“This probably isn’t the best time to bring this up, but I was never too big on doing what’s appropriate, so, um, I’m gonna try to say this without sounding like too much of a jerk.” My eyes widened, surprised at the words that had flown out of my mouth without me giving them my blessing. Taylor raised his eyebrows and nodded, and I continued, willing myself to look at my friend and not the table- I was having major eye-contact issues lately. “I’m scared.”
Confusion clearly read in Taylor’s eyes, but I cut him off before he could ask me where my fears stemmed from.
“I’m scared because...I know our friendship had completely twisted itself around, and I don’t know how. Believe me, I’ve tried to figure out how, but I can’t, and I don’t even care. Because it doesn’t even make a difference anymore. I’m scared because I know things can’t go back to the way they used to be, and I don’t even think I want them to be the way they used to be.” I reddened, and looked down again.
“Abs,” said Taylor slowly. “What exactly are you telling me here?”
“I’m telling you-” I stopped, realizing words were failing me utterly, as they had never failed me before. So, using courage I wasn’t aware that I possessed, I stood up, walked around the table, and kissed my lifelong friend right on the lips, in the middle of the cafeteria in Jenks General Hospital.
For a terrifying moment, Taylor didn’t respond, and every ounce of self-doubt I had flooded my mind. And then he kissed me back.
We stood there for a long time, Taylor and I, or maybe it was just a few seconds. I couldn’t tell you. After a while, I was sure that the adults in the room were whisperng about “those horny kids”, but I didn’t care. They didn’t matter...
“Hey, Taylor!”
It was the second time a voice had interrupted us, but this one was filled with elation (if surprised elation), not smoldering fury. We broke apart, and there stood Isaac.
“It’s a girl!”
“No kidding!” said Taylor, who hugged his brother, then turned and kissed me. He turned back to Ike. “Is Dad here?”
“Yeah, he only got here a few minutes ago. In time, though.”
I smiled. “That’s good.”
Taylor took my hand. “Ike, we’ll meet you upstairs in a minute, okay?”
Isaac nodded, smirking slightly. “Yeah, sure.” He headed towards the elevator, and Taylor and I embraced again.
“It’s not gonna be easy, you know,” I whispered.
“I never expected it to be.”
