The Kiss

through the door.
    “How was it? Is it him ?” She threw a quick glance at her watch and went on, not giving Eliza time to reply. “Uh-oh, you’re back early. Why are you back early?” She started pacing, inadvertently blocking Eliza from getting to her own bed and taking her sandals off.
    “Krissy—” She tried sidestepping her best friend, but to no avail. For a tiny girl, Krista sure took up too much space.
    “Unless you’re back early, and he’s on his way up, but you came first to tell me to get out of here so you two could have some private time to—”
    Eliza held up a hand. “Finish that sentence and die.”
    “That bad?”
    “Pork and mustard.” Eliza held her hands up in the air, like that explained everything.
    Apparently it did. Deflated, Krista dropped onto her bed. “Hotdogs? On the first date?”
    “ With wine, but yeah…” Finally rid of the sandals, Eliza began massaging her feet and grimaced. “Oh, yuck ! Mud.”
    “In the hotdogs?”
    “On my feet.” She looked at her hand in disgust. Mud had gotten under her nails.
    “But the hotdogs were good?” It was just like Krista to completely ignore the gagging sounds her roommate made, and focus on the important stuff.
    “The hotdogs were good.”
    “And the date?”
    “The date wasn’t.”
    “Eh.” Krista punched her defenseless pillow.
    “ Eh is right, my friend, but I will not give up!”
    “On Bill?”
    Eliza rolled her eyes. “On the mystery guy. If nothing else, I had fun tonight. There was just total lack of sparks, you know?”
    Krista nodded. “Oh well, here’s to next time.” She raised an imaginary glass, and Eliza mirrored her gesture before tiptoeing to the bathroom wincing at the squishy sounds her feet made on the carpet.
    ***
    Eliza wasn’t the only one to get drilled that night.
    Bill had just turned the corner when he heard the familiar flicker of a Zippo. “Won’t you ever quit the cancer sticks, Nate?” He didn’t even bother to turn toward the sound.
    He heard scuffling footsteps, and the next moment his friend was right next to him.
    “Not any time soon, no. One of the few pleasures I’ve got.” He pulled in a long puff and then blew the smoke in Bill’s face.
    Bill waved the cloud away. “The others being poetry and stalking people?”
    “I’m not stalking anyone. Just wanted to see how your big date went.”
    Bill wished he’d never told him he was going out with Eliza. Not that he could have avoided it; Nate had seen Krista talk to him and hadn’t missed the goofy grin on Bill’s face after the girl had left. He’d pestered him relentlessly, until Bill had finally fessed up. Nate had been easily convinced not to mention anything to Greg, but Bill knew Nate would never get off his case if he found out about the mess that had been the date.
    “It was fine.” He quickened his step, hoping against hope that Nate would change the subject.
    “Fine?” Nate grabbed him by the shoulder, making him turn and face him. “It was… fine ?” He threw his arms up, sending ash flying all over Bill’s shirt. “Could you be any less informative?”
    Bill squinted at him in the dark. He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but Nate’s voice sounded slurred. “Are you drunk?”
    “Are you my girlfriend? No, I’m not drunk . I had a drink or two.” He smacked the back of Bill’s head playfully. “You had your fun, and so did I.”
    Bill rubbed his head. “There wasn’t much fun to be had,” he mumbled.
    “What was that?”
    “There wasn’t much fun to be had. Not that I blame her.” Nate was giving him his full attention, and Bill thought maybe—just maybe —he could tell him the truth and not pretend he’d had a first class date. “It was the date from hell, man. Wrong place, no chemistry, ant-attack, no chemistry…”
    “So she didn’t thank you…properly?” Despite the naughty meaning behind his words, Nate seemed serious.
    Bill was incredulous. “ I wouldn’t have, if I were her, and I’m easy .” He shuffled his feet. “I did get a goodnight kiss, though.”
    Nate grabbed both of Bill’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Tongue?”
    “Minimal, as was duration. I somehow doubt I’ll be seeing her again. Possibly ever . Not even by accident.”
    Bill decided telling Nate the truth hadn’t been a good idea after all, judging by the howl of laughter that followed his last statement. He knew he should have stuck with the typical macho bullshit; he