Tangled Up Like Night and Day

Chapter 4: Burning Up

Author's Note: Aight I know this is probably a really unrealistic scenario but it was necessary for the plot I guess lmao don't come for me (too much). Also: very brief smut mention warning.

*Flashback*

I was over at Hunter's house after school, my go to spot while my mom was still at work. We were 13, such a simpler time. I paced around his room as he watched from his bed, concerned. "I just feel so behind. Everyone at school is talking about the Valentine's Day dance and how you better find a date because everybody will be kissing. I haven't even had my first kiss yet!" I dramatically collapsed to the bed beside him, huffing in exasperation. "Every boy I could go with will think I'm a loser."

"Aw Genny, lighten up. You know how people talk. I bet most of them haven't kissed anyone either. And who cares what they think? If they think you're a loser, they're the losers," he said, nudging me playfully. "Besides, my parents say a first kiss should be with someone special. I don't think any of the dudes in our class are worth it."

"Have you kissed anyone?" I wondered. Aside from talking about the occasional crush, Hunter and I had never gone into any details. He shook his head. "Hm. I don't think any of the girls in our class are worth it either."

Silence fell between us as I mulled over the discussion, the words 'someone special' echoing in my head. Suddenly, an idea came to me. "Hunter...what if we kissed?"

He blinked back at me in surprise. "What? That's crazy! Why would we?"

"Think about it," I began, sitting up excitedly. "You're my best friend, so obviously you're special. This way we can just get the whole pressure of a first kiss thing outta the way! Think of it as...practice!"

"Practice?" he mumbled, thinking it over. "I mean...I guess it would be good for when I kiss a girl...not that you're not a girl."

I rolled my eyes. "So kiss me then, just this once. Then we don't have to worry about it!"

"You suggested it! Why do I have to do it?" he added defensively.

"You're the boy, I just thought you should make the move," I shot back, glaring at him slightly. "Whatever." I moved forward, gently pressing my lips to his. Neither of us knew what to do for a brief moment, lips awkwardly smushed together until I finally pulled away. "That didn't seem nice at all. Why do people like it so much?"

"Maybe we didn't do it right?" He suggested, shrugging slightly.

I kissed him again, moving my lips against his this time. He moved his in tandem, as if on instinct. We continued for just a minute longer, when I finally came back to earth, pulling away from him. "That was...nice. I like that better."

"Me too," Hunter breathed, scooting closer to me. "I, uh...can we keep practicing?"

I nodded, eager to continue as he pressed his lips to mine now.

*Present Day*

I awoke with a start, taken aback by the blast from the past. Most of the dreams I had were weird and nonsensical, but this was straight out of a memory. I had almost forgotten that Hunter had been my first kiss, and I wondered if he remembered too.

It had been a few days since the incident at the club, and things had calmed down considerably. Hunter and I had fallen into a routine: we'd eat breakfast together, go out separate ways for work, hang out in the evenings until at least one of us needed to sleep. It was nice, and it pushed away the thoughts of loneliness I always had following a breakup. At least, mostly.