Life through a string of kisses

A taste of freedom

The door closed behind her parents and Rebecca was officially left alone in the big world. Well technically it was a small accomodation room at her University, but she felt the release. The release of finally making her way in the world on her own two feet. The relief she felt was almost physical. The closerphobia she had been feeling while at home had almost become unidentifiable.

The buzz of freedom throughout her other flatmates was as contagious as Freshers flu. And soon the first night of University was underway with drinking and awkward interactions. Rebecca struggled to keep track of the new names she was learning.

At one point her flatmates and another flat all sat in their kitchen, small conversations wafting through. Rebecca sat on the counter next to a tall lanky boy who was also silently people watching. She wanted to speak, feeling that he was in the same situation as her. But her courage failed her and she walked out to see if her flatmate was finished getting ready.

At the club, there were multiple people she wanted to make out with, but she didn't want to create a reputation for herself so instead focused on dancing.

Throughout the week Rebecca tried to go out as much as possible. She made two friends, both were friends of her flatmates. One was Phoebe, an excitable girl whose crazy antics made Rebecca's laugh seem almost normal. The second was the lanky boy from the first night, Adam, who came across as shy but had a wicked sense of humour. With these two she went shopping and to the clubs. Where Adam and Rebecca ended up looking after a drunk Phoebe.

A month later and Adam and Rebecca could always be found together. The two had grown close through movie watching, music and a similar sense of humour. Nights out had ended with hot chocolate at Rebecca's, where they would fall asleep fully clothed on her bed.

After a particular long night they had crashed together and ended up spending the next day drifting in and out of sleep while they cuddled. Adam left without them discussing what had happened, leaving Rebecca confused on what that meant. They met again that night for the pre-arranged night out, with Rebecca adamant that she would kiss him. She had to know how he felt, it was driving her insane. They had never spooned before and he never even flirted with her. What was he thinking?

That night when he inevitably ended up in her bed, on top of her covers, they lay facing each other. Rebecca couldn't take it anymore, she leaned forward and kissed Adam. She brought her head back, giving him space to react. Time seeming to slow down, causing a second to take a decade to progress through.
Then he leaned forward and kissed her back.