Forever: First Kiss
Sunlight streamed through her eyelids, and Maria opened her eyes after a moment or two. She didn’t know where she was. The room was painted white and she lay on a twin bed with gray bed sheets.
Sitting straight up slowly, Maria rubbed her eyes and looked around groggily. Not far from the bed was a loveseat and she recognized Nigel, who was sprawled across it on his back.
Maria panicked, momentarily not remembering what had happened the night before. After several moments of it, it all flashed before her eyes and a lump form in her throat, and the waterworks began to well up.
The bed sank down next to her and Nigel placed his hand on the small of her back soothingly. Maria scooted closer to him, drawn to his warmth, and buried her face into his chest. He had a sweet aroma of cinnamon and chocolate, and Maria found it comforting. His arms came around her and he leaned back against the pillows.
“Where are we?” Maria asked quietly.
“A motel,” Nigel said. “I didn’t know where else to take you, so I just rented one.”
“Thank you, Nigel,” she whispered as the tears began to leak out again.
~x~
On Wednesday, most schools in Auburn, Maine were let out for Will’s funeral. Almost two hundred people were there, Maria, Jane, Kirsten, and Nigel among them. Everyone was dressed in black and no one was smiling. Not even the younger children.
As the man at the front podium talked into the microphone, people in the crowd cried, whether they were friends, family, or just passersby in the hallways at school. When the man ended his small speech, he asked if anyone would like to say anything, and Maria stood up.
Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, and her cheeks were wet from tears. As she approached the podium, she could feel the stares of everyone watching her. She made it to her destination and faced the people.
“Will was my best friend,” she whispered into the microphone, then she gathered herself and spoke louder. “September 17th, 1995, at about midnight, he was born. About half an hour later, I was. Our mothers grew up together, got married on the same day, and at the time even lived in the same house, so it’s quite right to say that Will and I were never separated until he and his parents moved out when we were ten. I knew everything about him, as he did for me. His favorite color was purple, though he told everyone else that it was orange. He was also a vegetarian, like me, but since no one ever asked, he never told. He was like the twin brother I never had, and we even looked a bit alike.” Maria’s eyes began to sting, but she took a breath and kept going. “It’s obvious that I do love him, and I always will. I’ll miss him with all of my heart, but I won’t go into depression. I know that he wouldn’t want that. I’m man enough to say that I can let him go without a fight, but I’ll never forget him. Thank you.” She bowed her head and made her way back to her seat, where Nigel held his hand out to her, and she took it.
~x~
On Thursday morning, Maria slammed her locker shut and turned to go to her first period class, which was AP Language Arts.
In the classroom, voices faltered as she walked to her table, the seat next to hers where Will used to sit now empty. She bowed her head and ignored their goggling stares and whispering behind hands. The bell rang shortly and the teacher walked into the room.
Maria looked up in time to see the teacher’s sympathetic look shot in her direction.
“Today we will be working on poetry,” the teacher said loudly over the babbling, and everyone fell silent.
There were groans and complaints all around the room, but Maria smiled softly. She loved poetry, and Will had too. It was one of their favorite things to do in their spare time.
Their teacher explained the small poetry project. Choose a topic and write any type of poem you want, and then create any type of picture you want on a poster board to go along with your theme.
Maria opened her composition book and began to scribble away.
“Oh, and I should let you know that tomorrow we will be welcoming a new student to this class.” She barely heard the teacher as she continued writing.
~x~
At lunch, Maria sat between Mark and Cadan, eating her salad hurriedly. She didn’t want to be under all of the stares of the people surrounding her.
When she finished, she got up and dumped her tray, and walked out of the cafeteria. She walked out of the double doors and into the cool, almost-October air. A small vibration pressed against her side tickled her leg and she pulled out her phone.
From Nigel Likes Cake
Hey, you wanna skip school with me?
Maria stared at her phone for a long moment before responding.
To Nigel Likes Cake
Sure, where should I meet you?
She pressed ‘send’ and waited.
From Nigel Likes Cake
I’ll come pick you up.
To Nigel Likes Cake
You know where my school is?
She glanced around; making sure no one was around.
From Nigel Likes Cake
It’s hard to miss the only other school in town. Plus, it’s not like it’s that far away.
