"Yes!" - I've never been happier to see a word in my entire life. I look at Brynn and wait. She's still staring at it almost in disbelief. "Hey?" I say, tilting her chin up to look at me. She looks scared and my happiness deflates. She doesn't want this. I'm an idiot.

I let me hand fall and take a step back. "No worries, I get it." Just keep smiling. Try to act like it's no big deal. I hate feeling this stupid. "I, uh, I should get going the bell is going to ring soon if it hasn't already and I need to get to practice."

"Finn, wait!" Brynn says, grabbing my wrist as I've already started walking away. "I, um..." she lets out this heavy sigh and her cheeks flush. She's embarrassed. "Finn, I...a...I've... Augh! Why is this so hard?" she growls.

Realization dawns. "Brynn, have you..." shaking my head it all seems too crazy to think. "Have you never been..."

Her eyes won't meet mine. She looks to be a cross between mortified and angry. "Kissed?" she finishes for me, "No... well once in the second grade but I doubt that counts."

I couldn't help but laugh. I know this is the improper response but she's so darn cute and that comment about second grade didn't help.

She lets me go and says, "Yeah, I get it. I'm lame. Why would you want to kiss me, a lame girl who's nearly eighteen and never really been kissed?"

Now, SHE was walking away.

"Oh, no you don't," I say, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around. "You don't get off that easily, the Ball said, "Yes" remember?" I tease holding her loosely in my arms.

"So, you'll kiss me because my Magic Eight Ball told you so?" she asks annoyed, but I'm happy she doesn't try and push me away or duck under my arm.

"Well, it does owe me one. But no, I'll kiss you because I want to kiss you. The real question is... Brynn, do you want to be kissed by me?"

She looks up at me and she looks nervous again, and she opens her mouth but words don't come out, she closes it. She tries this a second time, and quickly gives up and then, to my surprise, nods her head, yes.

My heart does a jump shot in my chest and I pull her in a little closer. I like how she feels in my arms. I thought with her being so short it be awkward but somehow we're a perfect fit. I run my fingers through her hair, brushing it off her shoulder. I bring my fingers back to her face and force her to look up at me. I can't keep from smiling at her. She just makes me so happy.

She looks nervous and a little scared. I run my thumb over her lips and instinctively she darts her tongue out over them. Its funny how one simple movement can bring back all the tension of a moment ago. Leaning in to kiss her, I'm shocked as she beats me to it. Our lips briefly touch. She is kissing me and then all to quickly pulls back.

When our eyes meet I can see she looks proud of herself and I laugh. "Want to try that again?" I chuckle, and she nods. This time I didn't wait for her to make the move but moved in first, our lips came crashing together, and we laugh.

"It's not a race, Brynn." I say, against her mouth and I lay claim to her lips again. Her arms tighten around my waist and my hands weave into her hair, holding her in place, I can feel the heat of her cheeks in the palm of my hands. Her lips are so soft and I kiss her long and slow.

She sighs, and I smile against her lips. "Better?" I ask still not moving away and she still only nods, which is difficult to do with her face in my hands. Her eyes are closed and she looks perfectly relaxed and dare I say, happy.

"Your turn," I tease and she doesn't even hesitate. She is a quick study and I realize, if she keeps kissing me like she doing right now things are going to get more serious pretty fast.

"Who's back here?" asks some voice off in the distance.

And I'm left bereft as Brynn pushes me away, wipes the back of her hand over her mouth and says, "Just me and well this guy."

A guy steps behind the curtain, his black bangs hanging in his face in a way that reminds me of some Japanese anime character. He took one look at me and then at Brynn and I half expected to him to whip out his samurai sword and challenge me to a duel of some sort.

"What the hell is he doing back here?" he asks Brynn.

"Relax Adam, he was just leaving."

"I am?" I say looking down at Brynn. Her eyes widen at me letting me know not to fight her on this but all I can think is I am truly disappointed.

"I'll walk him out," Adam says, taking another step towards us.

"That's okay? I'll see him out," Brynn says, but doesn't take my hand like she has every other time. Instead, she just walks over to the curtain and pushes it aside and waves her hand for me to follow.

