The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

36. If At First You Don't Succeed...

REMUS

This is new.
My cheeks are burning.
All the air in my lungs are gone.
I didn't expect this.
Anything but this.

In all honesty I never imagined a kiss to be like this. It's slightly awkward, and the feeling of her lips on mine is strange.
But not a bad strange.
Pleasant.
I feel like my face has gone numb, and I almost drop the takeaway. Nice going Moony, you didn't kiss her back.

Aylin pulls back, her usually olive cheeks now flushed a dark pink, "So?.."

"That was..." I breathe, my voice somehow not quite managing to make it out of mouth properly, "interesting."

"Good or bad?"

"Definitely good. Though I think I need to try again just to be sure." I lean in slowly. Where is this confidence coming from?!

"Are you kids going to come in or what?" Lily bellows from the top window, breaking the magic of our moment.
I might just kill her.

We jump apart, and Lin almost falls into the hedge. I hold up the takeaway, "You should be grateful! We ventured far and wide for this!"

"Yeah yeah! Just get in!" Lily shuts the window.

"Another time?" Lin smiles, shrugging. I nod in reply, feeling giddy as we walk towards the front door.
If I die today, I'll die a happy man.

"Did you get korma?" Lily opens the door for us.

"It was no hassle Lily, you're welcome Lily." Lin tries to mimic her, attempting the highest pitched voice she can manage.

"Just get inside, weirdos." She rolls her eyes, "And why are you grinning like an idiot?"

"Nothing." I shrug, grinning even harder.

If this is the aftermath of being kissed, I'd be more than happy to do it again.

*

AYLIN

"Chop chop!" Mum claps her hands, and plates fly out from the cupboard, "Food's going to get cold!"

Mim ducks just in time as a plate soars through right where her head would have been, and quickly sets the cutlery, "Okay okay, Merlin."

I still feel a little light-headed. What on earth possessed me to do something like that?
Does this mean we're in a relationship?
Okay that's a bit far.
I don't want to seem like one of those people that suck up to partners.
I haven't been not single since... ever.
This is new.
Very new.
New New.
Like New shoes when you're still unsure of-

"Aylin snap out of it!"

"Sorry Ma." I jump, almost dropping the cups in my hands I set them down quickly as the others start to file in.

"My favourite." Mr Lupin moves to snatch a popadom but Euphemia swats away his hand.

"Let them sit, Lyall!"

We squeeze in around the large table, Sirius on my left and Miriam on my right. It's a tight squeeze but we manage well enough, The parents getting the best seats. Monty stands up, "A toast-"

"Oh for Merlin's sake, sit down father." James whines.

His father rolls his eyes, "To Lin and Re, who boldly travelled through the snow to save us from starvation."

"We thank you kindly." Remus smiles, giving me a quick smirk from the end of the table before saying, "I very much enjoyed it."

"Tuck in then." Monty motions to the table. Hopefully no-one noticed that my cheeks have gone red.