Crossed Worlds

Chapter 18: The Agreement

The four teenagers walked under the treetops, where each branch was kissed by moonlight, and shadows were casted in obscure shapes across the woodland floor crunching beneath them.

Jack desperately tried to share the dim torchlight of his phone between him and Isaac, who were walking a few metres ahead of James and Jade.

"You don't have to do that, mate. But thank you for trying," Isaac laughed. "You were all too intrigued by James's Gift that nobody saw mine. Though it's not that impressive."

Jack, still struggling to cast enough light for them both to see ahead, calculated Isaac's words momentarily before finally grasping what he was trying to say.

"No way," he raised a brow. "You can see in the dark?"

"Yup. That's all I got."

"That's still awesome!" Jack laughed. "So, we don't have to share this awful light?"

"No, thanks. You're good."

Jade and James looked up as the boys in front of them laughed together.

"I wonder what's so funny," James smiled.

It had been an awkward walk between the other pair. Jade wanted to ask about the strange tension back in Luke's kitchen, and about the kiss, yet she felt like her mouth was sewn shut. She just looked at him, smiling, for a little bit too long, and quickly averted her eyes when he turned to face her.

"What was up with Luke, then?" He questioned in a monotone voice.

She was again unsure of how to read him.

"Uh, he was just a little worried that...well, that you were replacing him," Jade shrugged. "It was stupid and he knows it was."

James just nodded.

"Why do you ask?" She added.

"Curious."

The awkwardness returned and Jade was tired of it. It was never like this between them. She stopped them from walking and stood in front of him.

"I don't know what's up, but something is. Do you regret kissing me, or something? Because if that's the case we can just pretend it never happened..." she crossed her arms.

"Of course I don't regret kissing you! All I want to do is kiss you again," he laughed. "I'm just jealous."

Jade's arms fell to her side. "Jealous? Of what?"

"Luke hugging you. He's your best friend and it's immature but I am jealous anyway," he shrugged. "Sorry."

She felt the corner of her lips creep up into a smile.

"What?" He was smiling, now, too. "Seriously, what?"

After having kissed James once, she felt as though life seemed too short to not spend all the time possible kissing him. So, she wasted no more of her minutes. She lent up onto her tiptoes and planted a timid peck on his lips, a warm contrast to the chill of the night.

"Stop being silly," she whispered, her lips still brushing against his.

He kissed her back, less of a peck and with a lot more passionate force, before pulling away.

"I will never be silly again."

Jade was tempted to go in for more, before Isaac and Jack calling for them from behind the dense trees ahead interrupted.

"Good," she said, and they went to catch up with their friends.

The next afternoon, after all their lessons were done for the day, Anna and Jade lay top and tailing on Jade's bed, staring at the ceiling.