Just One Kiss by Amelia Whitmore Page A

comfortable in his arms
than I had anywhere in a long time.
    His lips are near my ear when he whispers, “Thanks for
coming with me tonight.”
    I glance up at him. “Thanks for asking me.”
    For the rest of the next two dances, both luckily slow
songs, we stay exactly how we are. Then, a faster song starts and suddenly
we’re both laughing, acting like crazy people. He takes my hand and spins me
around a few times, making me so dizzy that I have to steady myself against his
body. Surprisingly, I just let loose, not caring who thinks I’m a freak for how
I dance. For the first time in my entire life, I just simply don’t care about
anybody but myself. Well, and Brayden. But he seems just as crazy as me.
    At the end of the night, we’re walking out of the building
with our combined hands swinging between us. As soon as we step outside, I
start spinning around. The first snowfall of the season is here. Since it’s
only November, it won’t stick, but there’s something simply magical about the
first few flakes every year. I’m giggling like a child with my tongue sticking
out and my arms flying out as I twist.
    “Snow, Brayden!”
    I look over at him with a huge smile on my face. He’s got
his hands in his pants pockets, just watching me with a serene expression. “Come
over here!” I demand playfully, reaching my hands out for his. He chuckles and
meets me, placing his warm hands in my cold ones, and we spin together. We spin
faster and faster until I’m sure one of us is going to slip and, when that
person is about to be me, Brayden pulls me to his chest before I fall.
    There’s a moment, when I look into his eyes, where the world
just stops around us. There’s only me and him. Everything else just disappears.
The next thing I know, he’s leaning down and I’m reaching up and we meet in the
middle for the most perfect kiss I could ever imagine. It’s just like in a
movie, where the audience sighs and time becomes insignificant.
    His lips are so warm against mine. I’ve only been kissed
once, the other night by this same boy, but it was so different then. The
butterflies weren’t there last time and his arms weren’t holding me so close. Before,
I was crying and scared and his kiss was comfort and acceptance. Now, I don’t
know if I’ve ever been so happy. He makes me feel invincible; like as long as
I’m in his arms, nothing can hurt me. This kiss is magic.
    When he slowly pulls away, it’s still sooner than I would’ve
preferred, and I have to blink a few times and take a deep breath to come back
to earth. Panic clouds my sunny feelings.
    “Oh god,” I whisper, touching my lips with my fingers.
    They don’t feel any different, but I feel as though I’ve
morphed into a whole new person.
    “I’m sorry,” Brayden says quickly, stepping back but not
quite letting me go.
    I look up to his eyes. “Why are you sorry?” I ask, confused.
    “I shouldn’t have pushed you. I just—it was the moment,” he
rambles.
    Closing my eyes, I shake my head. “You have nothing to
apologize for. I’m the one who’s sorry. That was . . . I’m
not . . . and you’re so . . . ugh! I
just can’t . . .” I feel tears rising in my eyes. I’m so
frustrated with myself. Why am I panicking? Brayden is perfect and he likes me,
so why can’t I just be happy?
    Brayden’s hands move to my cheeks as he places a kiss on my
forehead. “Hey, hey, calm down, Annie. Everything is fine.”
    “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have to comfort me after a kiss
like that. I should be floating on cloud nine right now, but I think too much
and now I’m ruining it for both of us.” At this, Brayden laughs.
    “You know, I wouldn’t expect any less.” His gentle eyes tell
me I haven’t ruined anything.
    I bite my bottom lip as a shaky smile takes over my face.
“Shut up,” I grumble halfheartedly.
    “Come on, we’ll talk in the car while I drive you home,” he
says, guiding me to the truck. Once we’re on the