"What did?"
"The dream I had. It was when we were older and we had two kids with another on the way," she glanced down, putting her hand briefly on her stomach my eyes following her motion. "Then I heard this girl's voice screaming in pain, screaming your name. The ear-piercing screeches and crying in pain will haunt me forever."
She closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly.
Me…Rachel…and three kids, shit! Yeah so didn't want to hear that at age sixteen and in high school.
"You were the one screaming in pain. Are you that afraid of being stuck like this and having kids?" I continued my voice nearly cracking, where did that question come from?
"I wasn't in pain though, Nick." She completely ignored my question.
I stared at Rachel in which made her turn to gaze away from me, but to the window. She bolted up and ran outside in such a rush that she didn't close the door behind her. I went to the door to see what was there, thinking it was our parents by how happy Rachel was. She was twirling around in about a foot of snow, her head tilted backwards and her arms outstretched to the sides. She was giggling. I leaned against the doorframe with my arms crossed over my chest watching her like she was a kid again. I couldn't help but smile at her. I was about to go out too, but thought otherwise since the t-shirt and the air felt cool against the rest of my arms. She had to be freezing.
"Come in before you get sick."
Rachel turned and grinned at me with it starting to snow more around her. Fluffy snowflakes just like the night before. She marched into the house, shaking while she rushed to the couch, grabbing the fleece blanket to wrap around her. I took a step closer to Rachel after closing the door and started to rub my hands up and down her arms to try to warm her faster. While rubbing her arms I started to lean in to kiss her. I wanted to feel those soft lips of hers on mine again. A kiss would warm her up and I would have an excuse to bring her close to me. And what does she do?
Rachel sneezed right near my face. There went the moment right out of the window. The sneeze echoed through our home.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry," she shrieked, bringing her hands to her face with the blanket still in her grip just like a cape enveloping her body.
"It is okay."
Not really. It is never okay to sneeze in one's face when they are trying to kiss you.
Rachel left the room as I rubbed my face to make sure she didn't get me and saw she came back with a camera. I do not remember her ever bringing that out before, nor did I know her parents packed that. Maybe she had it with her on the trip? Her friends seemed like the type to want to take group shots on a trip. Rachel put an arm around me and I put an arm around her without her having to ask. I looked at her because I couldn't believe she was asking for a picture right after she almost sneezed in my face when I was trying to start a kiss. She gave me the puppy face and I couldn't say no to those big emerald orbs. After rolling my eyes, I agreed.
"Smile, Nick."
She held the camera arms length away and pushed the little round button at the top. Then there was a flash.
"It's still Christmas, Nick," Rachel shrugged.
That was when an idea came to me.
"Hey, Rachel, take one more picture, okay?"
She didn't say anything, but took another picture. The second before she took the picture I caught her lips with mine and the camera flashed. Our lips slowly pulled apart with mine in a lopsided grin. I could see her cheeks had a faint pink tint to them as I little by little opened my eyes. That made my smirk grow more.
"Well night, Nick and Merry Christmas," she spoke, her face still a little red and glowing.
"Good night, Rachel. You sleep well tonight, alright?"
"Like I have any say in that?"
Rachel smiled and left the room to go to hers, her eyes lingering on mine before the wall hid her. I heard the door close quietly behind her. Then I slept myself, making up for last night’s lack of sleep.
"Nick you said you wanted to go to your friend Mark's party." Rachel laughed, as she was wandering around.
"Yeah, but these aren't the kind of parties you'd like. There's a lot of alcohol, sometimes drugs, very loud music, very close sweaty dancing, and make out or sex rooms. God they're a lot of fun," I started, and I raised an eyebrow as I tried to get her to look into my eyes. "But I don't want to go."
She raised a brow at me before she moved her head left to right, slightly shaking her head. Rachel stopped walking around all over the place so that she was standing right in front of me.
"I know that, but you said this would be a good way to escape the whole marriage thing for a little bit," Rachel stated, her voice all knowing so that she could shove my own words in my face.
Rachel leaned over my shoulder to push the tag back under my shirt and brushed some of my brown bushy hair back so that I could smell the light flowery smell of her shampoo that I loved. I was so comfortable around her. I put my arms around her waist with a small lopsided grin on my face. Keeping her close to me as her smile just grew.
"Please," I begged.
"No we're going."
"Please."
I let my blue eyes grow big with the puppy face effect.
"Please Rachel."
"That doesn't work on me."
Rachel giggled then just grinned. I planted
