Woke

13.)

Chris:

I woke up the next morning to the sound of my alarm. At the realization that it was Friday, I jumped out of my bed and ran into the bathroom to shower. It was the day Kiara and I were presenting our project on the Dominican Republic and doing our Bachata routine. I wasn't nervous about the dance-- we had solidified it to the point where I was dreaming about it. I was questioning what would happen afterwards.

I think I was down bad. The evening before was such a great time, from helping Kiara prepare the food to sitting and hearing her laugh at dinner. I was really hoping that by the end of our month of being buddies I would be over this crush, but the opposite happened. We actually hung out and had real conversations. Kiara had so much depth to her; she was funny, intellectual, and very passionate about what she believed in. I could tell she still had walls up, but that was expected and understandable. I'd broken through the surface, but I wasn't all the way through. I had been willing to settle for just friendship...

Until she kissed me.

She'd initiated two different kisses, and that had given me hope. The first kiss was... indescribable and made me fall harder for her. That didn't even include the fact that she was incredibly skilled at it-- making me curious as to what else she could do.

I shook the thoughts and desires from my mind. I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my lower body. I quickly applied some deodorant and cologne before brushing my teeth. Going into my closet, I pulled out a royal blue V neck Tee and a pair of dark jeans. I pulled on some boxers before putting on the clothes I'd picked out. After putting on some socks and a pair of black and blue Jordan Flights, I went back into my bathroom to nicely style my dark brown hair, before applying lotion onto my hands. Upon examining myself in the mirror, I deemed myself presentable. Going back into my room, I grabbed a jacket and my book bag before unplugging my phone and slipping it into my pocket. 

I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen to grab the snack I'd made for the presentation the night before. I carefully carried everything out to my car. Setting the Tostones in a box in the back of my car, I also threw my book bag back there before getting in the driver's seat to head to school. I found myself looking over at Kiara's house as I started to drive past it, noticing the front door open and the beauty herself step out. She had her purse, a box full of supplies, and her book bag attached to her. Something told me she didn't need assistance, but I couldn't help but stop my car. Her eyes fell on me, as I rolled down my window.

"Need a hand?"

"Nah, I'm good. Thanks though." Kiara gave me a genuine smile that made my heart leap. Next thing I know, I'm parking my car in her driveway. She rose an eyebrow at me.

"How about a ride?" I found myself asking.

A short laugh escaped her irresistible lips. "My car's right here, man."

"Oh, come on!" I got out and walked over to her. "We live right beside each other; why not help the planet a little by carpooling? Just two friends riding together to school."

"I don't know..."

"Do you have practice today?"

"No, but--"

"Perfect, me neither. It's cold out, and my car's already warmed up." She let me take her book bag and the box from her and secure it in the back beside mine. I then went around the side to open the shotgun door for her. "Shall we?"

Kiara stared at me for a second longer, before shaking her head with a smile and getting in the car. I felt my face warm in triumph as I got back in the driver's seat. I pulled out of her driveway and started to make the drive to our school.