�HEY YOU TWO! HOPE YOU GUYS AREN�T DOING ANYTHING BAD!!� came a singsong voice.
�Chris,� we chorused.
Reluctantly, we let go of each other and made our way down the stairs.
�There you 2 are. Did you hear me?� Chris asked.
�Duh we did. Your voice was like booming!�
�Cool!� he exclaimed.
�Where�s Justin?� Jessie asked.
�I think he�s doin� somethin� with Lance, Heather, and Joey.�
�Oh. Did he take his North Carolina jersey with him?� she asked hopefully.
�Yeah. He said he couldn�t trust anyone with it.�
�Oh. Ok.� She sighed.
�You wanted to wear it, didn�t you?� Chris asked, finally catching on.
�Yeah, but I can�t now. He took it.�
�HEY EVERYBODY!�
I spun around. �Oh. Hey guys. Where were you guys?�
�Out. So did I miss anything?� Justin called out.
�Nope,� Jessie and I said in unison.
He looked at us questionably, then turned back to normal.
I breathed a silent sigh of relief.
�What were you guys doin�?� asked Chris.
�We went out,� Heather repeated.
�No really what did you guys do?� I asked, getting curious.
�That would be like asking you and Jessie what you were doin�,� Justin pointed out.
I could feel a slight heat creep up my cheeks. �Ok. Forget it then.�
Justin laughed along with the others.
�So you did do somethin� up there,� Chris accused.
�Nothing really,� Jessie interrupted.
�Oh really?� Heather asked.
�Yeah. Now come on Heather. I wanna talk to you for a sec,� Jessie said, taking Heather to another part of the house.
I sat down on the couch.
�What did you do up there anyway?� Lance asked softly.
�Why should I say?�
�Fine. Have it your way. I�ll find out anyway.�
�What? How?� I asked curiously.
�Heather will tell me,� he said simply.
�Oh, might as well,� I surrendered.
�So?� he probed.
�I kissed her ok?�
�Wow.�
I sighed. �I really like her Lance. I just don�t know what to do.�
�Ask her out like you did before.�
�That wasn�t a date! We just hung out,� I cried defiantly.
�Well I bet you wanted it to be a date.�
I sighed again.
�See? Just ask her out.�
�Maybe.�
�Hey guys!� came a familiar voice.
�Hey Jessie.�
She sat down next to me. �So what do you guys wanna do?�
�I�m gonna go out,� Justin announced.
�Me too,� Joey and Chris said at the same time.
�Heather and I are going out to a movie. See you guys later,� Lance called, closing the door behind him.
�So it looks like we�re gonna be chillin� here by ourselves.�
�See ya C! See ya Jessie!� they each said, leaving one by one.
�Finally,� I sighed.
�I know. Really,� she agreed.
We looked at each other.
�You know, I wanted to ask you something,� I started.
�Yeah?�
�Um�if you want�do you wanna go out sometime?� I asked uncertainly.
I saw her eyes brighten. �Sure! Name a time and a place and I�ll be there.�
�Great. How �bout tomorrow night?�
�Sure.�
Silence overtook the room.
I looked at her lips, feeling an urge to kiss them again. The feeling was so addicting.
I moved closer as she did.
I anticipated the moment when our lips would touch even slightly.
Finally, the familiar yet new feeling washed over me. I fell into the kiss as soon as our lips touched.
Then, suddenly, I could hear cheering.
Jessie and I parted in a flourish, surprised at the new voices.
�Alright C!� Justin shouted.
�Get out!� I cried in anguish.
I was so frustrated. They messed up the moment. And it was just about perfect.
�Oooh,� they retreated, all of them backing out the door.
�And stay out,� I muttered.
I sat back down on the couch. �Sorry,� I apologized.
�It�s ok,� she said. Then, �Wanna try again?�
I brightened at the idea. �I�ll give it a shot.�
We moved closer and closer to each other until out lips brushed against the other�s.
My mind began to spin and my stomach whirled in crazy circles. My heart beat faster and faster with each movement.
I pulled her close to me as she tightened her grip on my neck.
We kissed for longer�and longer