better off at camp

Chapter 12: Emma

What? Six minutes in what? I sat there generally confused and concerned at the way people were reacting. What the fuck was seven minutes and heaven and why was it so bad?

More importantly why did it involve Chris?

Hazel sat there laughing with her head back. Chris didn't look too thrilled either.

"Aw, honey, you don't know what seven minutes in heaven is?" Ross turned to everyone else with his hand over his chest to say 'aw how cute and innocent.' I could feel my face getting hot but I couldn't tell if it was because of the booze or the first hand embarrassment.

I was so sick and tired of always being the one who didn't get the joke or was considered cute. Innocence is not cute. It's embarrassing.

"Oh come on, it's not like they're going to do anything." Hazel scoffed.

Ross leaned in really close to me, "You two are going to go into that closet over for there, the only rule is you must stay in there for seven minutes. No coming out early. You can do whatever you want but preferably sexual."

I was relieved he whispered that to me because I did not want anyone to get any ideas. By now my face was probably as red as a tomato but I didn't care because the closet would be dark.

I stood up reluctantly but proudly. I was about to prove all of these people, wrong. If I could some how muster up the courage to do so. I couldn't believe it but I was about to have my first kiss since the ninth grade.

"One more thing," Ross leaned in again, "you're going to want to do another shot." I nodded as soon as I heard the word shot come out of his mouth. I downed the whole thing with out even flinching at the bitter taste this time.

If I was going to go through with this I was going to be at least tipsy. I prayed I was going to be able to go through with this.

I slammed my shot glass on the coffee table and sprung to my feet feeling a bit light headed. We quickly walked over to the closet across the room as everyone whistled and hollered at us.

What had gotten into me? The first day of camp I could have never imagined any scenario even remotely close to this taking place, yet her I was. For some reason it felt good. It felt free.

Chris walked in first. The closet was pretty spacious, enough room for both of us to stand comfortably next to each other, the walls were lined with winter coats and boots which had been put away for storage a long time ago.

I'm pretty sure Chris could tell I was freaking out because of my heavy breathing.

"Emma, we don't have to do anything." He paused taking a deep breath."I mean, I can say we did, so they don't think you're lame, but we can just sit here. It's okay."

It was dark, but the light from the living room poured in through the crack underneath the door. I could only see the outline of his facial features, and I couldn't separate my own thoughts from the vodka but he looked pretty good. He looked even better when he talked. He had really nice lips, that said really nice things. 

I smiled and laughed. I was counting in my head that 2.5 minutes had already passed by. I wanted to kiss him, I didn't know why, I wanted them to like me. More importantly I wanted Chris to like me. I realized he was actually a really cool guy when he wasn't busy being an asshole.

2 57, 2 58, 2 59, 3 minutes. My mind was racing. The music in the other room was blaring even all the way over here. I wanted to know what Ross and them were saying. 3 11, 3 12, 3 13...

I told myself when my self timer hit 4 minutes I was going to kiss him. This was a turning point for me. This is where I drew the line between playing it safe and actually having a good time for once in my life...

"Only 3 minutes to go," Chris smiled at his watch. He held out his hand for reassurance. Fuck why did his touch feel so good. My head was pounding but I knew it was now or never.

Letting go of his hand, I pulled him into a heated embrace. Fuck that was smooth I applauded myself in my head. I actually had no idea were that came from but I could tell he was into it.

"What if I want to do something?" I whispered, his face just inches away from mine. His breathing increased as he tightened his grip around my waist. Without saying another word he leaned in kissing me. It wasn't sloppy or drunken, it was gentle and sweet.

He stayed at my pace kissing me slowly. I pulled away, catching my breath a little, "I want your best moves." I challenged him smiling a little.

"Challenge accepted." He laughed, literally sweeping me off my feet. I wrapped my legs around his waist, kissing him more intensely.

He pushed me against the wall as we continued to move our mouths in sync. I could feel his tongue and smell his cologne. His fiery movements forced me to move from the slow kiss we had started with. I had never felt so alive than in a sweaty, cramped closet, with a boy I'd barely met who tasted like mango vodka.

"Time!" Ross yelled from outside. "Come out you two lovebirds."

We broke apart and reality came back to me. Kind of.

I smoothed my hair a bit, then opened the closet door. The bright light almost blinded me. As I walked back to the group, they whooped and hollered. I felt like they knew what we had been doing only minutes ago.

"So did we miss anything interesting?" Chris said smirking.

"Oh, Ava and Hazel fucked on the table but we thought that wouldn't interest you." Kyle said, trying to contain his laughter.

"C'mon guys really?" Chris said grinning.

I felt a little jealous that Chris cared so much about Ava and Hazel. They were both so pretty. It stung even though I wanted to pretend like I could care less. I found my seat on the couch next to Hazel, my face still noticeably red.

"How was it?" Hazel whispered in my ear. I smiled in response, still trying to process what had just happened. 

"Jack, truth or dare?" Ross smirked drawing attention away from me, thank God.

Jack pretended to hesitate for a couple of seconds before answering truth, his voice lacking any trace of confidence. 

Ross rolled his eyes. I all of a sudden felt proud of myself for even thinking to pick dare.

"What's your  biggest secret?"Ross leaned in licking his lips. The rest of the crowd mirrored his gesture, the circle tightening. Even I was intrigued all of a sudden, why did Jack look so nervous?  Did he actually have a secret? 

Jack scanned the room nervously as if he was searching for the courage to spill whatever he was hiding. I had to admit he looked even cuter when he was nervous. I was so confused. Did I like Chris or did I still have unresolved feelings for Jack? In this moment I was leaning towards Chris, he was so dangerous, unlike any guy I had ever been with. And on the plus side he actually liked me enough to kiss me, while Jack on the other hand was either playing hard to get or genuinely didn't care about me at all. In all honestly I was not used to being noticed, especially liked by boys. 

I suddenly found myself looking up at Chris who was close to falling out of his seat as the tension grew. We met eyes and I quickly darted my glance in the opposite direction only to lock eyes with Jack who's nervousness had only grown. 

He gave me a weird look. What was that about? I shook it off and turned back to Hazel; I was finally ready to confess my feelings after what happened between Chris and I.

My train of thought was broken when Jack finally started to speak, "Well, I uh I sort of have a thing for Emma."  

I couldn't even think straight as everybody began screaming and jumping off the couch in a rush of excitement. Did he just say what I think he said? Did he say Emma, as in me Emma? This had to be some sort of a mistake, he meant Emma Roberts, er- Emma whoever from the Harry Potter movies, anyone but me. I took another shot anxious to react to the situation at all, if I was going to get through the rest of the night I was going to be drunk, very, very drunk.