While You Where Sleeping

Chapter 9

I should have been worried but I was just caught up in the moment. 

"You do?" I ask, shocked.

"I do." He says "I know you love him. I know. I just can't help it."

"What do you even like about me?" I ask.

"What's not to like?"

"I just don't see what you and Rylan see."

"Well, you're pretty--"

"No I'm not." I say, cutting him off. "What about me is pretty?"

"That blonde hair." He begins as he tugs on my braid. "Those high and low lights, they look expensive."

"I've heard that one be for."

"You're not afraid of dirt. That's rare. You're a total redneck and tomboy."

"You're just trying to flatter me." I say with a little smirk.

"No really. You're just so... tough yet not afraid to be vulnerable."

"What?"

"The way you put your hands on your hips and take charge. But also you let me hold you as you cry."

As he says that I notice that I'm still sitting in his lap. I slid over so he's on the seat and I'm on the rack.

"Anyways, I don't want to hear any more of this 'I'm not pretty. I'm not good enough. I'm not worth it.' stuff"

"Fine" I say. I figure it's my turn to flatter him. "Your eyes. They're so aggressively green."

"So I've heard. Everyone says that."

"You're so positive. Never have a bad thing to say."

"Are we going to do this all day?" He asks.

"Getting a little old? I agree."

"In conclusion, we're both amazing and have nothing to be self conscious about."

"Yep."

"So now what?" He asks.

"Tell me about yourself." I don't know that much about you."

"Well, I'm fifteen. I'm an only child. I like getting dirty. I'm not very good at making friends. I consider myself a die hard redneck. I really love spending time with a girl named Sunflower Gracie Hallark. Your turn."

"Most of those things are true about me." I agree. "Anyways, I'm fourteen-- fifteen in three weeks. I'm an only child. I like being outside. I only have two friends in the entire world. I'm a die hard redneck. I really like spending time with Rylan Peter Tanninger and Eric Collins. I never did get your middle name."

"It's Nicholas. Eric Nicholas Collins." He answers. He gives me that look again. As if on cue one of the leaves pulled down by the breeze of the approaching autumn blows into my hair. 

He reaches up and brushes it out. As he does he does what I hoped but didn't hope he'd do. I try to object but it's too late. He stops my lips with a kiss. A short and sweet, soft and slow kiss. Can't decide if I want to pull away or kiss him back. Luckily he pulls away first.

"I had to do that." He says. "At least once." I can't believe what I'm about to do.

"How about twice?" I ask. He accepts my offer.