Tongue Tied

Chapter 16

Chapter 16:

I have a World History report due next month. Sam was ignoring me. If he can be immature about this, fine. Jackass. Alex and I have been texting nonstop. Our date's on Friday. Is it too early to call it a date? We are just hanging out. Nothing more, nothing less. Someone like me? Someone like me, was I that bad of a date? Sam established that I was desperate when he asked me out. But he didn't tell me if something was wrong with me. What's wrong with me? Screw it. It doesn't matter. It's been a minute since Quinn and I hung out. Girl time is important. Mom dropped me at Quinn's house around 6:30 pm. I told my parents I would be over at her house, mom said to have fun and keep my phone on at all times. They haven't been arguing for a few weeks. I can see that as a good thing. A great thing. I hope it will last. Craig wasn't home as well, he was out with his friends. When I arrived, her mom was already in the kitchen making us brownies. I greeted her, she waved telling me she was happy to see me. Meat lovers and plain cheese pizza boxes are in Quinn's room with Jersey Shore reruns playing on tv. We covered our faces with avocado mud masks as we watched and ate snacks. It's filled with collagen and hyaluronic acid to keep the face plump and fresh, as it says on the tube. "So, your talk with Alex, how was that?" Quinn asks as she eats her slice of pizza.

"I asked for his number, we're hanging out next Saturday." I attempt to smile to avoid cracking my mask.

"Oooo! Where are you two going?" Quinn bumps my shoulder.

"Ice skating," I answer while chewing on the crust.

"Skating? Ice? You? You hate anything active." She chuckles.

"No, I don't."

"Yes you do, you faked a sprained ankle to get out of gym class." She giggles.

"I did sprain my ankle." It was dodgeball day in ninth grade, I ran to dodge the ball and tripped funnily. Hence the ankle sprain. I know I'm gonna be like Bambi on ice, but Alex is cute so I will risk it.

"If that's your story, sure you did. When?"

"Saturday. Oh, and you won't believe the new rumor at school. I'm a man thief. I stole Sam from Jessica when it's the other way around."

"That's stupid. Wait, she didn't steal from you. Did she?"

"She third wheeled our date, flirted with him when he was with me." I look at her and realize how I sound: jealous. I sigh and shake my head.

"Real question: how was he?"

"What?" I scowl, my mask cracks and my voice squeaks.

"Sam. How was kissing Sam?" Her eyes widen with wonder. How was it? I haven't thought about it since last week, trying to distract myself and now I'm being reminded of these rumors and when I see him.

"It was..." mind-blowing? Spine-tingling? Toe-curling? Butterflies in my stomach? I can't tell her that. In simpler terms: "it was good." It was better than good, but I will go with good.

Her mouth opens, "come on, don't downgrade it. You practically melted in his body. Everyone saw it."

"No, I didn't."

"I saw tongue," she teases.

"So? It was a kiss," I shrug. "We have to wash the mask off." I point to the bathroom to clean our caked-up faces.

"Come on! I need details! How good was it?" She follows me to the bathroom, looking for a washcloth, she hands me one and turns on the faucet. "Well?"

"You were there. Everyone was there." As I wipe off the mask and dry my face, I stay silent and wash my hands. Her face is clean and she gives me a strong look in wait. "He knew what he was doing." We head back to her room and sit on her bed.