Run

VII

            Their kiss was like fireworks. Alex couldn't believe how well their lips fit together like they were meant to be. He knew he should have asked first. He knew he probably just fucked up any chances with Falren, but he couldn't drag himself away from this moment. Before he could pull back and profuse;y apologize, Falren's lips began to move along with Alex's. Their lips mashed against each other as they grasped each other's faces pouring all their emotions and feelings into that kiss. They pulled apart, Falren panting slightly and a string of saliva connecting their lips. Alex opened his eyes in a daze before seeing Falrens face and jolting out of his stupor.

"Shit! Falren, I'm so sorry! I should have asked you first, god I'm such an idi-" He was cut off by a hand over his mouth.

"N-no, it's ok. I kind of liked it." Falren held his left hand over Alex's mouth while hiding behind his right hand as a blush spread over his features. The two stared into each other's eyes, losing themselves in the moment and enjoying being together.

"Alex, I- We need to talk," Falren said, breaking the silence. Alex looked at him worriedly; he knew he had pushed it too far. Fallen was just too nice and wouldn't say anything about it.

"What's up, Falren?" He tried to play it cool, but he could hear the worry seeping into his voice; he just hoped Falren couldn't hear it.

"Alex, I need you to understand that I don't understand anything I'm feeling right now. Mariah said I was in love, but I'd never experienced these things. I don't know if I'll like anything or everything we do together, but I promise to tell you the moment you do something I dislike. Does that work?" Everything clicked in Alex's head. He had kissed Falren, a kid his age that had grown up in a laboratory. Of course, he wouldn't understand anything happening with his feelings. Alex felt like such an idiot now.

"Oh my god Falren, I am so sorry. I didn't think about how this would make you feel, and I should have considered your feelings before jumping into things." Alex tried to explain his feelings about the situation but was cut off again.

"But it's ok because I liked it, so I didn't mind?"

"Falren, no. Just because you like something doesn't mean that I, or anyone else, can do them without asking you. What if you hadn't liked it? When you do things like this with people, you must consent to everything that happens. You need to have conversations with people before doing things. Someone wants to kiss you? You need to consent to be kissed. It's common decency. If I ever start something with you and we haven't talked beforehand, then you have to stop me, okay Falren?" Alex wanted to make sure that Falren understood what he was saying. When he nodded his head, Alex let out a sigh of relief.

"So, uhm, Alex? What are we now?" The question came out unsure, but Falren had to ask.

"What do you want us to be?" For such a simple question, it made Falren pause.

"I don't- don't know, I mean, I, uhm, liked when you kissed me, and I like being around you," Fallen spoke his mind, and he didn't know what he wanted him and Alex to be. Falren didn't think he cared as long as they were together.

"I feel the same. Ever since I found you on the side of that road all those weeks ago, I- well, as weird as it seems with everything going on, I've found that my life is better now that you're in it." Alex spoke in a confident tone. "As long as we're together, I don't care what we are, so it's entirely up to you. We could stay friends, or we could be boyfriends?" Alex popped the question, crossing his fingers that Falren would say yes.

"What-whats the difference?"

"Well, as friends, we probably wouldn't kiss or cuddle much, and we wouldn't do anything sexual. Not that we have to do anything sexual if we date each other, though. It's all up to you" Alex panicked after he mentioned sexual activities. He didn't want Falren to think he had to do anything.