Summer Love

The Talk

     The next day at exactly 2:00pm I get a call from Jess. At the moment I was watching John and Danny play the PlayStation 3 while Stacy, like always, was studying right beside me. I get up to go to our back yard to have a more private conversation on the phone. Stace is too busy with her nose in a book to notice I am gone, and the twins was so engrossed in their game that I think if a bomb went off, they wouldn't budge an inch. I close the sliding glass door shut behind me as I exited. At that moment, I got nervous. The phone was ringing and I have been trying to call her, but I don't know why I am so anxious now. It might be because I don't know what to say, or I could fear what every teenager my age fears, which is rejection. Nevertheless, I answer the phone.
     "Hey Jess," I said trying not to sound nervous, "I am glad you called." I begin to paste a bit around the backyard. Our backyard is fairly big, with a grill, table, and a small trampoline. If I feel any pain in my chest from walking around too much, I'll just sit on the outside chair. "Yeah, me too." Jess replied, sounding as if she was concern. "We need to talk about some things. I apologize for not returning your messages, but I needed time to think." "I understand you. I sort of needed time to think too. But I wanted to discuss some things with you too and see how you feel."
     "I see," she replied. The atmosphere was awkward between us. We both wanted to know what the other was thinking and didn't know what to say. I finally said, "Hey Jess, could you come over to my place? It might be less weird if we talk about this in person than over the phone." There was a small hesitation before she answered. "Yeah, I can come over. I'll see you soon." She hung up the call and I put my phone back in my pocket. The conversation was short, but neither of us knew what to say. We waited until the other responded and that didn't get us anywhere.
     Hopefully things will be easier when we talk in person. I walked back in the house and sat back next to Stace as the twins played their game. The only thing I was thinking about was what I might say. It is nerve racking, this wait. An hour went by. I wasn't so anxious now. I was relaxed and most likely tired. I shut my eyes for a moment, just resting on the couch. My mind begin to adrift off into emptiness. Sound blocks out and I lost strength.
     Before I knew it I was asleep. The next thing I knew was that I was waking up from my nap. I was laying down on the couch and the twins was no where to be found when I came to. Stace was still here, but on the recliner studying. "You snore in your sleep you know," remarked Stace. I sit up, waking up from my tiredness and becoming aware of my surroundings. I finally say slightly, "Yeah, yeah, I know already. How long have I been out?" "Not long, but long enough to where your beastly snoring got on my nerves. I would say 45 minutes tops. I let you have the couch because you was drooling all over me when you went to go lay down." "I don't drool," I said firmly. "Oh yeah," Stace answered asserting control, "tell that to my shirt." "Sorry about that."
     "Anyway, your girlfriend stopped by. She is in the back yard just relaxing. I told her I could wake your lazy butt up, but she said she didn't mind waiting." I get up, and stretch a bit. I instantly stopped stretching when I felt a bit of pain in my chest. I forgot I was still hurt. As I was about to walk to the backyard, Stace stopped me for a moment by grabbing my arm. "What's up Stace?" I asked curiously. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a breathe mint. "Here you go morning breathe," she said sarcasticly before sitting back down. "Yeah thanks."
     I walked out to the backyard and sat down next to Jess at the table. She was just sitting out here getting some fresh air and waiting for me. "Good morning sleepy head," she said. "Yeah, sorry for the wait. I didn't think I would be out that long. How are you doing Jess?" "I am good and it is ok. Let's not make this any more awkward as it already is. Ok? I think we need to talk about that kiss the other day." "Yeah," I said answering her, "I think you are right. That wasn't planned, but to be honest with you, I am glad it happened." Her face lite up a little to my words. I continue, "Jess, I don't know if we will work or not, but all I know now is that I want to be with you. I know we haven't really known each other long, but I feel like I can connect with you. For awhile now I've been having feeling for you and that kiss only magnified my feelings towards you. If you give me a chance, I will be there for you and by your side because I am in love with you, Jess."
     I looked into Jess's eyes as I confessed how I really felt about her. I needed time to think, but I am sure I am in love with her. She reaches out to hold my hand and looks back into my eyes. My heart beats really fast as I await her response. She smile at me lightly and say, "I love you too, Mark, and to be honest with you, I am glad that we kissed too. Meeting you made me feel really happy and I find someone who was so fun to spend time with. I'd opened up to you, which isn't easy for me to do and since then, I've been wanting to be with you. The kiss was surprising, but if I could go back in time, I'd do it all over again." I smile at what she had to say, feeling butterflies in my stomach and so happy. In that moment, like in the car, I felt like it was just me and Jess in the whole world. As if time had stopped to give us this time together.
     I couldn't even hold back my smile. She leaned over to kiss me and I kissed her back. We still kept holding hands. Then I felt a small pain in my chest as I leaned foreword. I had to stop kissing Jess do to the pain in my chest, but I was still happy to tell her how I feel and to know she feels the same. This is going to be amazing.