Along The Distant Shore

Chapter 9

"YOU RAN AWAY?!" Becca screeches, her voice echoing across the bar like she's just discovered River committed a felony.

I cringe, wiping down a counter as if the motion might somehow erase the mortification I'm feeling.

"Shhh!" I hiss, glancing nervously at the other customers, but it's too late. Becca's already launched herself into full drama mode, waving a dish towel around like a rally flag.

Chelsea's laughing from the other side of the bar, wiping tears from her eyes as she leans against the counter. "I mean, River, you literally dipped. Like, poof. Gone. You couldn't even stay for a 'good night' after the hottest kiss of the summer? That's bold."

I roll my eyes, but my cheeks are definitely on fire. "You don't understand. It was... awkward," I mutter, trying to act like I have any kind of cool composure after running away from Leo last night. Like, it's not like I meant to bolt out of there like I'd just been chased by a bear.

Becca's grinning like she just won the lottery. "Awkward? What? The part where you said, 'Thank you' after he kissed you?" Her voice drops to an exaggerated whisper. "Like you're thanking him for a nice cup of coffee?"

I sink into one of the chairs, resting my head in my hands. "I didn't mean to get swept up in the moment, okay? It just... happened. And then I didn't know what to do after so I panicked and ran. And now, he won't stop calling me."

Chelsea's still grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Oh, I'm loving this. I've never seen you so flustered. You ran away from Leo. The Leo. The one with that smile that could literally melt ice cream. What were you thinking?"

"Nothing!" I snap, lifting my head to glare at her. "I wasn't thinking. I'm pretty sure my brain is still stuck on that kiss. Like, I'm pretty sure I blacked out for a second there. And then I just... said 'thank you' like I was leaving a restaurant review or something."

Becca bursts out laughing, almost spilling her drink. "I can't even... 'Thank you for the kiss, good sir, I'll just be off now.'"

Chelsea adds, "Did you bow after, too? Like, 'Thank you, my good man, for that exquisite peck. I shall now retreat into the night!'"

I groan again, slumping further in my seat. "Why are you two so mean? This is torture."

Becca, however, is still loving every second of it. "I don't know, I just think it's hilarious how you've literally kissed Leo, the perfect guy, and then ran off like he just tried to steal your wallet."

Chelsea's wiping tears from her eyes, trying to control herself. "But, honestly, I get it. That kiss had to be a lot. I mean, who wouldn't freeze up? I would, too. But the whole 'thank you' thing? Genius."

I roll my eyes dramatically, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole. "Okay, okay, I get it, I made a fool of myself. I'm just... avoiding his calls now. What else can I do?"

Becca crosses her arms, still grinning. "You can call him back and apologize! Tell him that, you know, you were just really overwhelmed by the fact that he's Leo and you're River, and that you literally can't handle such a passionate kiss because you're too cool for love."

I narrow my eyes at her. "Shut up. I'm not doing that."

Chelsea leans over the bar, propping her chin on her hand, completely amused by my misery. "Or, hear me out: You could text him and just say, 'Sorry for running away like a scared cat, but my heart was racing, and I didn't know what to do.'"

"Or you could call him back," Becca adds with a smirk, "and say you were just too shy because he's Leo and you're River, and you couldn't handle all the... heat."