Crashing Souls by Cynthia A. Rodriguez

was calling about.
    “Party tonight. Perfect chance for you to stop obsessing over a chick.” I looked over at Noa, whose mouth curved slightly. Embarrassed, I lowered the volume.
    “I’m with said chick, jackass. Whose party?”
    “Doesn’t matter. I’ll text you the address. Meet you there later. Is ten good?”
    “I’ll let you know, man,” I said, looking at Noa. She looked out of the window, seemingly uninterested in my conversation.
    Ralph snorted. “If you aren’t there, I’ll kick your—” I hung up before he could finish his threat.
    “I guess there’s a party tonight. You were looking for something to do. What do you think?”
    “I don’t know. It’s not really my scene….”
    “Come on. I’ll bring you home now and grab you later on. It’ll be fun.” I was lying. I had no idea what it was going to be like. But I couldn’t let Noa know that. She’d never go. I wanted her to make friends, and I liked the idea that her and Ralph would hit it off. Plus, every time I was around her, I wanted to touch her, whether it be my lips on hers or my hands in her hair. I didn’t know if she liked it, so it would probably be best to hang out around people. “I’ll stay with you the whole night, Blue.”
    She looked hesitant, but I knew she was going to say yes before she actually did.
    “You’d better not leave me on my own, Dexter. I’m not clingy by nature and I know we don’t really know what…
this
is, but that is non-negotiable.” She faced me, the smile in her eyes making it hard for me to focus on anything else.
    I snapped out of it, put my seatbelt on and reversed. When I pulled up in front of her house, she seemed more herself: excited and just a little wide-eyed.
    “It’ll be fun, right?” she asked, grabbing my hand. “And no one will stare at us like we’re the oddest pair there.”
    Pair. Us. Noa and I. I gripped her fingers tightly.
    “No. I’ll be back around ten.”
    She opened the door and stepped out. I waited as she entered the apartment building. Only when she turned on a light and her shadow stretched across a window on the uppermost left side of the building did I shift into drive and pull off.
    Hours later, after convincing Tracey that I would not partake in any teenage orgies, I parked outside Noa’s place once again.
    I know you’re outside. Restrain yourself. Remain in your car.
    I chuckled. This was better. The door opened and she stepped out. Despite the fact that she’d told me to stay in my car, I got out, wanting to see her up close before anyone else did.
    I took her steps two at a time and slowed when I was in front of her. She’d pulled her hair up. The piercings down her ear gleamed off of her porch light and, though I wasn’t an expert on these things, it looked like she’d put on makeup.
    She turned to face me. She’d definitely put on makeup. Her lips were cherry red, and while it might look garish on some, she wore it unapologetically. She was beautiful, and I wanted to wear the kisses she might give me. Bright red lips all over me. I inhaled deeply, telling my hormones to take a backseat. I took her hands and stepped closer, bending to kiss her cheek quickly. When I straightened, she stepped back, keeping her hands in mine.
    She was taller than usual. I looked down at her feet and noticed the boots she wore over black stockings.
    “I like your shoes,” I said, trying to act naturally. I knew I was failing when she laughed.
    “Dexter, you sure know how to make a lady smile. What guy notices things like that?”
    I didn’t bother with embarrassment. There hadn’t been a note of ridicule in her teasing words. We headed to the car quietly, my hand in hers.
    Before we got in, I spoke to her over the hood of the car.
    “Sure you don’t want to walk?”
    “Ha ha,” she said with sarcasm.
    We both got in, and I turned the car on again. Noa wasn’t as timid as she’d been before. She fiddled with the dials of my radio, scoffing at everything