You and Me

Chapter 6: Mysterious Ways

After school, Reed took me by the hand and lead me to a bench in the school patio.
"Can you stay a little longer?"

I sat down beside him and crossed my legs.
"I can make that work."

Reed grinned and for a second a saw a glimpse of lust in his eyes. But it was gone as fast as it appeared.

Reed and I talked for a while until most people were gone.

"Uhh... Reed we're like the last ones here. School ended 40 minutes ago."

"So?" he exclaimed, "there's nothing wrong with being alone.." Reed quirked his eyebrows.

I widened my eyes at what he had just suggested.

"But, you know," Reed said as he got up and quickly made his way to the halls, "we don't have to, if you don't want to."

I giggled as I chased him down the halls.

"Reed, wait!"

Reed disappeared around a corner as I shouted out to him.

"Stop, " I pursed my lips to contain a laugh. "Reed!"

He was no where to be seen.
I walked around and looked inside some rooms, but I didn't find him until I looked behind a big door. Reed jumped out and pinned me to the lockers.

We laughed hysterically until our chuckles started to fade.

Reed was now breathing heavily, as was I.

I smiled and looked into his eyes.
There was a certain sparkle that hadn't been there before, and I immediately got lost in the intensity of his gaze.

I never got tired of his eyes. They were unending seas of gunmetal blue.  There was so much emotion in his stare, so many hidden feelings.

I shook my head in disbelief. I was in love with him; and there was no denying it.

Suddenly he leaned down and kissed me, my arms abandoning me as I wrapped them around his neck, one hand caressing his golden hair. Reed's hand dropped lower to my hip, making me anxious.

"Reed.." I whispered. " I need to take it slow."

Reed grinned as he cupped my face. "I know."

This time I brought my lips to his, with an intensity I didn't even think possible. Reed kissed me back just as hard. After a few minutes of intense kissing he pulled away.

"Cally," he pleaded with cheeks flushed, "Cally, I have to go. I can't keep kissing you."
Reed gave me a one last, soft peck on the lips and then just like that he was gone.

Confused and extremely disappointed I made my way to my car.
I felt like I was going to throw up. What did I do wrong? Was I really that bad of a kisser?

At home my mom saw me and asked what I'd been doing.
Instead of responding, I sat on a chair and leaned into my hands. "Reed and I kissed the other day."

My mom stilled as she processed what I just told her. "Really?" She asked excited. "Cally that great! When!?"

I sighed and closed my eyes. "In the factory; it was a quick kiss but he told all these wonderful things mom, it was everything I've ever wanted."

My mom played with my hair. "Then why do you look so sad, honey?"

I looked at her on the verge of tears. "We kissed again today, that's why I'm late. And it was longer than last time, but he just suddenly told me he had to leave."

I let out a few tears.
"This is stupid. I told myself I'd never cry over boys."

My mom hugged me, obviously concerned. "It's not stupid Cally, just try to talk with him. Figure out what it was that made him go."

I nodded and walked up to my room.

I immediately called Reed.

"Cally?"
He picked up after two rings.
I waited before responding.

"Hey Reed."

For a second I thought he hung up, but I could hear his breathing on the other end.

"I'm sorry I left."

I could tell he was waiting for me to say something, but I didn't.

"I couldn't kiss you anymore."

I held back tears.
"I know Reed, you said that earlier."

I heard him sigh on the phone.

"Why? Did I do something wrong?"

Reed sounded alarmed. "No Cally, no, it has nothing to do with you. I just.. I..."
It seemed as if Reed was having trouble finding the right words.

"I had to do...something."

I burrowed my eyebrows.
"Do what? You're not making any sense."

"I— I had to be somewhere." A tinge of annoyance crept into his voice. "I'm sorry, Cally, I'll explain later."

Suspicion started to consume me. "Wait, Reed, why can't you tell me right now?"

Reed sighed angrily. "I just can't."

I flinched at the tone in his voice. "Fine,"
I said angrily, "do whatever you want. I don't care."

I heard Reed start to say something else, but I hung up the phone before I could hear what it was.

What was going on? Reed and I never kept secrets from each other, especially since we'd been friends for so long.

An uneasy feeling started to form at the pit of my stomach. I was probably just being absurd. I mean, it couldn't be something serious right?

I cautiously put on my pajamas, and crawled onto my bed. All this worrying was making me drowsy. I just needed to sleep on it.