Ice Cream Kisses

•chocolate chip•

After the ice cream incident, it took me weeks to gather the courage to pick up the phone and dial your number. But when I finally did, you answered right away.

"Hello." you said.

"Uh...hi." I stuttered. "You-you gave me your number and told me to call you if-if I ever fancied a game of soccer."

"Well, are you going to tell me your name? You could be a serial killer." you teased jokingly, and I could hear your smile over the phone.

And I momentarily forgot my name, just long enough for you to wonder where I had gone and ask, "Hey, Ice Cream? You alright?"

"Yeah, um, Jess. It's Jess. My name. But I like Ice Cream, too." I fumbled for words as I struggled to regain control of my overactive brain.

You laughed and my breath caught in my throat. "Ok, Jess. My address is 299 Pacific Oak. See you there."

There was a click and I knew you'd hung up on me, expecting that I'd be at your house to play a game of soccer, of all things. I actually sucked at soccer. It was my worst sport. Call me over to play a game of basketball, and I'd beat your sorry butt any day. But soccer? I was setting myself up for inevitable failure.

Twenty minutes later, I stood outside your door, deciding whether or not to knock. Finally, my heart won the battle and I lifted my hand to rap once, twice on the door.

You opened it and stood there, clad in a Barcelona jersey and long blue exercise shorts, dribbling a ball that resemble a large scoop of chocolate chip ice cream.

"Hello, Jess." you said, tossing me the ball. In my haste to catch the ball, I dropped my phone, and picked it up to realise that there was now a long crack across the screen. "Come in," you said, oblivious to my frustration, "Do you want anything to drink before we start?"

I handed you the ball and shook my head, slipping my phone into my purse. "Let's play." I said, knowing that I would eventually regret being so forward, so seemingly enthusiastic to engage in a sport I had no experience with.

You led me through your house, pausing once to show me where to put my purse down. When we reached the backyard grass, you dropped the ball and passed it to my feet.

"Ready?" you asked me, giving me a smile that made my insides melt.

"Yeah." I said. "I'm ready."

Above is Tyler Blackburn as Quinn.