A kiss for Ree

Chapter 18: The fight

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Ludwig was staring at me with that rare smile I’d only seen once before. It was the beginning of summer, and the sound of birds chirping filled the air as they flitted around, building nests in the trees outside.

My room felt unusually bright, almost like someone had hung a chandelier overhead. Ludwig stood by the open curtain, the sunlight pouring in and wrapping around him, making him look ethereal—angelic and otherworldly.

His hair was tousled and messy, just like it had been after the kiss in the car. He was laughing wildly, and so was I.

Then the angelic moment shattered.

Levi barged into my room, stomping his foot so hard it felt like the entire house shook to its foundation.

"He kissed you?," His voice exploded in my ears. I jumped.

There was no use lying anymore, no point pretending.

"So?" The word came out softer than I intended.

"Levi!" I screamed as he lunged at Ludwig, grabbing him by the collar.

"Dude, stop! What are you—" I cried out.

"You fucking scumbag!" Levi roared, spitting his fury in Ludwig’s face. 

"If you ever lay a finger on her again, I’ll beat your ass so bad they’ll have to put pieces of you together for the rest of your life!" 

His fist came down hard. I heard the crunch of Ludwig’s nose breaking.

Then he turned to me.

"And as for you!" he growled, stomping back toward where I stood.

He was suddenly in my face—so close we were only a breath apart. His hot, angry breath fanned across my lips. I tried to back away, but my legs hit the bed. I couldn’t move. He was too close. His legs touched mine.

"Levi, s... stop," I stammered helplessly. His lips tilted to the side like he was about to kiss me.

I gasped, my eyes widening in shock. 
"Levi, stop!"

His face was so close, everything turned into a blur. My eyes darted back and forth trying to focus. I blinked rapidly and just as his lips nearly brushed mine, I yelled— 
and woke up, gasping.

It was a dream. I had been dreaming.

Ludwig wasn’t in my room. Neither was Levi. There had been no angelic scene. My room was as dark as a tunnel.

I sat up and reached for my phone. 4:18. 
Geez. Dreams could be so deceiving. It had felt so real. But why would Levi kiss me?

I dropped my phone beside me and lay back down, snuggling into my blanket. Sleep had left me. I couldn’t even close my eyes, let alone drift off again. I stared into the darkness, thinking hard.

Ludwig kissed me on Saturday. That hadn’t been a dream, right?. In his car, in the supermarket parking lot. 

The memory floated back vividly—the taste of cupcake on his lips, his hands around my body, me sitting on his thigh, the feel of his abs when I touched them.

I kept fantasizing about that kiss and Ludwig until 5:30, when my alarm finally went off. I got up to pray and start getting ready for school.

Half way arranging my notebooks, someone knocked on my door.

"Come in!" I called.

Lila waltz in.

"Has anyone seen my purse? Ree, have you seen my purse?" she asked hurriedly.