Even though it was a simple kiss on the cheek, it sent chills through me. We caught up to the other boys. They were sitting on a bench outside Starbucks. Damien let go of my hand as we approached.
“It took you long enough,” Alexei teased. Damien punched him in the shoulder and we walked into Starbucks. I ordered a vanilla bean Frappuccino, Damien ordered a caramel mocha, Adriel ordered an espresso shot, and Alexei just got sparkling grapefruit juice. I found it cute that he had juice, and didn’t know why. His warm brown eyes got to me in a way that I couldn’t explain. And even though Damien’s kiss on the cheek gave me chills, Alexei’s Prince Charming-like introduction made me knees weak. Something about him drew me in, and I couldn’t explain it.
“We need to go...get some things,” Adriel announced as him and Damien stood from our corner table.
“Yeah. We’ll be right back,” Damien seemed nervous. Alexei and I stayed sitting as the other two walked out.
“Do you know what they’re going to get?” I asked, sipped from the straw in my drink as I watched them cross the street.
“Marijuana.” I formed an “O” with my mouth. “But I don’t smoke it.” Alexei took a drink from his juice bottle nonchalantly.
“Good, because neither do I. When are they coming back?”
“Lord knows. They have to catch the bus downtown. I don’t know why; pot is sold everywhere. Why the shit from downtown is so great, I’ll never understand.”
“So I guess that means they won’t be back before dark.” Alexei shook his head.
“Ayden,” Alexei started, “do you want to go for a walk with me?” I turned my face up to him from where I had had it resting on my palm and smiled. I accepted and we stood and walked out the door and in the opposite direction of where Adriel and Damien had gone.
The sun was starting to set. After all, it was early September and the long days of summer were beginning to fade. Alexei and I walked to a park, and then to the bridge that ran over a river in the middle of town. We sat on the concrete ledge with our legs dangling over the edge and stared down the water to a park with the setting sun just above the trees.
“I like to sit here and think, sometimes,” Alexei confessed, his accent growing heavier, “I kind of consider it a little personal spot, even though it’s public.” I smiled at him and swung my legs.
“That’s sweet. I never really had a thinking place. I just kind of sit in my room alone most of the time. Isn’t that pathetic?” Alexei laughed a little.
“I will admit, it is a bit pathetic. But maybe you just need the right person to kind of, how you say, break you out of your shell?”
“No one ever really showed much compassion for me. So yeah, maybe I do need someone.”
“Ayden, can I ask you something?” I nodded and turned to look at him. He swallowed, his Adam’s Apple bobbing up and down. He pushed his glasses up.
“Do you like Damien?” He seemed forlorn in his question.
“He’s a cool guy. Kind of a bit of your typical guy, with how he acts. But he’s got something to him that kind of makes you think that he’s hiding some secret. I guess I just like him as a friend.”
“He is hiding a secret. I am sure you have heard that he is bad news, but I can tell you he is really just a puppy. Though his secret is pretty unpuppy-like.”
“Oh,” I didn’t question, because I didn’t feel like it was my place to know just yet what Damien’s secret was. “You seem kind of secretive too, no offence.”
“I can be. I am just very shy. Around pretty girls I get... I can never seem to find words. Usually girls do not talk to me. I guess I intimidate them somehow. Maybe because I am so quiet. But I also do not understand myself. I did not have trouble finding words around you.” My heart jumped.
“You consider me pretty?”
“I consider you very very pretty,” he was looking out into the sunset. I had never had two guys call me pretty in one day.
“Thank you, Alexei. That means a lot to me.”
“I have no idea if he wanted you to know, but Damien was rather short of breath when he first saw you. I do think he really likes you. And I feel not so great.”
“He showed me his drawing. And it was beautiful. But what do you mean that you don’t feel so great?” Alexei paused for a moment. He sighed, pulled the cuffs of his hoodie sleeves down so that they covered up to his fingertips, and then rubbed his palms on his knees.
“Ayden. Would you go to Homecoming with me?” Whatever happened to him being shy? My face, I could feel, was turning bright red. He was looking down into the water below us. I could sense he expected rejection.
“I would love to.” I scooted closer to him, leaning forward so that I could see his face. He was grinning widely. “But you never told me why you don’t feel so great.”
“It is, because, I think I am starting to like you. You make me not feel shy. And you are impressive.”
“Impressive?”
“You are smart, pretty, and there is something about you that made me feel important. Like how when you barely knew me, you talked so well with me about my country. I felt accepted.”
