The Girl Next Door

27. Unspoken Moments

We continued riding the rides, and the last one was the Ferris wheel.

The boys, being the sneaky ones they are, planned to leave Astrid and me alone for this ride.

She was looking out at the view. "It's beautiful," she said, gazing out at the lights below.

I looked at her, and for a moment, I agreed. The view was beautiful, but what caught my attention more was her.

For a moment, I was just watching her as she gazed outside, lost in the view. Then, suddenly, she turned and caught me staring.

"If you continue doing that, I could kiss you," she blurted, a playful grin on her face.

I froze for a second, my heart skipping a beat. She was joking, of course, but the way she said it made everything feel... different. It wasn't just a joke anymore.

Despite her playful warning, I couldn't look away. My eyes were locked on hers, and everything else seemed to fade into the background.

We sat there, the world spinning around us, but it felt like we were frozen in time. Her eyes—so clear, so deep—held mine, and there was something unspoken between us.

The air around us seemed to thicken with the tension, with the possibility of something more. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and I knew she could feel it too, because she wasn't looking away either.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. It was just us, the Ferris wheel creaking slowly beneath us, and the world holding its breath.

Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, I leaned in just a little closer. Her breath hitched, and for a heartbeat, everything hung in the balance.

And that was when the magic happened. Her lips met mine, soft and tentative at first, but everything about that kiss felt like it had been a long time coming.

It was simple, yet somehow more than I'd ever imagined. It wasn't just about the moment, but about everything that had led up to it—the teasing, the tension, the fake relationship we'd been playing.

But in that kiss, none of it mattered. It was just us, finally letting go.

I could never forget this moment. It was unlike anything I had ever felt. I couldn't compare the kiss to anything else, it was raw, passionate and everything I didn't expect it to be. My heart raced as I slowly pulled her closer, and before I knew it, my tongue brushed against her lips, gently seeking entrance.

The taste of her is sweet and minty, with a hint of strawberry and it was intoxicating. It was like nothing I had ever experienced.

But the Ferris wheel finally reached the bottom and came to a stop, we reluctantly broke away, and the sudden return to reality hitting us both.

I couldn't help but smile, breathless and slightly dazed from what had just happened. Astrid was flushed, her lips still tingling from the kiss, and her eyes were wide, as if she couldn't believe what we had just shared.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. It was like we were both processing the whirlwind of emotions that had just hit us.

And even though the ride had ended, the feeling of that kiss, the warmth, the electricity that lingered between us. Neither of us was ready to say anything. The kiss said everything we needed to say.

She cleared her throat, breaking the silence, and I could tell she was still processing everything that had just happened.

The door to our Ferris wheel car slowly opened, pulling us back into reality.

We both stepped out, not really looking at each other but not saying a word either. The air between us felt charged, but also a little awkward, as if we both weren't sure how to handle what had just transpired.

The boys were already waiting at the exit, grinning like they knew something had changed without us having to say a word. But for once, I didn't mind the teasing. I just wanted to figure out what that kiss meant for us.

And as we walked away from the ride, I couldn't help but glance at Astrid, wondering if she was thinking the same thing.

The boys were still teasing, as expected, but Astrid remained quiet, her gaze flickering between them and me. We ate corn dogs, and I ate way more than I realized—my appetite taking over. The boys, of course, were in the same boat, each of us devouring our food without much thought.

It wasn't until I noticed Astrid glancing at me that I realized something was off. She was trying to say something, but her lips moved and I couldn't quite make it out. My hand instinctively went to my mouth, and I realized my side of my lip was covered with mustard.

Before I could do anything about it, Astrid smiled softly. Without hesitation, she grabbed a tissue from her bag and gently wiped the excess mustard off my lip, her touch light and smooth.

The simple gesture hit me harder than I expected. It was just mustard, something so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but the way she cared, the way she didn't make a big deal of it—it felt like a small act of love, a language only she and I spoke in that moment.

I felt my heart swell, warmth spreading through me at how easy it was to be with her. How natural this felt.

Geoff, ever the troublemaker, couldn't resist the teasing. "How about me, Astrid?" he asked, dramatically rubbing his face. "Do I have dirt on my face?"

Without missing a beat, Astrid shot him a smirk and said, "Yeah. You should use it all over your face."

The boys burst out laughing, and even I couldn't help but chuckle. The way she delivered it with that snort made it even funnier.

Geoff, clearly defeated, threw his hands up. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'll work on my face."

Blaine added, "Maybe you should start with the inside first."

It was a playful back-and-forth that made the whole moment lighter, and despite the teasing, it felt like we were all in this together—laughing and enjoying each other's company.

We were done for the night, and as we gathered our things, the energy shifted to something more relaxed.

Geoff stretched, yawning. "Well, that was a good time. I'm exhausted," he said, rubbing his eyes.

Blaine nodded. "Yeah, me too. I could definitely use a nap."

I looked at Astrid, a little hesitant. "So, you good? Ready to head back?"

She smiled, her eyes tired but still bright. "Yeah, I'm good. Had fun tonight."

I couldn't help but feel a little glad that she was with us. "It was a blast. I'm glad you came."

She shrugged, her usual playful smirk returning. "I told you, I'm always up for a good time."

As the boys started making their way toward the exit, I found myself walking beside her, the night winding down in a way that felt natural, like we didn't have to rush.

The ride home was just a few minutes away, and even though we were both tired, there was something about the quiet that felt... right. Like we didn't need words to fill the space.

Finally, I broke the silence. "You know, tonight... it was pretty perfect."

She raised an eyebrow, looking over at me. "Yeah? What part?"

I grinned. "Just... everything. The rides, the teasing, even the mustard on my face."

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe. But at least you're with me."

She smiled, and in that moment, I realized how true it was.