FIRST KISS (High School Romance - FYI - In need of redrafting/rewrites)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Now I know it wasn't the best idea I've ever had, and it was expressly against my better judgment and Ali's instructions, but that evening, after I had seen Bryce in the mall, I called him.

I felt as though the phone were red hot. My hands were trembling and I kept scrolling to his name and then chickening out. Finally I pressed it and let it ring once or twice before hanging up and tossing the phone onto the bed, where it fell amidst the covers, all snuggled up.

I dropped my head into my hands: the damage was done. Bryce would know I had called; I should have at least left a message...

I jumped. The phone had started ringing and vibrating all at once; it was the ringtone I had assigned to Bryce, so I knew it could only be him.

I waited, hoping he might hang up...but he didn't. And I wanted to speak to him so much that after a few rings I jumped on the phone in case he did actually hang up.

"Hello?"

"It's Bryce."

"I know."

"Oh. You sounded like you weren't sure."

I bit my lip. I didn't know where to go from here.

He coughed down the phone, clearing his throat.

"Do you want to hang out then?" he asked.

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Really? I mean, I do, yeh, of course, but what would we do?"

"I could come over..."

"No!" I answered a bit too vehemently.

Whatever we did, Ali couldn't find out. She'd kill me; and I'd feel like a loser for being so weak.

"Errr. OK. Do you actually want to? We don't have to."

I shrugged, but then realised he couldn't see me so I sighed loudly instead, letting the exhalation hiss over the receiver. "I do, but won't Taylor be pissed at you?"

He was silent. I imagined him shrugging now, and it made me smile.

"I'll pick you up, early. How about that? We can drive out of town."

"How early?"

"Mmm. Six thirty?"

"Are you kidding?" That was so early. On a Sunday? He must have been really desperate not to be seen with me.

"No, seriously," he said. "I know a great place we can go have breakfast. We could be there by eight."

There was no way I was going to say no to this opportunity. Even if I had to get up when it was still dark.

"What will I tell my parents?"

"Anything. Tell them you have training."

"For what?"

"Ski team. Cross country. Basket ball. Anything."

"OK." God, I was a pushover when it came to Bryce.

"Six thirty?"

"Yup. See you tomorrow."

When I clicked the line dead, I was filled with the most delightful sense of excited anticipation, edged with the thrill of knowing it was wrong; forbidden, even.

I was sneaking about with Bryce.

I was sneaking about with my best friend.

Ridiculous.