Why me?

Part two: Told by Maddison

Today we went to McCheesy, the best fast food place EVER. It's also the only fast food place in all of Eastcliff.  

We went as a group like we always do. Annie and Erik holding hands, and Kate, Jesse, and I trailing behind. 

Annie is short but graceful. I envy the way she glides through the air, the way her blonde hair shines in the sunlight, the way her perfectly tan skin shone brighter than the sun.

My freckles, pale skin, and ginger hair will never match up to her beauty. And don't even get me started on my clumsiness. 

Erik has dirty blonde hair that bounces off his forehead in perfect curls, he is tall and broad-shouldered, and he's kind of a douchebag, but Annie keeps him in his place. When he and Annie started dating, we knew they were the perfect couple. We knew they would look after each other. 

Jesse is quiet and mysterious. He has dark brown hair that he keeps pulled back in a short ponytail. His skin is paler than his sisters but still darker than mine. He only really says up to 5 words a day. He only hangs out with us because Annie is his sister. He's always been... distant. Ever since they moved here. He and Annie are polar opposites. 

And naturally, I saved the best for last. Kate. I've had a crush on her since junior year. She's only a couple of centimeters shorter than me. Her hair is jet black, her skin is paler than the others, but I'm still paler. Her eyes are a beautiful deep blue, and they scrunch up when she laughs. She is the very image of beauty.

Anyway, I should get on with the story. 

We got to McCheesy and ordered our food. While we sat and waited, we had conversations about almost everything. Politics, cars, college, you name it. About halfway through the conversation about ice-cream, I noticed that Kate hadn't said anything the whole time we were here. 

"Hey, Kate. You okay?" She looked up to meet my eyes. She looked nervous. 

"Maddy- can I talk to you outside?" She was shaking a little.

"Sure." She waited for me to wriggle out of the booth in my awkward manner, then followed me outside. 

When we were outside she pulled me around the back, then she stared into my eyes. 

"Can-  Can I try something?" 

I didn't know what she was talking about, but I nodded my head. 

She looked into my eyes for a minute longer, then pushed her lips against mine. My breath was cut short from the suddenness of the kiss. Had I been expecting it? Had I wanted it? My thoughts were a blur, I couldn't think straight. There was only one thing I could do. 

Kiss her back.