THE KISS

CELESTIA

This man, what does he think of himself!? I could take care of myself if I want. I dont need him to take care of me especially after he behaved with me that way.

I was still thinking about coming up with a reply when I heard a knock at the door.

Since Mom and Dad went out for shopping, i went and opened the door.

And there he stood. Noah. My chest bursts with tingles.

"I...uh...I bought you food" He said with one hand in his hair and the other holding the bag with food.

"Noah..you- I said I wasn't hungry!" I said angrily instead.

"But you didn't eat anything since the morning...have something Ella"

How could he be so caring and cold at the same time? He is very confusing. I calm my anger down and step forward to get the bags from him and to offer him to come inside, but me being clumsy...I stumbled on the step and fell on Noah.

I fall onto Noah with a thud. It took me a while to realise my lips were on his. Currents of electricity passed through me. His lips were soft, had a minty taste. Before I realised what I was doing, I kissed him.

And he kissed me back. We pulled back to breath and it struck me how awkwardly we were on each other. I get up quickly. And Noah gets up too.

"I-uhh I am sorry"he says and with that he leaves. He left. We just kissed and he left. Well not actually kissed...but we did.

I storm back to my room. Where I sit down and think about what just happened.

I still couldn't believe I just kissed my crush. I gave my first kiss to Noah.

Oh. My. God. I felt happy about it, but I dont think it was the same for Noah. He went out as if he was disgusted. I felt a pang of pain in my heart.

NOAH

I sit in the car. Still. What just happened? I kissed Ella!

I have kissed a lot of women, but this was something different. It felt like we had and instant connection within us.

I couldn't have liked it. No. There's no way I liked the kiss. This girl has been messing my mind up. Ever since I saw her, it felt different than from others.

But what I was most guilty about was that I kissed her, I liked it, I like her but I don't want anything serious.

I'm sure Ella would think about being with me, maybe. But we can't. I'm gonna have to make my distance now. For our own good.

I drive the car in a full speed to the place no one knows. I never share that place with anyone, except for Xavier who knows about it.

I get out of the car as soon as I reach the green landscape, a lake in the middle, trees around the lake, and the birds that chirped made it pleasant to the ears. I scream out loud. It's been days since I did that.

*Past*

"Hi Noah baby, what you doin?" Aveline asks me through the phone.

"You know where I am, dont you, but you're still asking" I smile.

"I do know where you are, Noah, see, I know this is hard, for you and for me...but we'll go through it together"

"Ave, you are the bravest person I know. I...know I'm not being supportive, but I cant help it. I'm worried about you....Cancer is a serious disease babe, I'm gonna get the worlds best doctors for you...I'm Gonna make sure you are okay"

"I know, baby...I'm not going anywhere" This were her last words to me, before she died, the same day. I couldn't even meet her.

*PRESENT*

I sit in silence, as I recall my last memory with Aveline.

Even in her last breaths, she was brave, braver than me. And me, I couldn't even be with her.

The guilt has never left me, never will.