As Always (drafts; on hold)

CHAPTER SEVEN ♥ The Party

"Okay, so why did they make this year's first day of school a Friday?" Jillian says as we sit on one of the table after grabbing some food.

"I do not know." I shrug. "To organize a party afterward? Throwing a party on weekday―especially a school party ―isn't a great thing."

"I just finished eleventh grade two weeks ago." He sighs.

"Oh yeah, poor you. They spend their summers from June right? In America, I mean." There are lots of people here: Dancing, singing with the band, or simply dating at a table.

"Yep. So less than a month of vacation..." He says with false hurt.

"Do not worry. You'll enjoy it here."

A girl, probably a sophomore, comes our table with a Nikon SLR. "Hi. One shot?" and smile.

"Shall we?" Jillian looks at me and offers.

"Sure, sure." And he moves closer to me.

The girl with the camera counts as what photographers usually do. By the time she reaches two, Jillian places his arms over my shoulder. I am startle but frozen so I do not have time to react. I know that I am blushing in the picture.

"Thanks!" The girl says and before leaving, "You're both so cute."

He returns to where his seat originally placed. Then, awkward silence...

"Hey, I'll show you something." I say. Hoping my voice didn't sound shaking.

I grab his arm and push through the crowd.

"Here. This is where I usually hang with myself." I say when we approach the clearing in the forest beside the school.

"You're here every time?" He says musingly, "It's wonderful." I'm still holding his wrist.

I let his hand go. I have a cup of punch in my other hand. "Good thing you like it here." I smile. "Want to sit?"

We sat on the dry grass. Thank god I am wearing a ballooned-style dress, not a fitted one. We talk about things not in particular.

I try to stand. I feel dizzy. I almost fell but he catches me. Before we even know it, we are kissing. I pull back.

"Sorry." He suddenly says. "I didn't mean to―" He tries to explain.

"No, it's fine." I shake my head.

He is looking at me and we stare at each other. Then he broke the gaze and become serious. "You remember what you told me earlier? That you haven't kissed anyone before?"

I nod. "I just want it to be special. Something that I would remember for the rest of my life..."

He looks down. "Sorry. I think I screw it up."

"No. Uhm, it's an accident." I shake my head again. I reach for his hand and he looks up. I blush not sure to say what's on my mind. If I will have my first kiss, it should be him. I do not care if I'll regret it someday. "We can start all over again."

He smiles. "What do you mean?"

I lean closer to him and kiss him.

I place my arms around his neck as he place one to my waist and the other cupping my face. The stars above us, the trees around us, are a perfect view.

This, I know for sure, is a memory I will treasure forever.

We kiss for what seems a very long time, but it was just seconds. Now I can prove that it is possible to have infinity between seconds. We are out of breath when I step back.