Adam is shooting daggers at me and I shrug, thinking pretty much, "Whatever." and leave to follow Brynn. As we go down the steps. I follow behind her up the isle. "Any chance of you explaining what that was all about?"

She stops, turns around and makes a face at me like she's pondering my question very seriously, and then says, "Ah, Nope."

"Brynn," I say now stalking towards her. She just laughs and makes a mad dash for the doors.

I over take her in like point two seconds, as my legs are about three times as long as hers and grab hold of her waist. She screams and laughs as I pick her up off the ground and swing her around. It must be later than I thought as the hallways are deserted.

"Put me down," Brynn demands while still half laughing.

I sweep my arm up under her legs and now have her completely at my mercy. I pretend to ponder her question and say, "Ah, Nope."

"Finn Nash, put me down this second," she says, trying to wiggle out of my arms.

"Careful," I warn. "You keep wiggling like that and I'm liable to drop you." This works and she stops struggling.

"So, what do I have to do for you to let me put my feet back on the ground?" she inquires, looking quite stern with her arms crossed as I hold her in my arms like a small child.

"Hmmm, let me think? Another kiss perhaps? No, that's too easy. You are at my mercy now and I probably won't get this chance again. Especially with you being a ninja and all...."

"Finn," she says my name in the most threatening way she can muster.

"Got it! I'll let you down on one condition," I say, enjoying the way her temper is making her eyes sizzle and spark.

"What?" she asks, "But don't think you won't end up on my hit list after this."

I laugh and squeeze her tight which makes her squeal again. "A date with me. Saturday night. I'd say Friday but I got a game. So, what you say, Brynn? One date in exchange for your freedom?"

"Hmmm," she says pondering the question in that cute way again, "Ah, Yep!"

My stomach flips. I'm so excited. What a day! I slowly slide her body down mine and although her feet have made it to the ground I still refuse to let her go. She doesn't really look in a hurry to get anywhere either and we spend a few seconds just looking at one another. I wish I knew what it was about her. There is something, and now I'll get the chance to figure it out.

"Thank you for saying, yes," I say, to her playing with her hair again, which causes another shiver to come over her.

"To the kiss or the date?" she asks, looking up at me shyly.

"Both actually," I say, hugging her a little closer to me.

"Don't thank me yet. You may come to regret this, Finn Nash," she says with serious look to her eyes.

"If your kiss is any indication of what I have to look forward to being in your company... I'll take my chances." She blushes and I can't hide my grin. "Give me you number. I'll call you with details once I have a clear enough brain to think of them."

"I don't have a cell. Just give me your number and I'll call you Friday night and you can fill me in," Brynn says, pulling out of my arms to grab a notepad and pen from her bag.

Immediately, I feel the loss of her not being in my arms. I don't like it. She may be right. Brynn is like no one I have ever known before and I have a feeling, deep in the pit of my stomach, she's a keeper and that thought scares me a little. Not that I feel that way about her already, but that the feeling is so intense. I have no clue if she would feel the same.

"Here." She hands me the book and pen and I jot down my number and hand it back to her.

"There you are! Coach has me looking all over for you!" Tyler says, running up to us.

"Hey! I'll be right there," I tell him. Looking back to Brynn, I say, "See you tomorrow. At the bus stop?"

"We'll see," she says noncommittally, which makes me crazy and she knows it. She has a positively mischievous smirk to her lips. I'd love to kiss that smirk, right off her face. Her cheeks flood with color and I reign myself in. I have to remember not to wear my feelings so close to the surface. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm an open book.

"Bye, Tyler!" Brynn says, waving to him and then before disappearing again behind the auditorium doors adds, "Uh, Tyler? Keep him out of trouble for me will you. He's a little bit accident-prone today," she laughs and lets the door close behind her.

Where's the love? I wonder. She says goodbye to my best friend and I don't even get a hug, a wave, a see ya. Nothing? Really? Just a departing shot before she vanishes. Well, she did warn me I may end up on her hit list and I smile.

"So, what was that about?" Tyler asked.

"That? That is a really interesting story. I'll fill you in on the way back to practice," I say, putting my arm around my best friend of all time.