This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business companies, events or locals is entirely coincidental. 

No part of the publication and its associated content may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission of the author.

Copyright © 2015Leah Crichton

Chapter One

I kissed Finn Ellis before I ever uttered a single word to him. It was a dare--one that I'd accepted with the carelessness that comes along with being sixteen. The kind of reckless abandon brought on by final exams, year-end parties and sweet summer flings. 

I hadn't realized that a single kiss could alter me so completely, that it could define me. That it would be so undeniably electric that I'd feel the air shift with some invisible cosmic force, pulling me into a part of myself I never knew existed.

I didn't know any of these things until that kiss.

June 2008  

Summer temperatures in Riverside border on unbearable. To make it worse, Brittney's air conditioner crapped out two weeks before the heat-wave so we all pile into her car; willing to suffer through the inferno because Wheeler Boyle is hosting the 'it' party of the year and anyone who is someone shows up there.

The odds of arriving at Wheeler's house without a serious farmer's tan are slim given that the universe is conspiring against us and we are hitting every red light in the city. We are only a mile or so away from our destination when a shiny black Chevy rolls to a stop beside us.

A sharp intake of breath comes from Talla's side of the car. "Oh. My. God. Check out that inventory."

For a tenth of a second, I think she means the car until my eyes fix on its driver. His hair is shorter on the sides, longer on the top and windblown in a sexy and disheveled mess that is suggestive of a roll in bed.  His profile is absurdly proportional, with strong lines and features; an artist's dream no doubt and his lips jut out in a pout that women I know would kill for. He leans into the seat, so relaxed he looks as though he may be considering a nap instead of a drive.

"Yeah," I say, "he's cute."

Brittney tugs her visor down, applies her crimson lipstick and puckers her lips. "Darling please, that boy is flawless. I think I just got pregnant looking at him."

"He's cute," I say again, "but he's not like--a God or anything."

"Right," Brittney says, "As if you wouldn't jump all over the chance to kiss him."

"I bet," Talla adds, "that his lips are seriously addictive."

"I bet they're just like everyone else's lips." My thought from a few moments prior contradicts this statement but there is really no point in ogling some untouchable boy.

"I bet they're impossible to get away from."

I scoff. "Seriously, the two of you are ridiculous."

"Look at his lips," Talla practically shouts, "they're unfathomably sexy!"

"They're just lips."

Talla cuts in, her voice firm and challenging. "If they're just lips then I dare you to kiss him."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me. Kiss him. If you think you can walk away that easily, why not put your little theory to the test?"

"That's stupid."

"What's the matter, Delany, are you scared?" 

I laugh and look at her incredulously. "You want me to kiss him?"

"Yes. Kiss him," she repeats. "As in put your lips on his, maybe slip him a little tongue."

I look out the window. "You're insane."

"And you're terrified that I am right and you are wrong."

"Am not," I say stiffly, "If he's at the next red light, I'll do it."

What am I thinking? Part of me hopes that in the few meters that separate one set of stoplights from the next, his car will evaporate completely, disappear as if we are driving through the Bermuda Triangle.

The other part hopes he'll still be there. I can do this.  

My hand is on the seat belt release before Brittney has even stopped. As soon as the car stills, I bolt from our vehicle to the drivers side of his.

His brows knit down in confusion as I make frantic gestures with my hands imploring him to roll down the window. When he does, I fold my body in half, sticking my head in through the window. The icy cool air of his air conditioner is both welcomed and shocking.

"Are you alrigh-"

I don't let him finish before I cover his mouth with mine. It is gentle at first, nothing more than fluttery peck but to my surprise he grabs my chin with his hand and bites my bottom lip, slipping his tongue in my mouth. He links the fingers of his other hand through my hair.

My heart hammers against my rib-cage, my head spins and my knees almost buckle underneath me. If my life were a movie, this would be the part where the entire series of events happens in slow motion. The moment the world simply ceases to be anything except for him and me. 

And just like that, it is over.

I pull away, seeing a smile of amusement that reaches his eyes, which I can now see are ice blue.

"Hi there."

I give him a sheepish grin. "Hello."

"What's your name? I'm Finn."

I see the stoplight perpendicular to ours turn yellow. "I gotta go, Finn. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance." With that, I plant one more kiss on his cheek, seeing as how I've basically tossed all formalities out the window and take off back to the car where Brittney and Talla are howling with laughter.

"What was it like?" Brittney asks.

"Amazing," I say.

"Would you do it again?"

"In a heartbeat."

"I'm so jealous," Talla declares.

"I can't believe you went through with it," Brittney says. "In fact, I think you're my hero."

I sink back in the chair wondering if I could have predicted what that kiss was going to be like, would I have done it? It's still the topic of conversation as Brittney squeezes her car between Wheeler's pickup and a giant poplar tree in his yard proving she has exemplary parallel parking skills.

We all jump out and head toward the door when a deep voice comes from behind us. "Hey."

My eyes must be as round as softballs and I freeze. "That's him." I whisper. "The stoplight guy, Finn."

Brittney hikes her purse up to her shoulder. "Later sweetheart, you're on your own."

"Jealous," Talla repeats her earlier thought.

"This is your fault," I say through clenched teeth. "Entirely your fault."

Finn's strides are long and purposeful; the distance between us shrinking fast. "Hey," he yells again. "I'm talking to you. To the girl with no name."

After being ditched by Brittney and Talla and left with no other alternative, my cheeks scorch as I spin to face him. "I'm--"

I'm about to apologize when he cuts me off. "I wasn't done with you yet."

"Excuse me?"

He stalks closer, like a predatory cat. Locks of his hair, painted light by the sun, fall in his eye at the same time the corners of his mouth twist up. "Excuse me says the girl who kisses strangers."

Before I can form any kind of response, his body is flush against mine and he's walking, ushering me until my back presses flat against Wheeler's truck. 

I don't object.

I don't want to.

This is certifiable. Impetuous. Perfect.

His hands make fast work of finding the back of my thighs and hoisting me off the ground, wrapping my legs around his waist. Before those lips touch mine for the second time, he smiles. "What's your name?"

"Delany," I say a little more breathlessly than I'd hoped. "My name is Delany."

"Delany," he repeats. "I like that." He moves so close, that his breath tickles my face, in an enticing promise of what is to come. "Well Delany, you're the girl I'm going to love until forever."