Lucy After School

Chapter 2 Walking Home with Lucy

Lucy and I walked down the hallway together from her last class of the day. Nobody and nothing around us mattered or entered our minds - we were oblivious to everything but each other. I smiled unwittingly wider than normal just at the sight of her. I didn't even notice I was smiling, much less grinning so ridiculously large. Lucy just made me happy and I didn't know why, it didn't make any logical sense, and I didn't care. I just felt great!

As we stepped away from the school doors and down the stairs outside, Lucy instinctively put her arm thru mine, so we walked arm in arm together. We walked forward but looked directly at each other more often than where we were going. Smiling and giggling, interspersed with shy glances down and utter disbelief that this was happening -- and out of nowhere! -- we passed the park along the way, with a big beautiful century old tree in the background. There was a swing set to the left of the tree and we joked about how one day we would go on a picnic together to that spot, underneath that big beautiful tree, and swing on the swings together. I had a flash thought of what it would be like to push Lucy in a swing and it made me smile both inside and out with what that would feel like. I imagined what it would be like to play together.

We walked along the sidewalk, passed parked cars and various random cars and buses that drove by us, until we veered off the main street onto quieter side streets, entertained by stop signs over stop lights, and flower beds over parallel parking spaces. We continued to walk arm in arm, and for no apparent reason. Lucy and I never spoke a word here. We just existed together, in each others' eyes, feeling emotions run thru our bodies like rain pouring down on us on a warm summer day. The irony of course was, it's winter and we were wearing our winter coats. But inside us, beautiful warm summer was raging.

Finally we reached the stoop where Lucy lives and walked up the few steps from the street level to her front door. Lucy put down her backpack, unzipped the smallest pocket on the front and got out the keys to her house. They were on a frilly pink key chain, something she blushed at having, never thinking anyone else would see it. Once inside, we sat down on her couch, our backpacks on the floor on either side of us. Lucy's parents both worked until late and she normally fended for herself after school, making a little snack and usually watching TV or texting friends. But today, her home's emptiness gave her butterflies in her stomach, butterflies for the boy she had just invited over after school, the boy she walked arm in arm with the entire way with hardly a spoken word. Now we were sitting alone on her couch, excited but unsure, waiting in eager anticipation for whatever was going to happen next.

Normally shy, both of us could not keep our eyes off each other, as we each giggled a bit when I leaned forward towards Lucy. The nervous energy caused my body to shake inside, but I hid it from Lucy, whose cheeks were flush red now, giving me the impression that she too was having intense feelings. What we were feeling for each other was pure, natural joy. The excitement we felt being together didn't exist just 24 hours earlier. In fact, I had never been more scared or excited to be with anyone in my life. What was happening to me? Why did this girl have such an effect on me?

I leaned forward not even thinking about what I was doing, and tilted my head slightly as I moved my lips along the side of her cheek, slowly approaching the tip of her nose and her parted, wet lips. I knew I wanted to kiss her more than anything and the feelings welling up in me were so intense, I wasn't sure what I was doing any more. Would she reject such sudden and overt romantic moves? Was she feeling the same way? How did this happen to both of us?

I thought to myself, I don't care what I'm supposed to do. We both were obviously attracted to each other instantly, and our attraction started over the phone getting to know each other from the inside first. Plus it's not like I just met her - we've known each other for years, just not in this way. If love at first sight isn't real, then this was lust at first sight, for both of us. And it was incredible! Being with Lucy with my face beside hers alone together was the most natural and innocent connection I'd ever felt in my life. I wasn't going to let any thoughts or insecurities I have get in the way, not this time!

After brushing past her cheek, I moved my face down to her waiting nervous smile, and pressed my lips against her soft, gentle lips for the sweetest, most intense kiss of my life. Our eyes closed just as our lips touched, and I could feel the slight wetness of her mouth against mine. It was a sweet and gentle first kiss, but with all of the passion and emotion of a thousand lifetimes of kisses seemingly included. I could feel a jolt of adrenaline run down my spine and my whole body felt flush and warm inside.