Noughts and crosses

Sephy

I wriggled my toes, enjoying the feel of the warm sand trickling like fine baby powder between them. Digging my feet even deeper into the dry, yellow-white sand, I tilted back my head. It was such a beautiful August afternoon. Nothing bad could ever happen on a day like today. And what made it better was the fact that I could share it - something rare and special itself, as I knew only too well. I turned to the boy next to me, my face about to split wide open from the smile on it.

'Can I kiss you?'

My smile faded. I stared at my best friend. 'Pardon?'

'Can I kiss you?'

'What on earth for?'

'Just to see what it's like,' Callum replied.

Yeuk! I mean, yeuk!! I wrinkled up my nose - I couldn't help it. Kissing! why on earth would Callum want to do anything so... so feeble?

'Do you really want to?' I asked.

Callum shrugged. 'Yea I do.'

'Oh alright then.' I wrinkled up my nose again at the prospect. 'But make it fast!'

Callumn turned to kneel beside me. I turned my head up towards his, watching with growing curiosity to see what he'd do next. I tilted my head to the left, so did he. I tilted my head to the right. Callum did the same. He was moving his head like he was my reflection or something. I put my hands on Callum's face to keep it still and dead centre.

'D'you want me to tilt my head left or right?' I asked impatiently.

'Er... which way do girls usually tilt their heads when they're being kissed?' asked Callum

'Does it matter? Besides How should I know?' I frowned. 'Have I ever kissed a boy before?'

'Tilt your head to the left then.'

'My left or your left?'

'Er... your left.' I did as asked. 'Hurry up before I get a crick in my neck.'

Callum licked his lips before his face moved slowly closer to mine

'Oh no you don't,' I drew back. 'Wipe your lips first.'

'Why?'

'Your just licked them.'

'Oh! OK!' Callum wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

I moved forward to resume my original position. Keeping my lips tight together, I wondered what I should do with them. Purse them so they stuck out slightly? Or should I smile to make them seem wider and more appealing? I'd only practised kissing with my pillow. This was a lot different - and seemed just as silly!

'Hurry up!' I urged.

I kept my eyes wide open as I watched Callum's face move down towards mine. Callum's grey eyes were open too. I was going cross-eyed trying to keep my focus on his face. And then his lips were touching mine. How funny! I'd expected Callum's lips to be hard and dry and scaly like a lizard's skin. But they weren't. They were soft. Callum closed his eyes. After a moment I did the same. Callum's breath mingled with mine and felt warm and sweet. And then without warning his tongue was touching mine.

'Yeuk!' I drew back immediately and stuck my tongue out, wiping it with my hand. 'What did you do that for?'

'It wasn't that bad was it?'

'I don't want your tongue on mine.' I shook my head.

'Why not?'

''Cause...' I shuddered at the thought of it, '... Our spit will mix up.'