The Kiss

fun—”
    “Boring.” He drew the word out and reached for more fries.
    She slapped his hand away, hard. “And sweet—”
    “Then why are you here with me and not with him, getting cozy?” The look of triumph he gave her could have been because he’d not only managed to get a fried potato, but also dipped it in her mayo.
    He kept cutting her off, damn him, and touching her food! “I’m not with you. You…you appeared—”
    “You ditched Mr. Fun-and-Sweet for a burger? What kind of a person are you?” He gave her a mock-horrified look, then proceeded to lick mayonnaise off his fingers. Slowly.
    She barely kept her gaze from lingering inappropriately on his tongue. “I didn’t—”
    “Or maybe he wasn’t fun. Or sweet… Oh, I know! He was nothing but an overgrown boy-scout with the sense of humor of a decorative plant, and you just don’t want to admit that you went for the wrong guy once again.”
    She hated it so much when he was right. She gave him the kick in the shin she’d itched to deal Cal, and stood.
    “Ouch!” He leaned down to rub his leg.
    “You’re so wrong, it’s not even funny. I’m seeing Cal again—not that it’s any of your business.”
    “Liar!”
    “Am not . I’m going to his party at the Lowell House tomorrow. You can finish this off. I’m not hungry anymore.” She pushed her plate his way and walked away from what could have been a perfectly good dinner.
    She ended up fully dressed on her bed, eating crackers and wondering why on earth Nate wouldn’t just leave her alone. And why on earth she let him get to her so much.
    Oh, and how the fuck she’d survive a party with not one but several Cal-minded people.
    ***
    Nate threw an arm over his eyes, thinking for the millionth time that he should get thicker curtains for his bedroom.
    The light seeping in reminded him of Eliza’s hair that night.
    Could things stop reminding him of her, he wondered.

Chapter Seven

    “Who on earth thinks Sunday is a good day for a party?” Eliza had gone through her list of points-to-whine-about concerning both Cal and Nate, and was now focusing on the wrongness that was that night’s party.
    Krista had her maths book on her lap and was turning pages with a bored expression on her face. “We’re not in high-school anymore,” she said, as if that explained everything.
    Eliza tilted her head to the side.
    “I mean, there’s no school nights and stuff. We can stay out late whenever we want. And have parties on Sundays and” —she took a deep breath— “and fall in love despite floral patterns.”
    Eliza’s left eyebrow shot toward her hairline. “Explain?”
    “I think I’ll spend the night at Bill’s.” Krista crossed her arms and looked at Eliza as if challenging her to protest.
    “How come?” Krista hung her head, but not before Eliza saw her blush. “Oh. Oh! Um…well, that's great. You know, I mean, I think Bill's a really great guy, Kris.”
    “He is. And I’m sorry that he’s—that you went out with him first, but it wasn't something I was looking for. It's just—” she let out a dramatic sigh “—powerful.”
    “Honey, there was nothing ever between me and him. And I couldn’t be happier for you. Unless…” Eliza looked at her fingernails, frowning.
    “Unless what?”
    “Unless you and Bill could come to the party with me. Please? I could totally be happier then.” She used the potent combo of puppy eyes and a pout.
    Krista shook her head. “You can forget about it. You don’t even have to go. Just because you told Nate—”
    “Yes, just because I told him . I don’t want him to think he was right.”
    “But, Eliza, he was !” Krista put her book aside, stood, and approached her. “We’re not in high-school any more. You should be doing things for you now. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”
    Eliza nodded. “You’re right. I know you are.” Still, she ironed her favorite backless top. She’d go and she’d look stunning. And she’d do that for herself.
    ***
    The party didn’t disappoint; it was exactly as horrible as Eliza had expected it to be.
    Cal had grabbed her arm the moment she’d walked through the door, and wouldn’t let go until he’d introduced her to pretty much every single one of his friends.
    “This is Eliza ,” he’d say with a wink.
    Every wink made her want to elbow him in the gut.
    She’d already been there for an hour, and Nate hadn’t shown up—not that she was constantly looking at