First Year

Fiche Haon

We decide to drop Sarah and Meabh back to Sarah's place for their sleepover, and Jess back to her house, and my mother gives permission for Eimear to start after ringing her mother. My mother and hers are quite friendly now that we are friends. It's a joy for my mother as she never really got along with my "friends" mothers.

The two of us sit on my bed in silence, until she speaks up.

"Thanks again for intervening tonight."

"Its fine. I didn't do much anyway."

"Tash, are you having a laugh? Those girls would've mauled me if you hadn't come in. I may have a bit of a bloody face but I'd be in a worse state if it wasn't for you. And if you're to blame for this, why isnt Meabh and Jess as well? But none of ye are. It was going to happen eventually because they started threatening me 2 weeks ago. If you weren't there, they could've done much worse. You saved me, Tash. Please don't underestimate that."

I realise my good hand now has hers over it. I quickly remove it, not because I'm uncomfortable, but because I cant give myself away now. I hear her let out a shaky sigh.

"Hey, you ok?", I ask, looking at her with her head in her hand.

"I can't tell you.", she says tearfully.

"Hey, you can tell me anything."

"Not this. Youd hate me and probably go back to the others and tell them everything and beat me up and then I'd get more depres-"

"I would never do that. I'm never going back to that lot after what they did tonight. I'm staying with you, no matter what, so whatever it is, tell me."

She lifts her head, sniffles and faces me.

"I......like you."

God help my poor first year heart.

"I like you too."

"I mean, I like you as more than a best friend. As in, I have a crush on you."

The air grows silent as I stare at her, and her face goes back into her hands.

"Oh my God, I'm after ruining everything, aren't I? I never should've-"

"Eimear?"

She lifts her teary face up to look at me. "Yes?"

I make an extremely bold move. I lift her chin up with my finger, and I look at her for a moment before pulling her in with my finger and kissing her.

I've kissed 6 boys, and a girl as a dare, but none of those have been as gentle, soft and sweet as this one. I think its because I really didn't like any of those people. I like Eimear. I'm sure of that.

It's a very gentle and short kiss, only a few seconds. But it's perfect.

We pull apart and she stares at me before giving me an adorable smile, which I return.

"Wow.", is all she can say, and I softly giggle.

"Wow indeed."

"That was my first kiss."

"Oh, God, I hope I didn't mess it up for you."

"No. I don't know how it could've gone any better."

"I dont know, maybe if one of us didn't have a hurt face and the other not being able to write for 2 weeks."

She laughs as I grin. "That's true, I suppose."

"Yeah." We just smile at each other for a few moments, before I say, "So, do you want to go to bed now? We could just stay up and watch a movie as well."