The Kissing Booth: Adult Edition

Having Elle Near

"Lee?! Is there any ice cream in the freezer?" I hollered from the laundry room. My best friend was lounging on the couch; Marco was upstairs. "How should I know?" He wasn't helpful at all. "Can you check?" I asked back. He let out a groan. "Why don't you do it after your done with the towels? And what'll you do if there isn't any?" "Ice cream.... Ice cream; ice cream; ice cream!" "God, you're so hopeless. I'm checking; I'm checking," he finally got his lazy butt up off the couch to wander into the kitchen. I heard the freezer door open as I waited with anticipation. "Big shock- there's no ice cream," Lee announced. "Awe, what? No ice cream?" My heart dropped. With a dramatic sigh, he slammed the door shut and marched to grab his coat. "Don't get your panties in a bunch. I'm going to the store- happy?" "Yes," I flashed him a loving smile. Lee..... "I'm bringing my key with me." "Ok. Cookie dough, please!" "I know what you want!" The front door closed behind him. He locked it from the other side then took off.

I finished up with the laundry down here, folded everything, and brought it upstairs. I set the basket down on my bed and set my hands on my hips. My eyes drifted upwards to the ceiling. Marco.... He's not in the bedrooms up here; he must be on a patio on the roof. He went up there alone sometimes. Curious, I put away the articles of clothing and made my way up there. To my surprise, I found him quietly playing guitar on the ledge of the building. His fingers were stringing it in a peaceful manner, and he wore this content on his face. My heart began to flutter a little as I drew up the courage to join him outside.

"Getting some practice in?" Marco's head spun to me, and he grinned. "This is a great place to play the guitar; it's so quiet and calm up here." "I don't want to interrupt you if you want to keep....." "Don't be silly. Get over here," his motioned me forward with his hand. I didn't hesitate to join him, sitting down on the ledge of the patio. My lips let out a long sigh and I looked at him. He began strumming his guitar again in a tender fashion.

"I hear you out here sometimes. You're really good; but then, that's nothing new. You were super good back in high school- talented, I should say." "Thanks. I practice a lot, but I don't perform live shows anymore." "Why not? People love your music," I blinked to him confused. His eyes rolled over to me, letting him pause for a second. "I guess I just lost my passion for it. At some point in undergrad, I realized that I was playing more for others than myself. I much preferred to play quietly alone somewhere like this. My music means a lot to me, you see; it's something precious which I'm reluctant to share, I think..... I want those who I perform in front of to appreciate it as much as I do." I didn't say anything, and Marco suddenly flinched as if he grasped what he just said. Grinning awkwardly, he rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed. "But I know that's not the way the world works. No one will ever feel the same about my music as I do....."

After watching him for some time, my eyes lowered gently. My head tossed back up towards the sky; you couldn't see any stars in it, but one always hoped. My face lightened a little. "That day.... when we first met and went to that café.... You said you've read some of my articles before." "Oh yeah; I remember that." "You wouldn't know it, but no one's ever said that to me before. I could never get anyone besides my supervisor to read anything I've written. Not even Lee, Noah, my brother, or my father- they were never interested. But you.... You're the first to not only think my work isn't boring but actually go out of your way to read it. I didn't say it at the time, but that made me so insanely happy..... like someone could see value in my work. It made me so happy.... I finally got something I wanted for so long, after completing two theses and countless other papers...." "Elle," Macro's eyes were locked onto me.

A smile crept across my lips and I turned my head in such a way so to face him. "I know what it's like to pour your heart and soul into something. To spend god knows how many hours honing your craft, and to get so emotionally attached to the end product. To protect your work, baby it... and want to see others admire it. But no one besides a select few have no idea what's really gone into it or how hard you worked. I get wanting to do it for yourself because you know others won't appreciate it as much as you do.... And you tell yourself that you're fine with nobody knowing this really precious, important thing you have. But when someone finally does notice and likes what you've done.... It can feel so damn good, and you suddenly realize how worth it it all was."

"Elle..." A speechless Marco could only gawk at me. I stared at him for another moment before glancing back up to the black of the sky high above us. My eyes lowered again very, very softly. Yeah, I know that feeling.... I know what that's like.

It was my turn to blink in surprise when all of a sudden, the sound of a guitar filled the night air around us. I looked and found Marco beginning to play his instrument again. His music was soft and soulful, like the melody was a rainbow you can actually see. Each note added this story he was telling, and it grew into this big, beautiful mass. It was so relaxing, like the kind of music you could put on while laying down in a meadow under a cloudless bright blue sky. My eyes gently shut as I drew in a long, profound breath. I could listen it forever.....

After five minutes or so, Marco stopped playing and looked at me. He looked at me, and I him; our stares softened onto each other. "That was beautiful, Marco....." "Did you appreciate that?" "Yes..... oh, yes." "Then we're even," he smiled. Oh my god, his smile just now..... How is it I can feel so comfortable around someone- so at home- and they still manage to stop my heart when they smile that way? I don't..... "Elle. Just try; let yourself learn to love again." I don't understand.

"Marco, can you..... Can you play some more for me? I love the way you play....." "Elle," Marco's eyes shown down upon me. Instead of placing his hand back onto his guitar, he reached over to grab mine. I flinched and blushed at the same time, glancing down to our clasped hands. His gave me a squeeze. "I'm just....."

Before Marco could finish what he was saying, the front door swung open downstairs. "I'm home! Elle?! Marco?! Get your butts down here! The ice cream's melting!" Lee's voice echoed from the bottom floor. "Ice cream?" Marco blinked perplexed. "Oh, he went to fetch me some ice cream," I explained. "What? I could have gone if you wanted some," Marco told me, making me smile. I can never stop smiling when I'm with him.... "Oh, that's alright. Lee offered- well sorta. Anyway! Now we have ice cream. Come on, let's go get some." Still holding onto his hand, I urged him to stand up. But he stopped me for a moment, refusing to let me go.

"Elle, what I was going to say was..... that I'm just happy to hear it." "Hear what?" I asked puzzled. "You've just never opened up and talked to me like that before, and well..... I'm happy you feel like you can. I want you to feel comfortable around me." "But Marco, I already do. Being with you.... it's like the most easiest thing in the world," I was still confused. This comment seemed to please him as he stood up, still holding my hand in his. He smiled at me and we began to walk side-by-side towards the door.

"I'm really, really happy to hear that, Elle." I laughed, still confused what he was talking about but happy, nonetheless. "Well at least you know you're not alone," my mouth replied. I felt Marco give my hand yet another tender squeeze. We were nearing the door; the evening breeze blowing through both our hair, swaying it beside us. Marco smiled- he smiled so sincerely. "It's true; I'm not alone, am I?

Somehow without my ever noticing it, it felt so natural, having you near."