The leaves were already changing color around us, light reds and yellows and browns, but the grass was still soft and green. The air smelled light and cold. Alex put his arm around me, pushing the soft fabric of his sweatshirt, which I was wearing, against my skin.
We laid out the purple Mexican blanket that my parents let us borrow at the top of the hill, under a big oak tree. On the corner of the blanket I spotted a dandelion that was perfectly fuzzy with seeds. Sitting down "cris cross applesauce" on the blanket, I plucked the flower and held it out in front of me. Alex reached out, trying to squish it, but I pulled my arms away.
"You can't do that!" I exclaimed.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Alex asked, sitting down across from me and booping my nose like I was a little kid.
"I'm serious." I said quietly.
"Fine, fine. Show me what I'm supposed to do." He threw his arms up to surrender.
Looking around I spotted another perfectly fluffed dandelion. Handing my flower to apex I ran to pick it. By the time I was back- I was only gone twenty seconds or so- Alex had started to hold the flower that I handed him up to his face, and looked like he was going to blow on it.
"No no no!" I said, sliding back down to the ground. "That one is mine, you can't wish on it."
I took the flower from his hands and he smiled up at me. His facial expressions were always so warm and soft, I wanted to kiss him right then and there but I made myself wait. Still feeling the electricity from his smile running through me I held up the two flowers in my hands.
"You can wish on this one." I said, handing him the one I just picked.
"Why thank you," He said while grabbing the flower and probably purposely just barely brushing his hand on mine. "Now what?"
"Just hold it up." I demonstrated and waited for him to mirror me.
"Close your eyes real tight." I closed mine while speaking and trusted him to do the same.
"Really focus in on a wish and on the count of three we'll blow." I thought about what it would be like to have his lips on mine.
I started counting, "One... two... thr-" but before I could finish I was interrupted by a soft pair of lips pressing against mine. Breathing in slowly I pressed my lips onto his. We just sat there for a moment. Not moving, not talking, not relocating our lips against each other every two seconds like they do in movies. We just sat there, two fourteen year old kids, sitting cross legged on a purple blanket, under a big oak tree, holding dandelions in our hands with our lips pressed together. It could have been seconds or hours, and to any by passer we probably looked like a couple of fools, but we felt infinite. I don't know if it was a stroke of luck that he made my wish come true, or maybe dandelions really do work.
Maybe that's how love works. Wishes for the other person instantly come true because you believe in it all so much.
"I just had to," Alex whispered after we parted and sat in silence for a minute. "You're incredible."
I didn't know how to respond. I've always been scarred of kissing people, I dream and dream and dream about it but never have any intention of actually do it. Alex knows that. Alex thinks I'm terrified, but I'm not. On the inside I've exploded a million times over and I'm so happy I'm about to explode on the outside too. He kissed me. His gorgeous face and his amazing hair, they were right there. Right in front of me. His lips were touching me. Finally. Finally I can see that there's nothing to be scared of. That it really is an amazing thing. Not just kissing. The feeling of being totally in love with someone, the feeling of being in the same power as someone. Like you both have the same starting place and the same destination and the exact same route to get there.
"Can I tell you a wonderful thing?" Alex's face changed from worried to happy when I finally spoke.
"Of corse." He said with a smile.
I thought for a minute before speaking, lost in his smile.
"I..." I couldn't think of how to phrase my words.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked, looking worried.
I didn't want him to think I was still scared. I wasn't scared anymore.
"I'm great." I said, finally releasing the smile that had been building up inside me for so long.
Alexa face flooded with relief in the most adorable mix of expressions I had ever seen. I felt my facial expressions relax slightly, but my insides were still electric.
We talked about music for awhile after that. We talked about All Time Low making a new album, and Pierce The Veil going on tour. Before we knew it, it was five o'clock and Alexa mom pulled into the parking lot at the bottom of the hill. He helped me fold the blanket and put it in my backpack. We hugged and he walked to his car while I turned to walk home.
