Claire’s high-pitched squeals have died down to the heaviness of her breathing, I throw her another bone.
“And he texted me this morning. He’s sending someone to pick me up this afternoon after I get out of class.”
“Eleanor! Did you sleep with him?”
“What?! No! Claire, I told you, we just kissed.”
“Oh my God, Ellie. He issohot. I can’t even wrap my head around what’s happening. You’re dating Rhylan Matthews.”
“What are you talking about? I’m notdatinghim, Claire.”
“You guys are hanging out andkissing.And you’re seeing him again! That’s basically dating in my book.”
“That is an exaggerated assumption. Don’t go calling all the tabloids now.”
“I can see it now. My exclusive interview forE! News. ‘Why, yes, I am a very close friend of the couple, and I can confirm that the two are very much in love.’”
I burst into giggles. “I have to go, Claire. I have to get to class!”
“Okay, but Eleanor. If you fuck this man, please tell me every single detail. I mean it. You have to swear on my life that you will not spare a single detail.”