“Alexei. You are one of a kind, you really are.” I put my hand on his knee, half on top of his hand. I felt so promiscuous at that moment. In one day, I met three guys; one kissed me on the cheek and we held hands, and he seemed generally interested. But now, his best friend was drawing me in, and drawing me in fast. I felt terrible for what I could be doing to Damien if he really did like me.
Alexei turned his hand, just as Damien had done, and wrapped his hand loosely around mine.
“There is something about you, Alexei, and I can’t rightly say what it is. You’re pulling me in to you,” he looked slightly insulted, and I felt his already loose grip loosen more. “It’s a compliment. It just means that I think I’m starting to fall for you.” It felt oddly right saying that. He smiled and looked me in the eye.
“I feel not so great because I do not know if Damien likes you. He gets every girl he wants. He gets first pick. And Adriel and I. We get kind of his cast-offs. He has been with so many girls. I feel like I am stealing you from him.” I felt like a trophy that was desired to be won.
“So that’s what people mean when they say I won’t do well with him. He chews up girls and spits them out.” Alexei nodded.
“I have never had a girlfriend. I have only admired. I was always too shy to say anything.”
“Alexei. You look sad. Why?”
“Because I am lonely. My family does not really accept me. They are always on about my brothers and sisters. I am the oldest; I get cast aside. Can I confess something to you?”
“Anything.”
“When I first saw you, I could not help but think that you could be the one to help me not feel so lonely. I feel so creepy.” I scooted even closer to him, so that our sides were touching. He wrapped his hand tighter around mine. I looked down at our hands. They seemed perfect together.
I turned and smiled at him, and he smiled back. Then at the same time, we both looked down into the water. Our reflection showed dimly in the slightly rippling water illuminated by the setting sun.
“I have also never been kissed.” The words flew out of his mouth so fast I almost didn’t catch them.
I turned and looked at him. He was stealing glances, and I could tell he was blushing. He finally turned to look at me. He pulled his hoodie sleeve back down over his fingertips from where it had ridden up his hand. Ever so slowly, he placed his hand on my jaw line, with his finger tips brushing underneath my earlobe. He brought his face closer to mine until our lips met. I felt a shiver go down my spine and I gently placed my hand on his neck. He pulled away as slowly as he had come in, resting his forehead against mine and smiled, letting out a laugh in a breath of hair.
“Am I really that terrible?” I asked, pushing my nose against his lightly.
“Not at all. I just never imagined my first kiss to be that good. I just hope you do not think I am being too fast with you.” I shook my head and grinned. The street lights came on and people were flicking lights on above their shops that lined the river.
“I should be getting home,” We said in unison. We laughed a nervous laugh. He rubbed the back of his head, ruffling his already ruffled hair. “I will walk you home if you do not live too far away.”
“I live down on the other side of that park,” I said. He beamed.
“I have to go the same way.” We turned to walk, both of us smiling. This boy is amazing, I thought. We walked through the park together, hand-in-hand. We came to a well-worn path in the woods.
“Alexei, what’s your favourite colour?”
“I like dark red. Why?”
“Just wondering.” I grinned to myself. I already knew that I would have the perfect dress for Homecoming.
We walked down the path, the rays of sunset making the trees glow above us. He stopped walking suddenly.
“Oh for the love of God, come here,” he said, pulling me close to him and kissing me. I giggled into our kiss, holding his face in my hands. He repeatedly kissed me and hugged me tight. He picked me up and swung me around. I was giggling loudly.
“You make me so happy.” I wanted to say the same thing, but I didn’t want to say it in his words. To be honest, he made me happier than I had ever been. I kissed him and told him so. He grabbed my hand and we practically ran out of the woods.
I decided to walk him to his house, instead of his original plan of him walking me to mine. We stood on his doorstep, both our hands entwined with the others.
“I really need to get inside. My parents will be wondering why I have not set the table. They will be home soon.” He stepped closer to me and put one hand on my waist. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see three young girls, ranging in ages of eight to ten, and two boys of the same ages peering out from a pulled-back sheer white curtain. Their heads seemed stacked on one other as they watched us intently, their eyes wide. I put my arms around his neck. He moved his hands so they were both on my hips. He laid his lips against mine in a lingering kiss. I opened the corner of my eye and saw that his siblings’ eyes were wider and they were whispering amongst themselves. He pulled away slowly and said in my ear, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stepped away from me and put his hand on the doorknob. He smiled shyly down at the ground, uttered a goodbye, and went inside. I heard an eruption from his siblings, even though I couldn’t understand them. I laughed and skipped off his doorstep and ran down the street and around the corner to my house, hugging myself and turning the whole way.
