Rainbow

Partners

Partners

                I was sitting on the bench in the school’s court yard. Having my lunch was hard because there were no more available tables in the cafeteria. So, I just ate mine where no one can bother me. Afterward, I headed for my next class which is AP Chemistry. There was only one seat available and it was next to Aria. I sighed.

                “Mr. Fitz, go seat next to Ms. Montgomery.” I heard Mr. Andrews say.

                So I did.

                “Class, whoever you are seated with will be your new lab partners.”

What? What happened to the my our old partnering system? This is just what I needed. “If it makes you feel any better, I can switch seats.” Aria whispered.

                “No. Just don’t free ride.” I told her.

                “Okay.”

The three hours passed by and I couldn’t focus because Aria started nodding off to dream land in the first hour. Her head was on my shoulder and I couldn’t just shake it off.

The bell rang and Aria woke up. “Sorry.” She said as she gathered her things and walked to leave but I stopped her. She looked at me; confused. “Yeah?” she asked.         

                “My notebook, you took it by mistake.”

She looked at her things and knitted her brows together. “Sorry” she handed me the book. “Here.”

Our fingers brushed and it was like an electric surge. She pulled her hand away. I looked around. We’re alone. “I should get going…I’ll be late.” She turned to leave.

                “No, wait.”  

She faced me. “Yes?”

                “Aria, I—“

                “What is it Ezra?”

                “Nothing—never mind.”

She came toward me and smiled. “I know that I was stupid to do a dare and just hurt you, Ezra.” she paused looking down at her feet. “But when I told you that I loved you, it was true.”

                “I doubt it.” I said dejectedly.

                “Yes, it is.”

                “I should go too…” She cut me off with a searing kiss. I couldn’t move. It’s like my feet were glued to the ground. But then, I felt my hands slowly wrapping her in a warm embrace as I kissed her back. It was a kiss that was new to me though I’ve kissed her a lot of times. It was a kiss that was…real…and it did felt real. I deepened the kiss by letting my tongue explore her mouth. She moaned as I did so. Then, I pulled away, breathless just as she was.

                “Ezra, I know what I did will never be forgotten but, I do love you. Can we please start over?”

                “Aria…I’m sorry but…” I paused looking at her. “I’ve moved on. That kiss felt nothing to me.” I lied.

She knitted her brows together. “That wasn’t a kiss from a guy who moved on.” She said; exasperated. “You kissed me back Ezra.”

                “it was wrong.” I said sternly.

                “No, Ezra, it wasn’t.”

I shook my head. “You know what Aria? You’re right! I still love you but I’m afraid that if I look away for a second then you’ll find a man who is better than me.”

                She wiped that tears that were falling from my eyes. I hadn’t even felt that tears were streaming down my cheeks until she wiped them away. She was crying as well, by the way. I kissed her softly. “Aria, I love you.”

                “I love you too.”

                I grinned at her and she giggled. I took her hand in mine and took her bag from her. “Let’s go.”

                “Where” she asked.

                “It’s a surprise.”

                “But we still have classes.”

                “So, let’s blow them off.” I said. She smiled at me and nodded.

We took all the shortcuts I know so we can sneak out of school. We laughed as we passed by the school guards as we go away from them.

We went to the beach to walk barefoot. I held her hand in mine as the sea breeze blew a cold spell. She shivered and I took my jacket off to cover her up. She smiled up at me and kissed the tip of my nose and then, my lips. “This is beautiful.” She told me as she looked out the horizon. I kissed her cheek. “No. You’re beautiful.”

She smiled at me and shook her head. “What?” I whispered to her. Then, without a warning, she splashed me with the could sea water. “No fair!” I said as I wrapped my arms around her and lift her to a deeper part.

                “Ezra, don’t you dare!” She giggled as I decided to drop her there. She pulled me down and I laughed but she cut me off with a kiss. We waited until the sunset and she fell asleep right then. I kissed her forehead as I felt a light rain fall from the sky. When I looked up, I saw a faint image of a rainbow. I looked down at her hands and saw a bruise on her forefinger. I hadn’t seen it last week but I just put it off nonchalantly and looked at her sleeping image.

To Be Continued…