Okay. Clarification. The story takes place in a theater. It is not a play. They are just sitting on the stage. She does not shift to a bed. She falls asleep in the theater. Now we are clear.
Seth laughed- a hearty chuckle-and hauled himself onto the stage. I didn't know where Rose was- Probably off making sure Nero isn't being an idiot again, I thought with a mental shrug. Seth swayed theatrically and bumped me, complete with a slow motion "Nooo...!" I reacted with a slow motion, overly dramatic fall and an "Aaah!"
Even before I could touch the stage, Seth caught my arm and pulled me up. Somehow, I managed to fall out of his grasp and land on the side of my face, even though I had been sitting up. Seth laughed again.
"You are absolutely the most adorable klutz I know, you know that?" he said. He then seemed to realize his words.
"Oh. Shiz. Did I say that out loud?" he continued, in almost a whisper. I nodded, blushing profusely.
"Oh." he mumbled, looking incredibly scared for a man -er, boy- of his stature. His phone buzzed. In a movement as fast as a bullet, it was open, then closed again.
"I have to go." he mumbled. "See you tomorrow." He hesitated, then in one fell swoop, he kissed me.
It was the lightest of lip contact-a butterfly kiss- but it sent electricity through my veins. My eyelashes barely had time to flutter before it was over. To be honest, that was how I preferred it: short, light, and full of impact. (Ha. Preferred it? Who was I kidding, that was totally my first kiss!)
"Bye, Codz." he whispered in my ear. In a fluid movement, he was out the door, and I was left sitting on the edge of the stage with my heart going a hundred miles an hour. I giggled, and like any cliche I'd ever heard, touched a finger to my lips. And then, like a tidal wave of realization, I remembered what had just happened.
I remembered the feel of his breath, unusually cool, on my cheek, his fingers on my jaw, his hair on my forehead- Cut it out, Codi. my common sense snapped, apparently wakened from the nap she had been taking during the -wince- kiss. Suddenly, I was blushing. I kissed someone. I kissed someone- Seth, no less! Seth, my best guy friend. Black haired, cobalt eyed Seth. Seth, who could always make me laugh, who understood me in every way, who I never had thought I liked like that. Would I -could I- tell anyone? No, I decided. This was a private thing.
I swung my legs over the edge of the side of the stage and lay flat on my back, staring up at the beams, curtain tracks, and blinding fluorescent lights, trying to make my mind go blank. It would be easier that way. But I couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened, and all the times (oh dear, the improv skit earlier today) something like this had nearly happened. Why hadn't I realized I liked him like that before? Whatever the reason, I knew now. Tomorrow, I would see him at Rose's party, and he would make me laugh again, and this moment would fade, and Seth would just be Seth again- but I would know.
A wandering crew member broke me from my reverie. I hurriedly jumped up and scurried to the corner just at the base of the stairs. I shook my head. I was tired of thinking. I forced my mind to empty and closed my eyes, humming a tune I didn't recognize. My thoughts turned fuzzy, and I became less aware of the theater. My head rolled over to the side. Do you want to know the last two words I thought before I fell asleep right there, at the base of the short staircase, downstage left?
Butterfly kiss.
)
