How Green Becomes Wood

"You are handsome," Claire repeated, sounding a bit more confident that time. Then, she reached up to try touch his hair, and in doing so slipped nicely deeper into his arms. As he complimented her, her heart swelled inside her chest, and she kept one hand on his shoulder, even though her face was burning up, "You don't have to apologize... I... I like to hear you say things like that."
 
Alec's arms slipped around Claire so naturally. She fit there so perfectly as he held her close to him. As she rested her hand on his shoulder, he leaned down to her, drawing them closer together. "I like saying them because they are true," he murmured gently. They were so close together now, literally looking into each other's eyes. His heart pounded as he looked at her lips, wavering, tempted, but also terrified.
 
"I'm glad you came down to see me," Claire murmured shyly, settling her other hand on his shoulder. She couldn't believe this was happening: he was standing right there on his front stoop, with his arms around her. She was in her best friend's jacket and sneakers. From the way he was looking at her, she hoped she could guess what he was thinking. She didn't know how to properly signal to him how much she hoped he would, but she parted her lips just slightly, and whispered, "I think... Maybe... I remember the name of that song."
 
That seemed like an odd thing to say at this moment, but he rolled with it. "What was the name?" he whispered in return, staring at her soft lips and wondering... no. Maybe he should ask? Or just try? Or perhaps her talking about the song was a way to distance them.
 
"Oh." Then the implication hit him. "Oh!" He swallowed, hesitating only an instant. It wasn't his first kiss, and yet, it felt like it was. This was a special moment and... and overthinking was going to doom it and himself. He leaned down and gently kissed Claire's perfectly done lips.
 
Fairly certain she could see fireworks going off, even with her eyes shut, or at least hear music or something else magical, Claire stretched up onto her toes to melt into this kiss. Unlike Alec, this one was her first, and it was so much better than she could have ever dreamed it would be. So many of her friends had told her it'd be kind of bad, or disappointing, but those were not the words that came to her mind. She may as well have left the ground, and although she couldn't quite tell, it wouldn't have surprised her if one of her feet did.

It was over too soon, she thought, and after they parted, she opened her wide, shining eyes and gazed up at him, a pretty blush spread over her pale face. There wasn't a single thought coherent sentence she could find the words to say because she was too utterly overwhelmed with joy.
 
Alec was lost in a wonderland of color and delight. Nothing he'd ever experienced before could come close to this. It was... incomparable. His arms drew her body close to his, holding her tenderly and never wanting to let her go. But all things must come to an end, and when it felt natural, he let them draw apart. He gazed down at her face, even more adorable with its faint blush, her eyes shining brightly.

"Wow!" he whispered, the word barely more than a breath. "That was... wow." He wanted to pull her in for another one, but he was afraid it might be the end of them both. He brushed a hand over her cheek, debating on pulling her in for another kiss, and reality jolted through his high-flying thoughts. "Oh, you are chilled!"
 
"I'm okay," She lied, not quite wanting to go back yet despite knowing she was getting pretty cold. It was late, and although Sloan's jacket was doing a lot, her dress underneath was still fairly thin. "Alec?"
 
Alec's eyes widened. "Yes!" he blurted. "I mean, I would be incredibly honored. If you'd like that. I would love to say that you're my girlfriend. If that's okay, and if I can be your boyfriend."
 
"I really want that," Claire told him, squeezing his hand, "and I don't want to be the kind of girl who goes around kissing guys she's not dating, anyway."

She might've said something more, but then she caught sight of two flashes of light from Sloan's window, "I have to go, I think... but I'll text you! And I'll see you at school on Monday!"
 
"You too!" Claire said happily. Before she left, she stretched up to kiss him on the cheek, and then ran back to Sloan's house, sneaking back inside. Naturally, as soon as she made it back inside Sloan's bedroom, the practically fell over each other whispering excitedly at each other about everything that happened. They were nearer than ever to getting fussed at for being up too late, but they couldn't help it. It finally happened! They were boyfriend and girlfriend! He kissed her! Squeezing Sloan in the tightest hug she could manage, Claire kept repeating gratitude that Sloan convinced her to go out and try.

Meanwhile, once Alec came back inside, Dark was casually waiting in the hallway with a lamp flicked on, calmly drinking a cup of water and leaning against the railing to the staircase.
 
Alec watched Cliare go, a sappy smile on his face as she seemed to float away from him and to Sloan's house, her dress like a pink cloud around her. He turned and walked into the house, humming softly to himself as he did so. He had locked the door and kicked off his shoes before he saw Dark. His first thought was that he was in trouble for stepping out without saying anything, but he had no room in his heart to be scared of repercussions right now. He heaved a sigh that came from his toes, feeling on cloud nine.
 
"Sloan and Claire just got home a short while ago, and Claire wanted to say hello to me," Alec said. "Gosh, she was so pretty!" His face was practically glowing at the memory. "We stood and talked for a while and..." He blushed. "She had to go back. Probably before Sloan's mom realized she was gone."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top