Dream On

Chapter 17

"Sorry to interrupt but--" I jolt awake which makes me wince in pain. I see Rylan standing there. The look on his face unreadable. I come to my senses and realize I'd fallen asleep with my head on Eric's shoulder. (I've been feeling so drained lately it's not unusual for me to just kind of "pass out"). I see Rylan standing in front of us looking quite unhappy. Oh great.
"I came to see you before tomorrow but if you're to busy..." he looks at our intertwined fingers. Eric stands but doesn't let go.
"I actually need to get home." I pull him back to my level and kiss his cheek.
"See you tomorrow?" I ask.
"Of course." He lets go of my hand and walk off the porch to his waiting moped in the driveway. Once Rylan hears the gravel stop sliding under Eric's tires he sits next to me.
"Go ahead." I say knowing he's got something to say.
"What was that?" He asks.
"What?"
"Sunny, as your best friend I am very concerned about your wellbeing." He begins in a silly sophisticated voice.
"And?" I ask eager to see where he is going with this.
"When an unidentified vehicle pulls into your driveway of course I'm going to glace out the window."
"And?"
"Upon seeing that the vehicle's operator is You-Know-Who--" I cut him off.
"His name is Eric. Go on."
"I took it upon myself to keep a close watch on you two."
"So you were stalking me?"
"Technically... yes." I want to punch him in the arm but to avoid pain I kind of thump him with my cast.
"Ouch. And anyway..."
"You saw the kiss." I finish for him.
"Yes. I did see the kiss."
"And let me guess." Try my best to match his voice. "It severely displeased you."
"Indeed."
"Rylan, what exactly will it take for you to just knock it off?"
"What do you mean 'knock it off'?"
"What do you want me to do to make you lay off Eric?"
"Well, I do have one idea."
"Which is?"
"I'd like one of those." He says with a face that spells pathetic.
"A kiss?"
"A kiss." He nods and I sigh. "And it can't just be me kissing you, you have to kiss me back." I hold my breath nd think.
"Okay. Are there any other guidelines I should know about?"
"If you want to exceed the original agreement of one only, that's fine too." I chuckle and lean his way. One kiss. Just one is all it will take. I put one hand in his and the other on his cheek. I press my lips to his and feel a rush of warmth run from my middle to the tips of my fingers and toes. He pulls me tighter and we hold that one kiss out for who knows how long until, just like with Eric, I fall asleep on Rylan's shoulder.