Riley:
I woke up with Laney under my arm still asleep. Her eyelashes were long and brushed the top of her cheeks. I picked up her hand and played with her small delicate fingers. I could remember holding her hand. Her breathing was slow as I moved my fingers up her arm. I traced her jawline and let my fingers rest on her lips. They were soft and warm. Iremembered sophomore year on the football field. That was when she was a cheerleader and I was of course on the football team.
The final game had just ended and our team won. All the couples were making out and travelling under the bleachers or into the tunnel. All the single players and cheerleaders were already halfway to the locker rooms. The other team was skipping showers and heading onto the bus with their heads hung down. The fans were dying down and the volunteers were packing up. Then there was Laney and I. We ended up being the last two on the field. She wrapped her arms around my middle and gave me a big squeeze. “You did so good Rile!” I laughed at her attempt at a cute nickname and laced my arms around her waist. She looked up at me and the silver eyeliner she was wearing made her eyes look even brighter. Her hair was in a high ponytail and I couldn’t run my fingers through it. Just as I was about to whisper the words “I love you” to her she stepped up on her tiptoes and pulled my face down to hers and gave me a huge kiss right on the lips. She pulled away and fell into a fit of laughter.
I pulled my fingers off of her lips and as I did her eyes peeled open. She sat up and looked at me. Without saying a word she got up and went into the bathroom. I heard the toilet flush and the sink turn on. Then I could hear her scrubbing her teeth. She knew where I kept extra toothbrushes.
“Good morning.” She said tousling my bed head. She gave me a huge smile and I could see her cute little teeth. “Morning, how’d you sleep?” She nodded to my words and whispered “good” as I got up to brush my own teeth. I came back to find Laney still standing beside the couch, searching for something.
I grabbed her phone off of the table beside the couch. “Looking for this?” I asked with a half smile. She grabbed it and said thanks. I plopped down on the couch and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her into my lap. “Hi” she whispered. Her breath was hot against my cheek. I ran my fingers through her slightly knotted hair and let my lips meet hers. I was afraid of what would happen next. Afraid she’d pull away, but she didn’t. I felt her lips move against mine. I felt the crotch of my pants tighten. Not now.
She pulled away and her eyes were dark. She was breathing heavy as she stood up and grabbed her flip flops off the floor. “Lay, wait!” I called out as she ran up the basement steps and out the door. I laid back on the couch, covering my face with my hands. Great.
