Chapter Siete

Once we finished eating, we got into the car, and Xavier drove to Mount Arines, which is near Emma's house. I got out quickly to capture the city's night lights with my phone while Xavier sat on top of his car, looking at the night lights too. I believe so—because what else would he be looking at? I sit on top of his car, and Xavier moves a bit closer to me, close enough for me to feel his warmth. He hasn't said anything in a while, and when I glance at him, I catch him watching me instead of the view. His lips tilt into a lazy smirk, like he knows something I don't.

"You keep looking at me like that, and I might start thinking you've got a crush on me," said Xavier. I roll my eyes, but my heart betrays me with a tiny skip. I turn my gaze back to the lights, trying to play it cool. "And if I do?" I say. He shifts closer, just a fraction, enough that his shoulder brushes mine. "Then I'd say you have excellent taste," Xavier replies. I laugh softly, shaking my head, but I don't pull away. There's something about how he looks at me—like I'm the most interesting thing here. His eyes drop to my lips for just a second, and suddenly, the space between us feels smaller, charged.

"You know, I've been waiting for the right moment to kiss you," said Xavier. Huh? What did he just say?? My breath catches. He's so close now, close enough that I can see his deep intentions in his dark eyes. The wind stirs my hair, and before I can second-guess myself, I tilt my face up, meeting his gaze head-on.

"And is this the right moment?" I ask. "It is now," Xavier says. And then, finally, he closes the last inch between us. His lips meet mine, soft and unhurried, like we have all the time in the world. The city below, the night sky above—it all fades, until there's nothing but the warmth of his touch, the steady rhythm of our breaths, and the feeling ends abruptly by the thoughts of someone else. Deep inside, I feel nothing.

I hesitate a bit and try kissing him again. Xavier tilts his head, deepening the kiss, his hand sliding up my spine in a way that sends a shiver down me. I want to feel something, want to lose myself in this moment. But the ache in my chest is undeniable, because the spark I'm waiting for—the one I know would ignite like wildfire—feels just out of reach. Would it be different with Leon? Would his hands grip tighter, his kiss leave me breathless in a way Xavier's doesn't?

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to focus on the boy in front of me, on the way his thumb traces slow circles against my hip. But all I can think about is how badly I want to know what it would feel like if it were Leon instead. I break the kiss and check my phone. It's 9 p.m. "Um, Xavier, I have to go back to Emma's place now. I have a curfew since I went alone." (Lies...) "Wow, pretty Aurora has a curfew? Interesting," said Xavier. "Just get in and drive, okay?" I say, rolling my eyes.

Xavier drives me back to Emma's house. I kiss him goodnight on his cheek and run out of the car. As I get to the front door, I see a text from Xavier saying how much he enjoyed the date. I feel glad—but also a bit guilty. I try to get in quietly, only to see Leon drinking in the kitchen. In the dark, for that matter. "Why are you back home late?" asked Leon. My heart is pounding, my breath uneven, and all I can focus on is Leon, sitting in front of me, his eyes dark, his jaw tense, confused about what was going on.

I don't think. I just grab the collar of his shirt and pull him down to me, crushing my lips against his. He lets out a quiet sound, somewhere between surprise and something deeper, before he presses back, hard. His hands find my waist, fingers digging in as he pulls me closer, eliminating the space between us. "I'm assuming your date can't kiss as well as I do?" said Leon.

"Shut up," I say. He smirks—because of course he does, capturing my lips again, harder this time. The kitchen fades, the world shrinks, and all that exists is the way he kisses me like he's starving, like I'm something he's craved for too long. He breaks the kiss. "Wait, Aurora, you know we can't do this, especially when my sister and parents are upstairs," said Leon. "We can be very careful, okay? Nobody has to know..." Just know that stupid love from that kiss blinded me. I try to kiss Leon again, but he pushes me away and walks to his room. (I don't know whether to cry or crash out!)

I sit down on the couch, then receive a message from Marcus saying how he misses disturbing my peace. What an annoying A-hole. I send a nasty reply back, leading to an hour-long conversation with that dumb-f*ck. I get up, then go up to Emma's room to sleep. As I open the door, Emma jumps on me. "Hey, Aurora! How was your dateee?" "It was alright, but I'm tired. I'll tell you everything tomorrow, okay?" I reply. "Hmph, fine," said Emma. I take a quick shower and go to bed.

The next morning, I pack my stuff since I'm going back home today. Ughh, I'm going to see Marcus soon. This is too sad. Emma and I don't go to school since we don't have classes on Mondays. "Emma, can your brother take me back home? My mom said we have dinner with our neighbors, so I have to be there," I say. "Oh, uh, sure," said Emma.