Challenge Accepted

Chapter 15

Last one is here! I'm not sure if I like it but :) Comment and vote!

I started backing away again, retreating from the confrontation, something I'd never been good at before. The look in his eyes told me he knew I'd started retreating, shutting myself off and barricading all those mental walls.

If he knew, then I might as well accept it, I thought as I turned around and ran to the comforts of my mother's car. I heard snickers and whistles directed at Marek's failure. That's what I had wanted, wasn't it? To see him, basking in the knowledge of his own failure and the embarrassment of having other people know it too. If it was what I wanted, why was my stomach dropping.

My mother's comforting face behind the windshield was what cracked my resolve. She had the patience to sit and wait for me to figure something out before interfering. Figure something out? What? I though curiously, now almost oblivious to the tears sliding down my face.

I loved him, that's what.

Denying it would only get me so far, and he'd as much as said it too. Having stood still on the pavement for almost a minute straight with whistles and jeers behind me and the drawing presence of maternal comfort in front, I made a choice.

Turning around, I saw Marek, still staring at me like a lovesick puppy. His eyes were glossy and his hair was jostled. His hands were limp and his figure was slumped. Utterly defeated.

I moved my right foot first, then my left. Then my right again to repeat the process. I couldn't leave anything to muscle memory in this state. I reached Marek, first staying at a respectable distance of several gaping meters.

Moving close enough so that we were sharing air, I listened; not a single whistle or noise. Nothing. Not even the smallest whispers or smacking of lips, even the crowd around us was silent. It surprised me honestly that they couldn't hear my heart slamming through my ribcage and onto my sleeve; I was wearing my heart on my sleeve now, whether I liked it or not.

Irritatingly, I could sense my mother's all knowing smirk through my back and I had to resist the urge to walk over there to wipe it off.

All the while Marek and I were face-to-face, knees touching.

I'm not sure who moved, but I was caught up in a whirlwind kiss. It was as if Marek had put all the passion that had pent up over the last couple of weeks was released at once, I replied with equal fever. Short as it may have been, that kiss was a seal.

The seal of our agreement, the challenge. It had broken off because there was no winner, a tie was ordered. We had both fallen down the deep end, hopelessly, painlessly, truly, deeply in love.

"I love you," he murmured against my lips so quietly I'm not sure it was intended for my ears. I pulled him into another passionate kiss, sparks erupting as our mouths touched. And another. And another.

—

I stared blankly at the thin line ticking across the surface of the clock, two more minutes. A tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality and I looked back to Marek, who held a small piece of paper in his hand.

This was a small habit we'd picked up. He would pass me a sweet note in class, something like, "Love you," or, "Still can't believe we're dating." I would write something back or promise him a kiss and suddenly, that lesson wouldn't seem so dull anymore.

I opened the graphed piece of paper in my hand, this one was covered in intricate patterns drawn in red pen, with the message, "I'm spending all summer with you, I'm dying of excitement."

I looked back and nodded feverishly, agreeing completely.

The bell went. In a flash the classroom was empty, all the children had picked up their yearbooks and gone for the last summer high school would provide. Next year, we'd all be going off to college.

Nodding nicely to the math teacher, I picked up my yearbook and flipped straight to the elected section. Most likely to grow old alone was my semi-friend, most likely to play professional football was Marek, most likely to become a business woman was me and most likely to become high school sweethearts was me and Marek.

Something I held him true to exactly, to the day, seven years later.

"I do." 

Nice? How's that ending?

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