The Truth About Faking

kiss me on the cheek.
    I lay my head back against the tree and think of nothing. Just then I hear the sound of footsteps jogging toward me and jump. That was fast! Where’s my dress? I grab it and jump into it, jerking it up and pulling the zipper. It’s strapless, so I don’t have any problems getting it on before Jason appears.
    “I thought that was your bike,” he says.
    “My bike!” Understanding washes over me.
    “What’s going on? Where’s your date?”
    I sit down again and lean against the tree. “I dropped him off at home.”
    “You guys have a fight or something?”
    “No. I think it’s just one of those things. One of those he’s not that into me things or something.”
    “Oh.” Jason sits beside me and puts his arm across my shoulders. I lean my head back on it, and I can’t tell if it’s being with him or the creek, but I feel warm and calm now. As if all the things that had been pressing on my mind can wait for little while.
    “So what was all that with Shelly?” I ask, gently elbowing his ribs. “You bringing her to our spot?”
    “Like you brought Trent?”
    “What?”
    “Yeah, I saw you out here with him.”
    I glance away, remembering Ricky’s car parked in front of my house last Saturday.
    “I didn’t really want to go back to my house that night,” I say. “But it wasn’t like… I don’t know.”
    “No Truth or Dare?”
    I shake my head no, and we’re quiet. My thoughts are on that night, being here with him.
    “I saw your bike and slowed down. Next thing I know, Shelly’s jumping out of the car.”
    “I almost saw you na-ked,” I sing-song.
    “I’dve kept my shorts on,” he says. “So what are you doing out here?”
    “Nothing.”
    “That how your hair got wet?” he lifts one of my damp locks and then lets it fall back.
    “You gave me the idea.” I look back at the water. We’re quiet again, listening to the soft sound of the currents trickling by.
    “I had this dream that I was swimming in the creek and something pulled me under.” I don’t know why I’m telling him this.
    “And that made you want to get in it?”
    “No. I just… I wanted to get away from everything, and it seemed like a good way to relax.”
    I feel his arm tighten around my shoulders, and I lean forward and put my other arm around his waist. He kisses the top of my head and I look up. I want a real kiss, and I get one, too. Electric and tingly, his lips gently push mine apart, and I catch a faint taste of mint as his tongue touches mine. A warm pulse pushes through me with each heartbeat, and I drop my head against his shoulder to catch my breath. Jason’s kisses are the best. We’re quiet a moment, and I listen to him breathing and the water flowing past.
    “So what did Shelly think about you living out here?” I ask, resting my chin on his shoulder and watching the water flow past.
    “It hasn’t come up.”
    I sit back to study his face. I have to get to the bottom of this mystery. “What’s the deal?”
    He takes his arm from around me and starts picking at his palm. “I told you,” he says, looking at his hand. “I don’t want people thinking I’m just some arrogant rich kid.”
    I slide my hand over his. “Why do you just assume that’s what they’ll think?”
    He looks at the creek and doesn’t answer. Very unusual for Jason.
    “Tell me.” I lace our fingers and notice him grasp my hand in return. “Was it a girl?” I’m actually not sure I want to know that.
    He looks back and our eyes meet. Then he smiles. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you.”
    “Is that good or bad?”
    He laughs softly and looks down again. “It’s very good.”
    Warmth fills my middle, and I squeeze his hand. He squeezes mine back, and I smile.
    “But you still haven’t told me. Why all the secrecy?”
    “Harley,” he groans.
    “What?”
    He glances at me a second, then he exhales. “Back home, it was like… Dad makes good money, right? So I got pushed into this group, and it was all about the money and the status. They didn’t care about me.” He pauses a moment. “Then the other kids, the ones who didn’t have as much, acted like I was too good for them or something. But I never changed. It was messed up.”
    I think about how friendly and outgoing he is. “That must’ve been hard for you,” I say.
    “It sucked. I just wanted to have fun. Like I do with you. And then when Mom died… I didn’t belong anywhere.”
    I look down, biting