Joanne through the years.

kisses And Almost kisses

Dianne
I walked home with a spring in my step.  I found myself just dreaming about Joe.  I did this quite often.
"Thinking of someone?" Andrew asked as I walked through the door .
"Shut up" I threw a pillow at him.
I walked with Joe to school the next day.
"How was dance practice yesterday Reddo?" He asked.  We were both bundled up against the cold February air.
"It went well.  Jess was quizzing me on the rumours.  So, you know, the usual."
I noticed Joe smile slightly. "You can tell them that we ain't dating but they ain't gonna listen. People will believe what they want to believe. Ain't nothing gonna change their mind" He said.  
"Yeah well. It's all good. If we can't change their minds then in reality, we are just torturing them" I grinned mischievously. Joe looked confused.
"Sorry.  What?"
"Follow my lead" I grabbed his hand and began running to school.  He didn't move.  I pulled on his arm. "Come on" and he reluctantly began to run.  He ran faster and soon he was pulling me as I struggled to keep up.  We ran so fast that we ended up tripping and falling on to a patch of grass, metres away from the school gates.  I fell on top of him.
"Well hello there" he giggled.  I laughed.  His gaze flickered to my lips.  Mine flickered to his. Then he began to lean in. I closed my eyes and leaned in also. Our lips were inches apart and we were slowly closing the gap.  Centimetres.  Millimetres.
"Hey Joseph!" Zoe ran up to us.  Dianne and I sprung apart. "Oh sorry. Did I interrupt something?" Zoe grinned.
"Um-eh-Um-I-eh I'm eh-no we just fell over" Joe stuttered as he stumbled to his feet.  Zoe gave me a knowing look.
"Yeah right Joe.  Also Joe?" Zoe smiled
"Yeah" Joe was still bright red with embarrassment.
"Can I talk to Di in private please?"
"Um yeah sure.  I'll see you in class Dianne" he then turned and walked off in the direction of the school.  I registered the use of my full name.  He must be so embarrassed.
"Did you kiss Joe?" Zoe asked me, her voice full of excitement.
"No"
Zoe's face fell.
"Really?"
"We were about to though Zo" I began to jump up and down in excitement. "We fell over and then we looked at each other and he started leaning in so I leaned in and then our lips must have been millimetres apart whenever you interrupted us."
"Oh sorry Di" She pulled me into a side hug. "They'll be loads of opportunities to kiss my little brother."
"When you say it like that, it sounds creepy" I laughed and Zoe chuckled.
"Oh my gosh Di.  I have to tell you about someone."
"Do you have a crush?" I asked excitably.
"Well...I haven't talked to him yet but there is a new boy called Alfie.  I saw him walking to school this morning.  He looks around my age."
"Oh my life Zoe. You HAVE to talk to him as soon as possible.  Get to know him then ask him out."
"Slow down Di.  He mightn't be nice or maybe he won't want to get to know me."
"Of course he will" I squeezed her shoulder reassuringly as we began to walk through the school gates.
"Alright Joey?" I said as I sat down beside him in maths.
"Hey Di" He grinned at me.  We spent the whole of maths giggling together.  We expected to be told off but the teacher declared that we were too cute together to force us to shut up.  We walked hand in hand to history.  We were doing group work so Joe worked with me and we once again just chatted the whole lesson whilst doing the odd bit of work.  I searched for Zoe at break but couldn't find her.  I wandered over to Joe who was laughing with the lads.
"Hey Suggy!  Have you seen Zo?" I asked.
"Why?  Isn't she around?" He replied, worry flickering momentarily across his face.
"I can't find her anywhere" I frowned.
"We can help you look" Byron said and everyone stood up and split up in different directions.  I went with Joe to look on the top floor corridor.  It took us a while to get up there, both of us texting Zoe furiously but receiving no replies.  We held hands as we pulled cupboards and classroom doors open as we walked down the corridor.  About halfway down we heard odd noises coming from an unused classroom to our left.  We pushed the door open nervously and were met with a sight that we would rather not see.  Zoe and a boy with short brown hair were snogging like their lives depended on it.  The boys hands were in her pants and her hands, in his.  Joe cleared his throat noisily and there was a sound of a plug being pulled out of its hole as Zoe and the boy withdrew from each other and turned to face the spot where Joe and I were standing.
"Hey Joe, Dianne" Zoe smiled awkwardly.  Joe and I just stared back.  "Umm this is Alfie. He's in my year. We met this morning" Zoe muttered the last words embarrassedly.  "Alfie, meet my brother Joe and my best friend Dianne. Joe and Dianne kinda have a thing going on" Zoe smirked.
"We don't have a thing going on" Joe said firmly.  Alfie smirked at our intertwined hands. "Though may I ask why you're making out with my sister less than two hours after you two first met.  Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly have a problem with it.  I'm just interested" Joe said and I smirked at him.
"We just kinda clicked" Alfie smiled and gripped Zoe's hand tightly and she smiled at him.  Joe mimed vomiting and I giggled.
"Okay Joseph.  We get the picture.  I know you may find two people kissing disgusting but trust me, after you've had your first kiss you may not find it so bad and maybe you'll accept that sometimes people have feelings for people and they decide to act upon them instead of keeping them bottled up inside like you're doing to Dianne right now" Zoe said. 
Joe stuck the finger up at Zoe in which caused me to giggle hysterically.  Zoe grinned and winked at me before turning back to Alfie and wrapping her hands around his neck and pulling him in for another make out session.  Joe and I walked out disgusted and texted the rest of the lads to say that we had found Zoe hooking up with some guy she had met less than two hours ago but apart from that she was fine.  I didn't see Zoe for the rest of the day but this didn't bother me as I got to spend quality time with Joe.  After school we walked back to his house and mucked around for a few hours.  We never once came close to kissing but I didn't mind as thankfully our near kiss hadn't affected our friendship at all and we could still cuddle comfortably.  I left Joes after a few hours and walked home. Today had been one of the best days ever.
Joe
After Dianne left I did a few chores before watching some TV.  Zoe came in around 7.  She walked into the living room and cuddled up beside me.
"How's things Joey?" She asked me.
"Good.  How's Alfie?"
"He's amazing Joe.  I've never met anyone quite like him.  I'm falling hard Joe.  And fast.  So fast that it's actually scaring me."
"Can I talk to you about something Zo?"
"Anything" Zoe hugged me tightly.
"It's about Dianne" I said.
Zoe
"I'm listening" I grinned. Was Joe going to confess his feelings to Dianne to me?
"I think I like her Zo.  I feel differently towards her than I have to any girl before."
"I thought this day would never come" I hugged him tighter. "When are you gonna tell her?"
"I don't think I can do it Zo.  I'm scared to ruin our friendship.  If anything was to happen between us I think she would have to take the first steps" Joe looked at the floor.
"Of course you can do if Joey.  Just tell her.  I know she feels the same way so go for it."
"Really?"
"Really" I placed my hand on his. "When are you gonna do it?" I asked.
"In the next few days" He yawned. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the back of the sofa.
"Joe?"
"Yeah?"
"When was the last time you took your meds?"
"About a month ago." He replied.  I grinned.  "I'm proud of you Joe" then we fell asleep on the sofa together.