Friends Don't Kiss, Do They?

Chapter 7

"You're getting good," Matt praises me as we skated off the ice.

I smile at me. "Thanks. I guess you're a great teacher."

I had never gone ice skating before, and was very unsteady as soon as I stepped onto the ice. As for Matt, he skated like he was a professional. He held onto my hand as we went around the rink a couple of times. Even if Tayvon and Bailey ditched us, which I'm glad they did and knew they must likely did it on purpose, I was happy to hang out with Matt alone. We don't do many things alone together.

Hopefully nothing disastrous happens while we are alone, especially with my clumsiness.

Matt returns the smile. "A great teacher with nice muscles."

I blush from his comment, remembering what I had said to him on Friday. Oh my gosh, I can't believe he still remembers that. I would have thought he had forgotten all about it, but it seems that he hasn't.

I hide my face from him, trying my best to hide the redness on my cheeks.

As we walk up the steps, which I was busy hoping Matt wouldn't notice the redness that I forgot the step was there and trips. Before I could embarrass myself and hit the floor, Matt grabs my arm, pulling me up right and pulls me close to me. I stare at him, surprised he had caught me. I wasn't excepting him to.

We stand there staring at each other. I stare deep into his eyes, wondering if I could find any hint in them with how Matt might feel for me.

"Excuse me."

I shake myself out of my daydream, moving aside so the teenage guy behind us could get by. Matt sits down on a nearby seat, pulling me down with him.

I realised I haven't thanked him yet. "Thanks. Sorry. I'm so clumsy."

Matt gives me a smile. "There is no reason for you to apologise. Besides, I like it when you are acting like a klutz. I especially like it when you blush after stepping over your own two feet. You're cute when you blush."

My heart flutters in my chest. Did he really think that about me?

Matt turns to look away, bending over to untie the laces on his skates.

"Really?" I asked, surprised. "You think I'm cute when I blush?"

He nods, smiling. "Yes, I do." He slips off the skates.

"Matt?"

He glances up at me. "Yes, Hailey?"

"Does it bother you that I'm clumsy?"

He shakes his head. "No. Why would you think it does? It's a part of your personality, Hailey."

"Samantha said guys wouldn't like a girl who is a klutz."

Matt raises an eyebrow. "Samantha said that? Haile, she doesn't know what she is talking about."

I feel some relief on my chest. Why do I always choose to believe the things Samantha says when I know it's not true?"

I untie the laces and take off the skates. When I glance back at Matt, he is staring into space, daydreaming about something.

"Matt?"

Matt snaps out of his daydream and meet my eyes. "Yes?"

"Are you alright? You look as if you were in a different world just then."

He stands up. "Sorry. I was... Hey, are you hungry?"

My stomach grumbles as he mentions the word hungry. I shake my head even though I was. No matter how much hunger pain I feel, I must not give into food. It won't help me to lose weight if I did. "Not really."

"Well, I am. Let's return these skates and get something to eat. I will buy you a drink if you like."

I agree to. We walk to reception to hand back our skates. We then head to the cafeteria, standing in the line to order. Just standing in this room tortured me with the smell of chips and beef patties, and many other foods that I really wanted to eat, but I couldn't. I could just imagine Samantha teasing me about being fat if I was to eat just one hot chip or a hamburger, anything that was fattening. Would I lose my chances of being with Matt?

Matt orders a small box of chips with ketchup and a Coke, while I order a small chocolate milkshake. We sit down at a table.

"So, did you enjoy yourself?" Matt asks me, popping a salty potato chip into his mouth.

I nod as I took a sip of my milkshake. At the back of my mind I wondered to myself if I should be drinking this. "I did. Thanks for taking me even though Bailey and Tayvon stood us up."

"Yeah, I don't know why the invited us to come if they are just going to leave us here."

"Even if they didn't show, at least we got to spend a little time together."

Matt smiles, which sends my heart racing.

"We should do something together sometime," he suggested.

My face lights up as soon as he said it. "You really mean it?"

Matt nods. "I do." He grabs a chip, popping it into his mouth. He then pushes the cardboard box towards me. "Are you sure you don't want any?"

Don't take it, Hailey.

As much as the salty food was tempting me, I couldn't give in. I shake my head. "I'm good thanks."

Matt doesn't pressure me to eat, which I'm glad he doesn't.

Once we finish our food and drinks, we head back to Matt's car. He drove me home. We sit there in silence, not sure on what to say to each other.

Matt pulls up outside my home. My mother's car was parked in the driveway.

"Thanks again for the great time," I say as I unbuckle my seat belt.

"It's no problem. We can go skating another time if you like."

I smile. Rather than getting out of the car, I continue to stare at him. My eyes drift to his lips. For a moment I fantasise what it would be like to kiss him. And before I realised what I was doing, I lean forward, quickly pecking my lips against his.

"Oh my gosh," I say, quickly moving away. Matt stares at me in shock. Oh crap, I just gave my feelings away to him. Now he knows I like him. What do I do now? "I'm so sorry, Matt. I – I don't know why I did that for. Please forgive me."

Before Matt could respond to the kiss, I quickly dash out of the car and ran inside the house.

Mom calls out to me from the kitchen where I could smell her cooking baked potatoes and roast chicken, greeting me. I return the greeting and then ran up the stairs to my room, slamming the door shut. I lean my back against the door, touching my lips where I had kissed Matt.

I have just kissed Matthew Evans.

I slid down until I was sitting on the floor. Why did I kiss him? Shouldn't I have waited for him to make a move? Now he knows I like him. Oh gosh, what is it going to be like at school tomorrow when I have to face him? What if everything becomes awkward between us? Everyone would know what had happened.

I'm such a stupid person. Could I have just ruined my friendship between Matt and me?