Never Been Kissed

- SIXTEEN -

                                                        -•SIXTEEN•-

Beck and I didn’t speak for the rest of the week after that. He was being a complete jerk for no real reason, and I wasn’t going to talk to him until he snapped out of it and started to act like himself.

I’d never seen Beck so riled up before. He’d always been perfect and friendly. But something ticked him off that night and I wanted to know what. But I wasn’t about to go snooping. No way. Not until he apologized first.

I got Opal out of her swimsuit in the changing rooms at the park and then helped her dress in the warm, dry clothes she’d packed.

“Where’s Beck?” she asked with a slight pout to her lips. “He’s never at the park anymore.”

I stopped combing her long, maple syrup colored hair for a moment before continuing. “Beck and I aren’t speaking right now Opal.”

“Why?” she demanded, turning to face me and almost ripping a chunk of hair out of her scalp. “Are you fighting?” Her big hazel eyes almost coerced me into spilling everything that happened to her. But then I remembered that she was five and she didn’t need to know all that stuff. Not for another ten years.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “We’re in a fight Opal. We’re fighting over... I actually don’t know, but I’m not speaking to Beck until he apologizes to me for being a jerk.”

Opal nodded, reaching into her bag to hand me a hair band. “Well, you guys better make up soon, because I miss him. A lot.”

I offered her a lighthearted chuckle and a haphazard smile. “You would.”

Once she was completely dressed with dry, combed hair and shoes on her feet, I repacked her bag and led her out of the park to where the car was parked. I strapped her into her seat before climbing in and strapping in myself. I started the car and pulled off the side of the street, heading toward the traffic lights at the intersection where the four cross met.

In no time I was home and pulling a sleeping Opal out of the car, greeting my mom in the garden and carrying Opal’s tiny body up to her room to put her in her bed. When that was done, I walked across the landing to my room, crossing the carpeted floor to the bed where I collapsed, in need of rest myself.

Just as I was about to close my eyes...

Bzzz....bzzz... went the phone against my leg. I groaned out loud and reached for the device. I’d liked it better when it was only my service provider and my parents texting me infrequently. I clicked the awaiting virtual envelope and waited for the message to spring up.

                                               BECK: Come to the DQ on Main.

                                                           We need to talk.

 

Bland and informal. Just like he was when he didn’t want to do things. I considered going. I laid out all the pros and cons I could think of in the air above my head.

 Pros: we could stop fighting, if that was even what we were doing, and be friends again. And I wouldn’t have to stay inside and stare at my ceiling. Cons: I didn’t particularly want to “talk”. And I shouldn’t be making my way over to the Dairy Queen when he was the one that wanted to talk to me.

Still, I found myself getting out of bed, and shucking on my shoes again.

This was stupid.

But I was still going, wasn’t I?

#

I parked a block away from the Dairy Queen and proceeded to walk down Main Street. There was no reason for me to walk as there was plenty space at the store, but I preferred to anyway. Anything to clear my head.

 No one was out besides scumbag guys who were way too old to be riding skateboards and old ladies out walking their dogs. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting a balmy orange tone over the town.

I sighed and picked up speed, feeling uneasy walking by myself. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and stepped onto the sidewalk, hiding my head underneath my hair. I was almost to the store now. There was a dingy old tractor parked halfway on the sidewalk and halfway in the DQ parking lot that I had to dodge, but I made it all in one piece.

My plimsolls slapped against the gravel pavement as I skipped up to the front doors, and reached for the metal door handle.

I recognized Beck immediately, his back to me at the counter. On time. He deserved a medal. He was looking up at the list of foods on the menu, tapping his sneaker against the wooden floor. I was just about to open the door and let him know I was there when out of the blue, a zip of red, pink and flawlessly tanned skin appeared beside him.

She had her mass of bottle red velvet curls cascading down her back, which was encased in a pink jacket. I saw her throw her head back and laugh. Not one of those, ‘I-think-you’re-so-cute’ girly giggles, but a full on ‘I’m-a-seductress-and-you’re-so-funny’ kind of laughs that commanded the room and not to mention her face. And not in a harsh way to my disappointment. If anything it made her look even more beautiful.

Slowly, ever so slowly, she leaned across, her Barbie pink lips locking with his firm male ones in one go. When they separated they were both smiling like love struck birds.

And just like that I came crashing down to the ground.

I felt the tear slipping down my cheek before it even registered in my brain that I was crying. Why was I acting like this? He wasn’t supposed to mean anything to me. He wasn’t supposed to have this effect on me. It was just an innocent crush, right? Something not to get hung up over? Something that would dissipate in time.

Right?

So why was I running?

Running away from him? Running away from all the problems, all the feelings that plagued me?

Because I was a coward, that’s why.

A jealous coward who couldn’t even stand up for herself.

A/N

I reallly don't know why my chapters are becoming so short :s Maybe that's a good thing. LOL. A short chapter as an introduction to another one.. I can't wait til' the rest of the drama unfolds. :) Guess who that girl was in the last part! I'll dedicate the chapter to the first person that gets it right!

Anyway, I'm having a cover off, and you guys get to decide which cover reigns supreme. I've posted both covers on the side (--->) And just in case you can't see what's written on the picture, here's what the instructions are ;) :

Which cover do you like?

Please vote by writing "G" for the first pic or "R" for the second pic along with your usual comments/reviews.

DO NOT VOTE MORE THAN ONCE. I'm a confused child, don't confuse me more lool. And if you want, can you tell me why you chose the cover that you chose?? That'll mean a bunch.

Alrighty, I think that's enough for tonight. I apologize for the very short chapter this go around. I'll upload in a few days.

-A