Hot by Laura L Smith Page B

So he pulls me to the back of the cafeteria near one of the stacks of tables. He leans me against the wall and kisses me full on the lips. It’s like I lit a sparkler. The colors whirl around me. I pull away.
    “Sorry, Charlie. No PDA. Dance team rules.” I pant, shaking my finger at him like a child walking through the house with muddy shoes.
    “What’s PDA?” Noah asks. “And who’s Charlie? Should I be jealous?”
    “Funny!” I slap him playfully on the arm. “Public Display of Affection.” I inhale some fresh air, relieved to be out of the mob for a moment. “Todd, our coach, assigns demerits to anyone caughtin the act of PDA — enough that I’d have to skip a performance.”
    “Demerits?” Noah asks, leaning in to kiss my ear.
    “Yeah, points against us.” I playfully push him away. “You know, like if we forget part of our uniform or are late to practice. It’s a point system of punishment.” He’s still looking at me like I have fifteen purple eyes. “Like in hockey, what happens if you forget your stick or you’re late?”
    “If you forget your stick? You better not forget your stick! If you’re late? Either way, it’s a bunch of nasty drills, like sprints on the ice.” He shrugs. “I get it.” He takes his forearm and wipes sweat from his brow. His cheeks are rosy, and he is so handsome that I want him to kiss me like that again and again.
    “So, no kissing in school?”
    I nod.
    “So, where can we go so I can kiss you?” he asks in a voice so low I barely hear him.
    “I can’t leave the dance. My mom’s picking us up.” I smile, somewhat relieved. What would happen if we left together? Wow, is he cute!
    He shakes his head all nervous like. “Linds, you look so sexy, and you go dancing like that, and you expect me to keep my hands off you?” He ruffles his hair. “This isn’t easy.”
    “I’m sorry. I want to kiss you. That was so . . . niiiiccce.” I draw out the word and tilt my head sideways. I don’t want him to think I’m not interested. “But, I guess it’s kind of like what Ed was talking about. Even though it feels good, some things are just against the rules, whether they’re Todd’s or God’s.” I laugh at my unintentional rhyme. “And, it’s not worth it. I mean, can you imagine if you couldn’t play tomorrow because someone saw you kiss me? That’s what would it would be like for me.”
    Noah steps back. “I never thought of it that way, Linds.” Hegrabs my hand and stands next to me, shoulder to shoulder. “I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean to put you in that position.” His free hand fidgets with his hair. “You’re just so amazing, and I think about you all the time.”
    “I think about you too,” I say.
    “Really?”
    “Noah!” I punch him in the arm. “Of course, like always. I was so bummed my friends weren’t sitting near you at the game, and I picked out this outfit because I hoped you would like it, and I can still feel where you kissed me.” The words tumble out of my mouth too fast.
    “About the game . . .” Noah looks down. “The guys all went out drinking before, and I had a beer — one beer. I feel so stupid. I didn’t want you to think I was into drinking or anything, so I avoided you during the game, hoping they’d sober up and I wouldn’t stink.” He turns and looks at me. “You were great out there, by the way. I am so crazy about you, Lindsey Kraus.”
    My smile explodes from my heart. “Me, you.” I squeeze his hand. Wow! I am so blown away by him. I want him to realize how much I like him too, but I’m agitated. I don’t want this to go in the wrong direction. Dance team and demerits are one reason to slow things down, but there’s more.
    “Noah, I love kissing you, and the other night at your house — wow! That threw me over the top. But, remember what Pastor Ed said about the fire. I mean, I can’t go there .”
    I watch Noah’s Adam’s apple bob up and down. “Sure, Linds. I get it.”