In the Open

"I'm not going to lie and say that didn't turn me on."

I look back at him to see his eyes already on me, and he gives me a smile. He is so confusing! Yesterday he begged for me to come back, then he left me, and now he's being all smiley?

I hate him.

I look back at the front ad Mr. Reed asks for today's volunteers for the project.

Utter shock fills me as Mr. Reed calls Nick's name. What is he doing? We haven't read over the script together at all, and now he wants us to present in front of the whole class...?

"Come on Naddy, don't want to keep the class waiting now do we?" He smiles at me, a real smile and I feel my heart clench in my chest.

Not knowing what is about to happen terrified me, and I want so badly to stay in my seat. But I get up, and follow nick to the front of the room as he hands me the script. I gulp and put on my best game face. It's just a little acting.

"So, our characters have been traveling together for weeks. Nadine is going to be playing the damsel Jew in distress, and I'll be playing the super sexy Nazi who was ordered to bring her to a concentration camp," he says, explaining the backstory of our scene.

People nod and some chuckle. Most of the girls just look at him and smirk or bite their lip, which sickens me.

He looks at me and I see him get in to character, and I do the same, taking a deep breath.

Nick grabs my arm tightly, cueing the start of our scene. I cry out in fear, "Please let me go! Don't take me! I don't want to die, I'll do whatever you want."

"You and I both know that isn't going to happen. I have orders, and if I don't follow them I'll die," he spits at me, and I'm surprised at how well he plays his character.

I glance at the script again. "So you like hurting people? You following these orders makes you a monster. You're helping someone murder millions of people. You can stop this!" I beg him, letting a tear slip down my face.

He wipes it away and stares into my eyes. "Believe me, I don't want to hurt you. But if I don't let you go, they'll torture us both. I'd rather you die quickly, I'd rather you die with your soul intact."

"And I would rather you die with a soul! If you do this you will never forgive yourself. You are the one killing me, by letting them have me."

"Keeping you to myself would be selfish and wrong. As long as you're with me, you're doomed. We're both doomed," he softly says as he cups my cheek. This whole thing suddenly seems too real, what he's saying clicks in my own head, and another tear falls out of my eye. I can't tell if it's real or not.

"I want to be with you! I don't care if it kills me, I die either way. At least this way I'll die with you by my side," I say emotionally, feeling the whole room's eyes on us. I put the script down, I can't stand to read the words he wrote. I won't let him tell me what to do and make this choice for me.

"If I let you go, you won't suffer. Why won't you get that through your head?" He angrily says, yanking away from me and putting his hands harshly in his hair.

"Suffering is worth it when it comes to you," I say on impulse, and his eyes shoot up to mine, reeling with emotions. He knows we're no longer talking about the script. We're talking about us, and I hate the sadness and fear that rests within his emerald eyes.

I reach out my hand and place it on his cheek, turning his head to look at me.

"Whatever is stopping you from doing this. Whatever is stopping you from being with me? I need you to drop it because I am not leaving you. Hitler would have to raise hell in order to pry my heart away from yours," I say firmly, staring into his eyes. I mean every word I say to him, and it terrifies me.

"You're sure you want to do this? Once I run away with you, he'll come for us. He'll do whatever he can to break us. You know that right?" His eyes are full of question, and I wonder who he is talking about. His father maybe? Is that who he is so scared of?

"I know the risks. And we just have to be stronger than them. We don't have to be a part of this. The murder and the death and the heartbreak. We can fight him and we can stop it."

He cups my face in his hands, and my heart tatters wildly in my chest. His eyes are full of affection as well as fear, and oddly enough, happiness. He leans in closer to me and I have to remind myself to breathe.

I feel his breath fan my lips, and think about all the times we've been in this position where he pulled away from me.

Only this time, he doesn't.

His lips collide with mine, and fireworks erupt behind my eyes, igniting every nerve in my body. I close my eyes and kiss him back, feeling the passion and emotions flying between us with every touch of our lips. I feel him smile against me and my hands wrap around his neck. I snake my fingers through his hair and pull him as close to me as possible, stuck in this utterly perfect moment.

Clapping is heard around us, reminding us both that we're in a classroom full of people. We pull back from each other, but our eye contact doesn't break.

"That was an amazing performance guys, very poetic. I'm actually proud of you Simmons. Don't make me regret it," Mr. Reed says, although Nick keeps his gaze on me until we're both told to go back to our seats.

He seemed to have fried my brain because I can't think of anything else but him and his lips on mine. That was my first kiss.

I rub my lips with a grin on my face, and look back to see Nick with the same expression. He looks back at me with a wink and a smirk.

I blush and look forward again, although I can't ignore the shocked look on Alyssa's face.

"What...?" She asks, looking at me as if I'm a ghost.

"I'm not going to lie and say that didn't turn me on," she says, giving me a look that says 'we'll talk later'.

You and me both Lyss, I think to myself as I replay that kiss over and over again.

Authors Note:
Hey guys, they finally kissed! Tell me your thoughts and feelings on this chapter and thank you all so much for your support. I love you all!