Fragile Little Things ✓

29 sure

Indie

I KISSED JEM. Well, he kissed me first, but I kissed him back. And now? Now, I can’t stop thinking about it.

It was . . . I don’t know. It’s hard to find the words to describe it. Almost impossible. I’ve never felt like that before. Is that how it’s supposed to feel?

They always say your first kiss is supposed to be the one you remember, but I don’t remember mine. Not at all. I don’t even remember who it was with — some guy from high school whose face is faded in my memory.

In my mind, my first kiss happened yesterday, in that car. With him. With the windows fogged up and me straddling his waist and his hands everywhere . . .

Everything else pales in comparison. And I’ve been thinking about it ever since he dropped me back off at my apartment yesterday. Incessantly.

“Hellooo?”

I blink, and Mae’s face comes into vision. Right. She came back early, and we’re picking out outfits for New Year’s, and I just completely spaced out. Again.

Mae pushes her face halfway through a jumper looking like she’s in a photo stand-in, and mutters, “What is up with you?”

I shrug. “Nothing...”

“What do you mean nothing?”

“I mean nothing.”

But I can’t help the way my lips tip upward, betraying me.

Mae’s eyes widen, her mouthing opening to form an “o” as evil amusement lights up her dark eyes. “Holy shit . . . you hooked up with him, didn’t you? You hooked up with Jem!”

I wave a dismissive hand as I try on a pair of jeans, almost falling over in the process. When it’s  finally on, I zip it up and turn to face her. “How about we talk about your hook-ups first?”

“What about my hook ups?”

I lift an accusatory brow.

“Okay, fine.” Mae shrugs. “I’m dating Scarlett. Next question.”

I almost choke. “What?”

Her tone is flat. “Why are you acting all surprised?”

I lift my hand in the air. “I don’t know, I thought you’d be more subtle? She’s my roommate for crying out loud. How did you two even happen?”

Mae sighs, not meeting my gaze as she contorts her upper body in a freakish way, pulling off the jumper with way more force than necessary. “You were really out of it for the last three months with that Rutherford loser, you know. I had to speak to Scar to make sure you were okay. Often. And I realized that she’s not that bad. She’s… nice.”

I scoff. “Define nice.”

“I’m not allowed to say anything bad about her now. It goes against the girlfriend code.”

I roll my eyes. “Please. You were the one who used to call her Scarface.”

Mae has the nerve to look offended. “Yeah, because I had to take your side.”

My eyes widen. “Wait, Mae. I just realized something. I think she hated me this whole time because… she was jealous.”

Mae furrows her brows. “I don’t think that’s… ”

I pick up my pillow for the pure need to hold something and then slam it down on to my bed like a lunatic. “Yes, oh my god, she was jealous that I got to hang out with you all the time, when she was the one who really wanted to.”