“I had told him to prove it, the kiss meant nothing and as for him telling me he loves me, it’s as a friend,” I explained, trying not to look as disappointed as I felt, she dropped the subject there.
James
I still couldn’t believe who was walking home with me after everything. I couldn’t stop staring at Mickey, she looked so incredibly hot in her earthy hippie skirt and tank top, that showed off part of her tight stomach, and was all toned and warm looking. I quickly averted my eyes to my feet as she caught me staring at her again.
“How’s it going with you and Laura?” she asked suddenly, a weird expression on her face, one that confused me. Was she jealous? No, not Mickey unfortunately, she was never jealous except for once apparently, I still had to figure out what that was about.
“Fine,” I said curtly, I sounded secretive even to my own ears but what was I supposed to say. I don’t know, we never talk, I hardly ever see her, I don’t know her, or even like her or she’s just not you!
“That’s good.” She smiled. My eyes focused on her smile, her full lips that were naturally pink, curving up at the corners. I never saw Laura or any of the girls in my group smile naturally like that, without trying to look seductive or superior.
“So, you and Derek, what’s that about?” I asked, turning the tables and being annoyed without thinking. I hated seeing them together, at lunch, in gym, the guy drove me nuts, especially since I knew he was a good guy. I guess I should be happy for her, but unfortunately, I wasn’t.
“Derek?” she asked in surprise. “We’re not together, we’re just friends.” She blushed.
“Oh, it doesn’t look like that from here and aren’t you going out with him on Saturday?” I asked very jealous now. He was playing his cards right. Mickey loved animals; it was obvious she would go.
“To a farm, as friends,” she summarized like I was being silly. “And lots of people say the same about us and look how wrong they are, we’re just friends,” she said softly but it sounded like a question. Friends? Are we? Neither of us had said it out loud yet. Were we still best friends?
“Well, you two should go out,” I told her, lying through my teeth. She didn’t look happy when I said that but she nodded, her smile vanishing.
“Okay. I mean, I guess there’s nothing stopping me,” she said, both looking and sounding sad. We walked up the path to my house and stopped on the porch before going in, I wished I’d never brought Derek up.
“Sorry for anything awkward that’s going to happen.” I smiled before opening the door; mom was already in the mudroom waiting.
“Mickey!” she squealed throwing her arms around her, we both laughed.
“Hi,” Mickey said, returning the hug and looking truly happy.
“Oh, I missed your visits, how have you been sweetie?” mom asked her. Mickey was like another daughter to her and I guess she was another mother for Mickey too.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time. I’m doing all right, you?” I could tell she was hiding something the whole time they chatted, finally I stole Mickey away, bringing her to my room. I watched as she looked around, probably noticing all the changes, like I had in her room. Did she care like I did?
“What happened to all your Star Wars memorabilia,” she asked marvelling. I blushed and pulled a box out from under my bed, inside was all my special stuff. She opened the box and pulled out a stack of pictures, I had forgotten that I hid a lot of pictures of us in there as well. She smiled at me and looked at them laughing at all the funny ones of us.
“I’m a little embarrassed now,” I said, unable to hid my blush.
“Why?” she laughed, looking at another picture of us before looking up to me. “I have tons of pictures of us.” She smiled and then it wasn’t awkward anymore. I was happy she told me and admitted it; even though I had already seen for myself.
“I have something of yours,” I told her and went to the back of my closet and pulled out a box that held all of Mickey’s family videos of her and her parents. I felt bad for not telling her sooner and keeping them, I knew she was probably still distraught. I was being selfish to have kept them as long as I did, I just wanted to watch them and see that secret part of her life again. I put the box in her arms and watched as she took out a tape, her shoulders shaking as the tears streamed down her cheeks. She carefully put the tape back and put the box on my bed before she dove into me. I wrapped my arms around her as she wept.
“I found them in the trash,” I told her, rubbing her quivering back.
“Thank you, thank you so much. I thought I lost them forever,” she said, looking up at me, her face soaked. Mickey was tough, tougher than most girls and guys but whenever she needed me, I was there, and vice versa. She looked at me, her unique and beautiful eyes no longer wet and then she just kissed me. I had dreamt about Mickey kissing me like this millions of times. She’d kissed me in the past plenty but only ever the cheek, the head, the hand, on a scrape or cut, this kiss was not like any of the others. It was only one kiss but it was long, smooth and soft and left me hungry for more. It felt like the most intimate thing I’d ever done and it was just a kiss, no tongue, no nothing. It
