Exotic

XXV

Kath

My heart fell to my ass when I saw Sydney on my bed. I hadn't even noticed this whole time. And judging by the look on her face, she's heard more than enough.

"I'm here." she shrugged.

"I'm sorry." I look down.

"Don't be." she said.

"I'd understand if you'd want nothing to do with me."

"Why would I want that?"

"Well, I'm just some weirdo who's crushing on a girl way out of her league."

"You don't get to decide that."

"What?" I look up.

"You were holding yourself back because you thought I was out of your league?"

"Well, yeah."

"I don't think I'm out of your league. If anything, I'm below it. But we're not going to argue about that right now. What matters is that you need to say something to my face."

"Yeah," I sigh, "Sydney, I like you. I have done for a couple of weeks now and I didn't tell you because I thought you'd rather me as a friend. And I would understand if you rejected me right now."

"Thank you, Kath." she said. I waited for a long time for her to reject my but none came, "Well, this is the part where you ask me out."

"Huh?"

"You just confessed your feelings to me and your not gonna test the waters a bit more?"

I hope she's not doing all of this just to reject me, "Will you go out with me and be my girlfriend?"

"About fucking time! Yes! Now come and snog me, you idiot."

I just stare at her. She's been here this whole time and not made a single noise, heard everything and now she wants me to snog her?

"Really?"

"Come here and kiss me. And maybe close the doors."

I nod, got up and closed the door to Eli's room. My Mama made eye contact, smiled at me as I closed that door, too. When I turned back to Sydney, she smiled excitedly. I sat next to her on the bed took her hand.

"We're really girlfriends now?" I ask.

"Yeah," she grabbed my face and kissed me softly. And I felt like I was on fire. Like liquid fire was running all over my body and there was nothing I could do about it. But it didn't hurt. It felt good. A good fire.

"Wow," I said after we pulled away.

"Wow?" she chuckled.

"Yeah," I nod, "That was-"

"Amazing!" she finished.

"More than amazing."

"Thanks, Kath." she smiled at me.

"For what?"

"For asking me out. It's made me really happy."

"Yeah, I'm really happy, too." I beam at her, "Now you can tell everyone in school that we're dating."

"That's good." she said, but then her smile dropped, "My Mum is gonna be making fun of me now. And we might not be able to be in my room with the door closed."

"Oh," I say.

"Maybe I'll just come here?"

"We don't want to hurt your knee any more. I'll come over to yours," I state, "I'll just have to make sure to keep you quiet."

Her face went beet red and I already know that I'm in for one hell of a time.