I look down at her peaceful sleeping face for a moment. There is a dirty streak across her cheek and her hair is still tied up in a tangled mess on top of her head.

Turning away from her sadly, I walk up the steps to the immersion closet. I pull a thick comforter from the top shelve and then when I am standing next to her again, I drape it over her gently. She murmurs softly as she snuggles into the blanket. I turn to the television and I switch it off.

Quietly I make myself a toasted cheese sandwich. I carry the plate with my sandwich and a glass of Cranberry Juice up to my bedroom. Fluffing up my pillows, I lean them against the wall behind my bed, and then when I sit down on my bed, I lean my back against my pillows and bring my knees up. I take a bite of my sandwich as I select Shannon's name on my phone.

She answers after the second ring, her voice sounds groggy.

I ask, "Did I wake you"

" Uh, duh." I hear her fumble with something. "Gawd, Heather. It is like two in the morning." Sleepily she asks, "What's wrong then?"

Apologetically I say, "Sorry. I just needed to speak to someone."

She groans as she stretches. "Bout what?"

" Kieran." I actually hear her sit up straight on her bed.

" Yes?"

Advertisement..

" I kissed him."

She laughs softly. "Heather! You are such a slag! I swear you only met him yesterday."

Insulted, I defend myself, "Not yesterday. Friday."

" Well, then it is okay then. You met him two days ago."

" What's wrong with kissing him, miss high and mighty? Besides, he looks at me in this funny kind of way. I can't really describe it, but it is as if he knows me since forever."

" Did he say he loves you?"

" No! Why would he? Really, Shannon, you are being daft."

She laughs. "Did you then say you love him?"

" Please, Shannon! I do not have to love someone to kiss them, or do I? When did I fall into this alternate universe, where you think you have to love someone to kiss them? Besides, you know how I feel about love, more so now that my dad upped and left."

" Yeah, yeah." She says mockingly, "I will know when I love someone, and only then will I ever say it to anyone."

" Don't use my own words against me!"

" So?"

" So, what?"

She giggles. "Is he a nice kisser?"

I smile. "Yeah, kind of."

Seriously, she asks, "Were you there when your dad fetched his things?"




Most Popular