Shay’s First Kiss
“…Twenty-nine, thirty!” Eli’s voice cracks as he turns away from the tree he was leaning against. “Ready or not here I come!”
My giggling is going to give me away if I don’t stop. That’s why I suck at this game; I either giggle when they get too close or have to pee in the middle of hiding. I’ve found a really great hiding spot, but I don’t think Mom is going to appreciate the stains on my shorts from the black dirt and blood from cutting myself on the sharp palm fronds. But if it keeps Eli from finding me first it’ll be worth the pain and the punishment.
Eli is standing right next to the palmetto bush, there’s no way he can see me. He’s holding still so he can try to hear me. I cup my hand over my mouth to be sure no sound escapes. Eli looks down at the bush suspiciously. Crap. I hold completely still never taking my eyes off of him through the fronds.
I take my hand away from my mouth when Eli’s a safe distance away to tie my long braids in front of me and tuck them down the front of my shirt. Eli usually won’t grab for them, but it wouldn’t be the first time Aiden used them against me to keep me from beating him to home base. I am so going to win this time. I’m in the perfect spot and Aiden went way too far out to beat me to base.
Once Eli is a safe distance away I make a run for it watching him behind me. He notices I’m making a run for home base and starts yelling something. I can’t make out his words but then there’s an impact and my head starts spinning from Aiden and I running smack into each other putting us both on the ground right in front of the base.
Eli runs toward us, crap I have to get to base. I scramble across the thick Bermuda grass to reach the palm tree, but Aiden grabs my ankle and pulls me back. What a jerk, he mows me down and now he’s going to pull me back so he can win? No way, it’s not happening this time.
Even though laughter is bubbling out of Aiden and me our eyes are still serious with the game at hand. I make it to the tree and put my palm flat on it, “Safe!”
Aiden crawls over me and does the same. We are now laughing so hard that tears are streaming down our faces.
Eli reaches us and pulls Aiden off me, he must see my tears and think I’m really hurt because his face is twisted with worry, “Shay are you ok?” Not waiting for my answer he turns and glares at Aiden, “You idiot you could have hurt her.”
“I’m fine.” I manage through my laughter and pull away holding my belly with my knees tucked up to my chest rolling on the grass.
Aiden stands up and brushes the loose grass out of his short brown hair. He’s still laughing and so am I but Eli is so serious. He stands up and pushes Aiden with his spindly arms. “You really could have hurt her you need to be more careful.”
“Jeez, Eli she’s not made of glass, like other girls. She’s just like us.” Aiden offers his hand and tugs me up off the ground. “See she’s fine.”
And then I hear it, the shrill of my mother’s voice, “Shayleigh Marie Baynes, what have you done to your clothes?”
My eyes tilt towards the sky in an exaggerated roll. “Nothing Mom.”
Elise is standing by her side glaring at me. I bet she told Mom I was getting dirty. She could have played with us, but she’s too prissy. “Get in the house this instant.”
Eli approaches Mom “Mrs. Baynes is it ok if she stays out here until my mom comes to pick me up?” He smiles at her pleading.
Mom’s death stare softens at Eli’s plea, “I guess she can’t get any dirtier.” She folds her arms across her chest. “Aiden, your mother is here.”
“Thanks Mrs. Baynes I’ll be right there.” Aiden always has to one up Eli on trying to charm my mom. “I’ll see you tomorrow; we’re going to the canal right?”
“Yeah we are!” I’m excited there should be baby snapping turtles and I’ll definitely remember not to wear white shorts.
Aiden punches Eli in the arm and heads in the house.
Eli turns to me examining my head, “Are you sure you’re ok, you got a giant bump.”
“I’m fine. What do you want to do?” I ask knowing that his mom will be here soon.
“Wanna skip rocks?” He asks.
“Sure, I’ll race you to the dock.” I start running before he can answer.
I’m feeling a little tired and it’s getting too dark to see how many times the rocks are skipping across the water so there’s no sense in tossing them anymore. I take my tennis shoes off and hang my legs over the side. Eli sits down next to me. “Are you excited about school?”
“Not really, it’s not the same since you went to middle school. It feels lonely without you.” It really is, even though we weren’t in the same classroom, we still usually had lunch and recess together. Now it’s just me and Aiden, oh and Elise when she doesn’t mind getting her precious hands dirty.
“I’ll still see you after school every day; I mean we live across the street from each other.” He says tossing a rock in to the water.
“Yeah, I know.”
We are silent for a long time; Eli keeps looking over at me. He’s acting weird and he keeps wiping his hands on his shorts. He scoots over on the dock closer to me. I turn my head to see why he’s acting so weird and that’s when he does it. He put his lips on my cheek.
“GROSS, Eli!” I back away from him wiping his spit off my cheek. His face instantly flushes and it’s like he can’t talk. I stand up on the dock and put my hands on my hips. “Seriously what was that?”
“I-I-“ his stuttering gets worse the faster I tap my foot. “I wanted to kiss you before Aiden did.”
“Oh double gross; I don’t want to kiss either of you. That’s so disgusting.” I lie, because I really did like how it felt.
“I’m sorry I thought that-“
“Your mother’s here Eli.” Elise’s voice breaks Eli’s apology. Before Eli can say another word I run into the house straight past mom and Mrs. Walker to the bathroom. I’m totally confused and flustered. I liked it when he kissed me but I’m not supposed to. It’s Eli right? Oh my God this sucks. It’s going to change everything.
Twelve years later…
Trish breaks my focus on the picture in my hand. “Hey hon’ we’re waiting for you in the conference room.”
“Thanks Trish I’ll be right there.” I say still feeling heavy from the memory I was lost in. I put the picture of Eli, Aiden and me back on my desk. I was ten when that picture was taken, that was before the kiss and we were all standing with our arms around each other’s shoulders like three peas in a pod. The painted picture frame reads “The Troublesome Trio.”
“Stop thinking about that asshole, you don’t need him. You should totally let me take you out for drinks after the party.” Trish tries to insist.
“No I’m good; I really just want to be alone tonight.” I smile.
“Okay, don’t be long I want to get my drink on!”
Thinking back to the first time Eli ever kissed me, the first time we were ever a boy and a girl. I remember the words rattling around in my head “It’s going to change everything.” I’ve never been more right about anything in my life.
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