Cough Syrup

Chapter 10: A Kiss, My Fair Lady

Is Zach...kissing me?

The panic flooded me, and I felt my heart racing all over. His lips were soft and smooth against mine, though not wet. I felt the warmth of his hands on my cheeks as he cupped my face gently to his. My lips tingled in shock, and I could feel my cheeks turning the color of strawberries.

Suddenly Zach stopped. He pulled away, his hands sliding down to my shoulders, than looked at me, holding me at arms-length. "I-I'm sorry.. I.." He stammered. "You...didn't kiss me back." He finally settled, looking past me at something I could not see. His eyes looked hurt, disappointed, yet still glinting with longing.

Baffled, I sat there reddened.

"I didn't even know you felt that way, Zach." I managed to force out a response. My hand automatically moved to my face, and my first two fingers softly traced my lips-as softly as he has kissed me. I immediately yanked it back down to my lap, internally cursing myself. "How the hell was I supposed to kiss you back when I couldn't even understand why your lips were pressed against mine?" I whined, knitting my brow. What was I feeling? What did he do to me?

When I looked back at him, Zach looked even more hurt than when I didn't kiss him back. Shit. I said something.

"Was it bad..?" He mumbled.

"No," I sighed heavily. "I just wasn't ready for it." He looked up at me, hope sparking in his eyes once again. I softly shook my head. "I think it would be best if we both just... Actually. I'm going to go take a bath. Help yourself to anything in the fridge." I cut off the words act like nothing happened, because let's face it. Something did happen. And even I couldn't act like it didn't. I waved my hand dismissively as I walked away and closed the bathroom door behind me.

I slid to the floor taking in deep breaths, my knees to my chest with my elbows resting on top, palms to my forehead.

"Good lord Eden, what have you gotten yourself into..." I mumbled.

I stood back up, slowly, and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a mess. There were dark circles under my slightly red eyes, and paleness threatened to turn me white as the driven snow. I turned away and began to peel off my clothes. One by one, my shirt fell to the floor, than my pants, than my bra and underwear. Before long I was naked and the water was gushing from the faucet with a sound as loud as a lions roar. Steam crept across the small apartment bathroom, painting the mirror in a haze and fogging up the air. When the bath was full and I was breathing the thick water vapor, I sunk into the tub. The water was hot, and as I lowered in I found that the slight stinging tingle of it didn't bother me. I was feeling something. The water lapped over me slowly, reddening my fair skin in blotches all over. I leaned back, folding my legs upward, and let my head fall into the water. The sensation of being submerged was refreshing, almost like the feeling you get when you burry yourself in a warm blanket on a winter night. My ears popped as the water fought it's way in, and I sat up when it began to produce a sharp pain. I felt my lungs fill with the hot, sticky air as I sharply inhaled. With my next breath out, I thought of Zach. I closed my eyes and I felt his warm hands on my cheeks. I opened them. I felt his flawless lips against mine. I wanted to scream. Why was I thinking of him now, and why couldn't I get him out of my head?