To Nigel Likes Cake
Okay, I’m up front.
Maria shoved her phone into her pocket and stood at the front of the building, leaning back against the brick wall so no one inside could see her. She shut her eyes and took a breath.
A few minutes passed and a black Toyota Matrix drove up the street. Maria made a wild dash from the school building to the car and threw the passengers door open.
Nigel grinned wildly at her from the drivers seat and took off down the road as she buckled her seatbelt. He wore black Docker style pants and a black polo shirt with the Saint Dominic Academy logo that was still tucked in.
“So where to?” Nigel asked.
Maria shrugged, staring out the window blankly.
“Anywhere away from here,” she said quietly.
“Bad day?” Nigel asked.
Maria nodded slowly, rubbing her itchy eyes with her knuckles.
Nigel reached over and took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.
“Things will get better,” he said.
Maria felt a tear roll down her cheek. “How can you be sure?” she asked.
Nigel noticed her crying and he pulled the car over on the side of the road.
“Maria,” he said. When she didn’t look at him, he leaned over the console and lightly grabbed her chin, turning her head so she would.
“Maria, I promise you things will get better,” he told her seriously. “And I will do everything in my power to make sure that they will.”
Maria leaned towards him and buried her face into his chest, his scent calming her silent sobs. Nigel wrapped his arms around her small, shaking body and rubbed small circles on her back with his fingers.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered when she pulled away.
“For what?” Nigel ask, confused.
“For breaking down on you like this,” she replied, smiling sheepishly.
She leaned back against the car seat, wiping her eyes and staring straight ahead.
Nigel nodded and started the car back up, and began driving again.
“Where to?” he asked.
“When you get off Forest Avenue, turn left on Court Street and drive until we get to Heathcos Pizza and Variety,” she told him.
Nigel nodded once more and followed her directions. Several minutes later the car came to a stop next to Heathcos.
The pair got out of the car and walked into the small restaurant. There weren’t many people there, just a woman having lunch in the corner and the bulky waitress, Melinda, behind the counter.
Maria sat at her usual table with the tall chairs near the front next to a window and Nigel in the opposite seat and they waited for the waitress, who came bustling up and gave them menus.
“Hello, Maria, dear,” she greeted with a smile. “The usual Sprite?”
Maria nodded. “Yes, please,” she said.
“And you, my dear?” the waitress turned to Nigel.
“I’ll just have Coke,” he told her politely.
Melinda smiled and nodded, walking away. A few minutes later, she came back with their drinks and set it in front of them.
“Maria, the usual?” she asked kindly.
Maria smiled at her and nodded.
“Small tossed salad and Veggie pizza without the peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli?” she confirmed.
Maria nodded.
Melinda turned to Nigel.
“And you?”
“I have a small cheese pizza with extra cheese,” he said, waiting for her to finish writing before handing her both his and Maria’s menus.
When Melinda walked away, Maria sipped her Sprite.
“Are you a vegetarian?” Nigel asked, watching her.
Maria nodded.
“Ever since I was a little kid,” she replied, looking over at him. She caught his gaze and held it, really not wanting to drop it.
After a few moments, Maria’s eyes fell to something other than his eyes. They moved down to his lips. They were full and light pink, and Maria yearned to lean across the table and kiss them.
The moment she realized what she was doing, she snapped herself out of her daydreams and glared at the table, blushing furiously. She was unaware of Nigel getting out of his seat until her chair was pulled back and turned.
He face was inches away from hers and he gripped the edge of the chair on either side of her hips, trapping her there. He leaned close, pressing his forehead against hers.
Maria’s breath caught in her throat. She swallowed, feeling his minty breath on hitting her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest and she ached to close the distance between their lips. Butterflies erupted in her stomach and she swallowed again.
“May I?” he asked.
“Yes,” Maria whispered, and he crashed his lips against hers.
© 2011 Sean Thornton
~x~
And so, the fantasy part of this shall be starting soon! :D
Can't wait, y'all are gonna love it! Well, at least.. I hope. :P
Until Forever [7],
-Sean <3
And PS. In case any of you were wondering, Edward Little High School and Saint Dominic Academy ARE in fact real, as is Heathcos Pizza. They are in the Auburn, Maine. No, I have never been there, I use google maps (xD).