Under the Radar

Romeo's Forbidden Kiss

I was helping him with his theater class scene in his room. Benny was downstairs making us a snack. We were reading Romeo and Juliet. We were at the party scene. Matt would recite Romeo's lines and I would do Juliet's lines. We'd done it a dozen times already, but Matt always tripped up in the same spot, insisting on starting over again.

"... Let lips do as hands do," Matt said, finally getting past his problem spot. I was about to say my line when I felt Matt's lips press softly against mine. Momentarily taken by surprise, I kissed him back, but only briefly. I pulled away and my eyes widened in shock. He blushed and looked away from me. I exhaled loudly and blinked a few times before I found my voice.

"Wh-what was... that?" I said quietly avoiding his eyes.

"That's what it said to do in the play," he shrugged. I knew he was just going around the real reason. I tried to read his mind, but he was just counting down from fifty. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"We're only saying the lines, not acting it out too," I said quietly. He sighed, and then he looked at me and shrugged.

"Is it so bad to like you?" he said quietly. He smiled sheepishly at me. I shook my head and stood up. I sprinted down the stairs and headed towards the door.

"Marissa, wait!" Matt said, catching my arm before I could reach the door. I stopped and turned towards him. Benny came out of the kitchen just then looking as confused as I felt.

"What's going on?" Benny asked quickly. We both ignored Benny and continued to stare at each other. Neither one of us wanting to admit what happened to him.

"What did I do that was so wrong? It's not like it was illegal," Matt said a bit heatedly.

"It is in my book," I said lowly. I knew that I had feelings for him, but this was strictly professional, or at least it was supposed to be. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was going to get in the way of me completely a mission and continuing on to the UAA... I think. When I started to say something else, he put his hand on my lower back and kissed me again, but longer this time. I grunted softly and pushed him back softly.

"I know you felt that too," he whispered near my ear. I pushed him back again and glared at him. I did feel it, but I wasn't going to admit that to him. Admitting it was something I couldn't do. Admitting it meant giving up on my dream. Admitting it meant admitting that I failed. I shook my head at my torn emotions. Against my will my eyes started to water.

"This mission is strictly... business. Feelings or not... it doesn't matter. Feelings can get in the way of the mission. I can't fail," I said sternly before I turned and drove away. I angrily brushed away angry tears and went straight to Katy's house. I quickly replayed what just happened to her as I brushed away my stubborn tears.

"I know why it's bad, but why are you... crying about it?" she asked a little confused as she held me. I sighed and avoided her eyes. "Marissa, what is it?" she asked a bit more worried than before.

"I might've... fallen for him too," I said as quietly as I could. With Katy's super-hearing, she heard me perfectly though. She gasped softly and pulled back to look at me.

"Marissa, you know the rules! You're one of the best agents, how did you let this happen?" she shook her head lightly. I nodded and cut her off.

"I know, I know, that's why I need you to pick Matt up tomorrow," I said. I stood up as she nodded. After we talked a bit more about the arrangements for tomorrow, I thanked her and left for my place. I sighed as I closed the door to the house. I locked it behind me. A worried Caroline met me at the door.

"Are you okay sweetie? Have you been crying?" she asked. I cringed at how obvious I was and nodded. She encircled me in a hug as I closed my eyes. I sobbed silently. I had just broken one of UJAA's biggest and most important rules; I got emotionally attached to a mission subject. I completely detached myself from him as soon as I realized it, or at least I thought I did. I must not have actually done it because it still hurt.

"Oh honey," I heard Caroline sigh as she rubbed my back. I sniffled and straightened, wiping my tears away as I did so.

"I'm fine. It's just been a long day," I sniffled. I turned and went up to my room. I took a shower and put my hair up in a wet messy bun. I curled up on my bed and cried myself quietly to sleep.

~

The next day, I stayed at the house. I spent most of the day sleeping. i was tired from crying all night. I knew I needed to get a grip but I just couldn't. I felt miserable. Caroline and David came in and checked on me frequently. Caroline even brought me chicken noodle soup. When it was painfully clear that I wasn't leaving the room, David left me alone. Caroline knocked on my door again though. She smiled sympathetically and held up a bowl of popcorn and a DVD in her other hand.

"Can I watch a movie with you?" she asked. I smiled half-heartedly and nodded. She popped in the movie and crawled under the covers with me. I scooted over to give her more room and she put the popcorn in between us.

"What movie is it?" I asked curiously. She giggled and the Spy Kids title screen popped up. I chuckled at her choice. She smiled at me genuinely.

"I thought you would find it funny," she smiled. I sighed and hugged her. She put her arm around me and I snuggled into her side as the movie started. Caroline was right; I found the movie that was the satire to my life hilarious. By the end of the movie, I was actually smiling. Caroline started the second Spy Kids movie without a word before she came back to my side and I leaned into her again.

David came in with a container of fudge ice cream and two spoons. I thanked him and gratefully ate some. Closing my eyes, I sighed and smiled. If heaven tasted like anything, I was pretty sure it tasted like that ice cream. David smiled at us before he left. Caroline and I were just starting on the third Spy Kids movie when the doorbell rang. I paused the movie and went downstairs with Caroline. We both peeked around the corner to where David was talking to someone. I smiled and walked out when I recognized whose voice it was.

"Hey kitten. Are you okay?" Benny asked me. "You didn't show up this morning and with everything that happened last night..." he trailed off and looked down blushing.

"I'm fine," I said softly. "Caroline has been keeping me company all day. I thought it would be best to create some space to breathe," I explained. Caroline smiled and Benny eventually did as well.

"Okay, I was just making sure," he said. He turned to leave again but I stopped him.

"Katy's coming to pick up Matt again tomorrow. I'll come over a bit later to talk to you," I said. His face turning serious again, he nodded. After calling Katy and taking a long hot shower, I finally laid down to go to sleep. Tomorrow, I would sort this out.