PROLOGUE #2
"OK. So, why don't we try it, and then you can prove your theory—or not?" Nix always used clever words. He was smart. He didn’t even need to try at school.
As I considered his point, my eyes lingered on his mouth. It was the softest thing on his face.
Nix had a point, and science was now my best subject since I started sixth grade. I loved the practical experiments we did at school.
"OK. I'm in if you are," I chuckled with a meaty grin. Nix mirrored my expression. He, too, was keen to know the outcome of our test.
We both pushed up onto our knees and got comfortable. Nix placed his hands gently on my shoulders, and the height difference forced my head back.
"OK. Close your eyes," he whispered, his minty scent flowing through my hair. Nix was a gum chewer, and his breath always smelled nice, unlike Dalton, who ate way too much candy. He already had four fillings in his teeth. I’d heard his sister taunting him about that one day when he called her Fugly.
As I digested his words, I asked. "Why?" You wouldn’t usually experiment with your eyes closed. It could be dangerous.
"That's what you’re supposed to do. You see it in the movies all the time." Ah, of course. Silly me. I remembered how Sandy and Danny would kiss in Grease. It was the last movie I watched with my mother before she died.
Nix's face was relaxed as I closed my eyes. "That’s it. Now drop your shoulders."
I took a deep breath and waited, a strange bubble of excitement in my belly. That must have been because I enjoyed experiments so much. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I kept them by my sides.
I felt Nix's palms on my cheeks, holding my jaw, and then his lips gently touched mine.
My breath snagged in my throat. They were soft and warm and not revolting at all.
Quite nice. He kept his mouth there and pressed against me, and my legs went gooey.
I felt that kiss from my fingertips all the way down to my toes.
I enjoyed being connected to him, our skin touching ever so slightly. His fresh boyish smell invaded my space, but I liked it. Our lips remained fused, and Nix’s thumbs stroked my face.
It felt magical, and my heart started to race in my chest.
Not understanding what was happening, I slowly opened my eyes to see that Nix's were closed. Another beat later, and he drew back and stared at me with a look I couldn't describe. I missed that contact straight away.
A silence stretched as I lifted my fingers to my mouth; my lips felt tingly.
My first kiss was with my best friend, and it was perfect. Surely that's the way it should be?
"Well?" Nix questioned, leveling me a look and attempting to read my expression.
"It wasn't revolting at all. It was nice. I liked it. Thank you, Nix."
My reply seemed to please him, and he moved back to sit on his bottom, throwing his long legs out in front of him again. I shuffled to his side, looking across the rooftops of our neighbors’ houses.
“You must have kissed lots of girls,” I suggested, hoping he’d say no.
Nix took a moment to answer before he dragged a hand through his hair and muttered. “Er, yeah. Loads.” I didn’t let it upset me. He was my friend, not my boyfriend.
After around five minutes or so, Nix’s voice filled the silence.
"Want to play a game of anywhere but here?" he suggested with a nudge as we stared out into the night's sky.
I rested my head on his shoulder with a frown. "Why would I want to do that?" Did he not like hanging out on the roof with me no more? Maybe he didn't like the kiss?
His reply made me feel a bit better. "So, we can wish ourselves someplace else, away from this life, this house, the twins."
Blowing out a breath, I lifted my head, "That depends."
Nix cleared his throat. "On what?" I loved the way his eyebrows joined up when he was confused.
Tilting my chin, I explained. "Dur, on whether you'll be there too, silly." Boys could be so dumb sometimes.
Nix grinned, showing off his perfect white teeth. I still had two massive gaps in mine. "Of course I would. Where you go, I go, remember?”
My belly knotted up as I thought about Nix and Dalton and their constant arguing. I'd heard Mr. Jackson on the phone with the foster agency, and he'd said that one more strike and Phoenix was out.
“Where else would I be?” he asked, turning to face me fully.
Our eyes were tangled. "I don't know. I just have a bad feeling."
It made me angry that the blame always fell on Nix and not Dalton, who was usually the one who started stuff up.
Nix grunted and turned away, "You say that every week."
He started to play with one of the rips in his jeans. I found it funny that he'd added his own rips. It was a fashion thing. I wasn't into fashion, not even when my mother was alive and bought me loads of fancy clothes. I preferred baggy things that covered my body.
"Anyway, stop being so negative," he added.
My brow scrunched. "Stop being so what?"
He rolled his eyes. "You know, negative. Thinking the worst all the time."
Resting my head back on his shoulder, I replied in a small voice. "I can't help it. I'm just worried we'll get separated."
"Never gonna happen." Nix sounded so sure of himself.
And that is exactly what did happen. Three. Days. Later.