Getting too comfortable next to the fire

Cassidy could almost taste his lips. The same lingering feeling her dream had left on her after waking up, making her feel dizzy, as the guy in question was a whisper away from a kiss.

She felt tempted of stealing that kiss. So tempted, she could almost feel guilty about it.

The thrill she felt in her whole body made her make up her mind.

Her eyes narrowed a little, letting him know what she was about to do.

And he couldn't be more into it as well.

Their faces, finally moved to cut the little distance between them.

"These youngsters, they don't know there's a place and time for those kinds of things" They heard a loud, raspy voice beside them when their lips were barely starting to touch.

Snapping them back from the trance they were in, and pulling their bodies away from the other in a split second, they felt like their hearts were about to explode.

Their faces, blushed and hot, darted towards the couple of elders looking at them in disapproval.

"In our times, we'd have to sneak to kiss someone. Even if it was only on the cheek." The old man said, shaking his head.

"C'mon, Harold. You not only had to meddle in their business, but also embarrass them." The old woman beside him pushed him slightly with her side. Then, she looked at them apologetically. "I'm so sorry. You looked so lovely together."

Cassidy covered his mouth with the back of his hand, biting his lip. Kyle, even though he was indeed embarrassed as he has never been before, smiled.

"N—No, don't worry about it." He glanced at Cassidy. "I can always steal that kiss another time."

Cassidy snorted. "I was the one stealing the kiss, if you didn't notice." She said, half smiling.

The old woman laughed. "It's so good to be young!" She exclaimed, taking her husband's arms. "You were so bold when we were young…" Her voice lingered, remembering something.

The old man frowned, then glanced at Kyle and Cassidy. "Sorry for the interruption." He cleared his throat. "Have a nice time… And I know it's none of my business, but don't take that long next time."

Kyle laughed, nodding. "Of course."

Both elders waved goodbye, walking away, the old man still talking about how 'bold' he STILL was.

The silence they left only made Cassidy and Kyle feel more awkward. Now that the haze had dissipated, they were a little too self-conscious of their actions. What they were about to do.

When did the tension turned from 'someone I don't like or trust' had become into a more 'I might want to kiss you'?

Kyle cleared his throat, taking her out of her thoughts.

"You hungry?" He asked, glancing back at her.

His nonchalant question made her burst into laughter, letting a tear roll down her cheek. He looked at her, frowning.

"What?"

She raised a hand, asking him to wait, as she couldn't even breathe. Her melodious laughter made him laugh a little himself; felling a tad more relaxed.

"Really? That's the only thing that came to mind?" She said between laughs, as fast as she could catch her breath.

"You got something better?" He asked her, watching her dry the tear off.

She shook her head, with a huge smile on her face. She found it somewhat cute.

"No." She made a stop, looking at him. The embarrassment was not gone, but she felt she could live with that feeling for the time being. "You're right, I'm starving!"

After having lunch and hanging around for a while, they decided it was time to go. They heard some people talking on the news about what appeared to be a random thunderstorm approaching.

Kyle offered to take her home as it had already started to rain. He used the old excuse, saying public transportation was probably a mess because of the rain; even though he just wanted to spend some more time with her.

Cassidy didn't say anything about that, either.

She just let it flow, getting inside his car.

The drive was a little hectic because of the rain. The excuse had turned into a rather annoying reality. It was still not heavy, yet there was a bit of traffic in the streets already. Inside, she thanked Kyle for offering taking her home.

After around forty-five minutes of traffic, Kyle finally parked in front of her house.

Rain was now pouring down, so Cassidy stayed a little more of time inside the car, making her calculations not to slip and fall on her ass while trying to get to the door.

Kyle looked at her.

"I can walk you…" He offered, but she shook her head before he could add something else.

"It's fine. I'm not as clumsy as I look like." She turned towards him, smiling. "Thanks for today, I had fun."

Kyle nodded, a smile forming on his lips. "Me too."

"Well—" Her voice lingered, expectant, as the words he said before invaded her most sane judgement.

He said he could steal the kiss any time, and that was exactly what she was expecting. But as seconds passed, she felt her heart betray her as it pounded heavily inside her chest.

"I'll see you around." She finally let out.

How many times today, already? Three times? Four? She couldn't even pronounce the words anymore, or even reply the nasty feeling of, again, disappointment.

She turned her back on him to open the door.

"Oh, by the way. I forgot to give you something." His voice turned her stomach.

Her eyes looked out for him, right when he smoothly leaned forward.

She couldn't move a muscle, for the moment it took her to process he was not in for the kiss she was dying for.

With a swift move, he stretched his arm to take something from the back seat, and placing it in her lap.

"Don't forget your candy." He said, eyeing the bright red bag.

Cassidy blinked a couple of times, glancing at the bag, then at him.

He couldn't help but smirk. "Remember? The reason you called me in the first place?"

And then, it hit her.

She had completely forgotten about the excuse she made up just to text him. This was the reason he was laughing at her right before the almost kiss they had. The inevitable wave of shame slapped her hard, so hard she could feel her cheeks growing hot.

How could have she forgotten?

It was either her brain lacking protein or it just wouldn't work properly around him. Either way, she was busted.

Her hands wrapped around the bag of candies, landing the most perfect prideful expression she could.

"These were not for me… That's why." She made up.

Kyle hummed, smiling mockingly. "I see… Don't mind it then." He rested his arm on the steering wheel. "Maybe you should take this chance, the rain is not so heavy right now."

Cassidy looked around and nodded.

"You're right! See ya!" She rushed out the words with a tight smile, getting out of the car in a second.

Kyle laughed watching her running under the rain, wondering what kind of face would she put when she found out.

After seeing her open her front door and getting in, he finally drove off to his place.

Cassidy, on the other hand, couldn't help feeling the spoils of the embarrassment she felt before. Not even after a long, hot shower. In fact, it only made her relive the whole thing over and over again.

She threw herself on the bed, sighing.

Biting her lower lip, she unblocked her phone, going straight to his profile picture.

She looked at his picture with disdain, her pride too hurt it even felt sore. After stabbing him mentally a hundred times, she closed his profile picture, going back to their chat.

Out of habit, she re-read the couple of messages there were in.

'Hey, those candies you eat all the time. Where do you buy them? I'm cravin' some.'

She read the last part once more. 'I'm craving some.'

She held her breath for a moment, his laugh ringing in the back of her mind. Her eyes closed tightly as she grabbed the nearest pillow and placed it over her face; screaming all her frustration —and stupidity— out of her system.

She hated him… So, so much.