17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen

okay? Apparently that was all the encouragement he needed, because before I can blink, we’re kissing. And it is. The. Best. Kiss. Ever. It’s my first kiss with any feelings behind it. And now all the anticipation leading up to this moment and all my feelings for Eric flow through our open mouths like it’s some kind of emotional energy transfer. It’s a rush that spreads to thetips of my toes. After that first kiss, we kiss again and again, each time creating another jolt of magical energy. They say people in France call French kisses
soul kisses.
I am certain by the way he is kissing me that Eric is kissing me with his whole soul.
    Later, when the boys are gone and we’re tucked into our sleeping bags, Amberly pounces on me. “How was it?”
    â€œAmazing.”
    â€œIt was so hot making out in the shed. I mean, the saws and drills and axes hanging from the walls kind of made me feel like I was in a horror movie, but when Glenn pushed me on top of your dad’s workbench, it was awesome. For a second I thought he was gonna screw me, and then my life would be over—”
    â€œWhat?”
I’m not ready to even think about doing anything but kissing. Okay, maybe I sometimes
think
about things, but I would never, ever do them. Plus, it sounds like she doesn’t think she has a choice in the matter. “Do you
want
to have sex with him?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWell. Then, why would you? I mean, you don’t have to.”
    â€œI don’t know. I guess I’m worried he’ll break up with me if I don’t. I feel like I have to do stuff with boys or they’ll leave me . . . but they always end up leaving me anyway.”
    She doesn’t add
like my dad
, but I know we’re both thinking it.
    Amberly shrugs. “So, how were things with Eric?”
    I lie back against my pillow and gaze dreamily at the purple ceiling fan.
    â€œI think I might love him.”
    I’m addicted to kissing. It’s all I want to do—every second I’m with him. And when I’m not, it’s all I can think about until the next time we’re together. The average person spends 20,160 minutes of their lifetime kissing, and I swear Eric and I are trying to squeeze all those minutes into a few weeks. We try lots of Amberly’s suggestions. Now that the first kiss is out of the way, I’m not particular. We even find a few places of our own.
    â€œAmberly, you have to try the stairs that lead down to the gym,” I say, as soon as I squeeze into a chair beside her at lunch. “No one is ever there if you get a hall pass at the same time and meet up.”
    â€œScore. Maybe I’ll take Glenn there this afternoon.”
    Megan rolls her eyes when she thinks I can’t see. She and Britney don’t have boyfriends right now.
    â€œCan we puh-lease talk about something else besides kissing?” she asks.
    Jealous.
    â€œIsn’t he your first boyfriend?” Britney looks sideways at Megan. They’ve been thick as thieves since I started going out with Eric.
    I pretend not to notice her tone. She’s been nice to me ever since I officially became a Crownie, but every now and then a sharpness slips into her voice. “Yeah. He’s great. I’m so lucky we found each other. He’s, like, the perfect guy.”
    Megan sighs and pokes at her salad.
    â€œAre you okay?” I ask.
    â€œYeah. I’m fine.”
    She doesn’t look fine. Maybe she’s really bummed about not having a boyfriend right now. I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with Eric—she’s always seemed so okay with him being my boyfriend. Or maybe she’s been fighting with her parents about school again. Bs are unacceptable in the McQueen family.
    Toward the end of lunch, Eric stops by our table and gives me a back rub. My chewing slows until I’m holding a Tater Tot almost stationary between my back molars. I totally