Oops. Slipped again.

Shout out to the usual crew: brightyeolie , jueka1 , and amiva0402 . Would love to see more of you joining in the comments!

Also, where are you all from? I can see the demographics of all readers, but let me know in particular which country. I am evidently from Australia. In-line comment here.

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Callie had been gone for an immeasurable amount of time, and a part of me was starting to feel guilty that I had fought with her. My stunt with Fraser was a stupid move. The goal was to encourage Callie to have more confidence in herself, yet rather than helping her, I just went and kissed him like it was a power play. So it was no wonder she had been avoiding me the whole evening.

Though after almost two hours seemed pass since she disappeared from my sight, a part of me began to worry I really had gone too far.

So when a text came through from Sara, announcing that Noah had gotten out of his movie and would be picking us up in a little over half an hour, I decided it was time to search for my sister.

Sara: I tried texting Callie but she's not replying.

Sara: But just letting you know Noah told me to tell you he's on the way.

Sara: He's stopping at Maccas on the way so he's going to be at least half an hour.

Sara: So if you haven't gotten your kisses done, I suggest hurrying up.

Me: I don't know where Callie is but I'll find her and let her know.

Me: My kiss with Fraser is unfortunately checked off.

I sent her a couple of vomiting emojis for good measure.

Me: But I don't think Callie has kissed him... though Ashton is here so maybe him?

Sara: Have you two not stuck together?

Me: We had a fight when we arrived...

Sara: Oh boy... so we are due for some counselling when you get back. Noted.

Sara: Anyway. Go find her and tell her to hurry up with it.

Starting by looking in all the corners of the main living area and available seating, I weaved through the swaying masses—most people considerably drunk at this stage—hoping I'd find my sister curled up somewhere.

After a few minutes of searching to no avail, I decided I should start looking behind closed doors.

Yet as I walked back through the party towards the stairway that led to the top floor where all the bedrooms were, a familiar face on the landing—drink in hand, chatting to some girl—caused me to pause in my tracks.

And when he stopped talking, looking down the stairs into my eyes, lopsided grin taking hold of his face, I realised I had to get out of here before Fraser tries asking me to kiss him again.

Starting this party by kissing him was utterly stupid for many reasons. Not only did I feel sick since because boys are just... repulsive. But I upset Callie in the move. And now every time I've run into him, he's tried asking if we could a) make out, b) hook up, c) go on a date some time, or d) just skip all the lead up and 'just be boyfriend and girlfriend already'.

Every bone in my body was screaming 'tell him you're gay and he will leave you alone'. But if I did that, then he'd tell others. And if the rest of the boys found out then I could never complete the list. And then Callie would most likely find out and get mad at me for lying to her all this time, throw the whole bet, and never complete the list herself. Or confess to Noah. And she will just retreat back into that self-doubting hole I found her in when I moved back three weeks ago.

When he started forwarding down the stairs, evidently wanting to have another crack at me, I just knew one more interaction with Fraser would see me saying something that could throw the bet.

Turning on my heel, I started weaving through the crowds again, knowing I had to hide.

So once I got to the back door, I tiptoed outside, hoping the cover of the darkness would allow me to slip away from his sight.

Continuously glancing over my shoulder, trying to see where he was in the crowds, I squeezed past the few people mulling around on the patio, before stepping onto the grass.

Then, to ensure he definitely wouldn't find me, I rounded the corner of the house, pressing myself up against the building where, even if he glanced out a window, he shouldn't see me.

My heart was thudded in my chest as I heard the door slide open, and Fraser's voice boomed, "Has anyone seen Lexi?"

But to my sheer dumb luck, everyone mumled a no—because thankfully only few knew me at this party. Then the door thudded shut again.

I decided it was best to wait him out before slipping back into the party. But as I stood there, my foot getting wet from a puddle on the ground under the tap, I glanced out at the dark backyard, taking it in.

A large tree loomed by the fence, its branches barely visible against the starry night sky. The moon was unfortunately nowhere to be found, only making the speckling dots in the midnight above shine even brighter.

And as I turned my gaze back down to the yard, some movement in the cubby under the tree caught my attention.

Narrowing my eyes, I managed to make out that two people were in there, seemingly getting hot and steamy.

Taking one step away from the wall as I recognised a familiar face peeking out of the brown locks, my eyes widened.

Who is Flynn hooking up with?

Wanting to suss it out further—in case Callie ever was interested in him and she needed the goss—I took a few steps closer, trying to make out distinct features of the girl on his lap in the dimness of the cubby. Making it harder still, the girl's hair formed a curtain around her face. His hands roaming up and down her body, making it hard to notice what style of shirt or pants she was adorning as they shifted too much under his movement over her.

But as they shuffled again slightly, my eyes zeroed in on her legs wrapped around him.

She was missing a foot and part of the leg.

On autopilot, I began stumbling closer, not believing what I was seeing.

Surely that's not my sister.

Is there another amputee in the neighbourhood?

Is that why Flynn was so sweet her Callie?

He has some girlfriend who my sister reminds him of?

But as I stopped almost a few steps away, looking down at the couple exchanging saliva, evidently oblivious to the world around them and too wrapped up in each other to notice me staring, a slight tilt of their faces saw her hair falling away.

Familiar nose poking out. Familiar mouth and chin.

"Callie?" I asked, not believing what I was seeing.

The two pulled apart like kangaroos caught in the headlights. Both turned to look at me, eyes wide, arms still gripped around each other as they froze.

"L-lex..." Callie said, eyes growing impossibly wider, face evidently flushing even in the darkness of the backyard.

Then, at once, she climbed off Flynn's lap, scooting far away from him and reaching for her prosthetic.

"Um... what are... w..." she fumbled for her words.

"I was looking for you..." I said, eyes flickering between Callie, who was frantically slipping her leg back on and Flynn who had his head turned down, looking anywhere but me.

Which is odd. Because why would I care that they were kissing?

I mean he isn't on the list... but surely that would mean they were kissing for a totally different reason then.

If Callie liked Flynn, then this is great.

So why would he be embarrassed about it?

Unless he had intended to keep this a secret...

"Why, um," Callie said when I didn't say anything else, her prosthetic now in place as she scooted to the edge of the cubby.

I leaned down, giving her a hand to help her clamber to her feet.

"Why are you looking for me?" she asked, gaze on my face, though seemingly focussed on my nose instead of my eyes.

"To tell you that Noah is picking us up in half an hour. Less now." I couldn't help myself as his name exited my mouth. Glancing over her shoulder, my eyes met Flynn's, and he immediately looked away, face a little fallen... like he knew.

Callie wouldn't have told him about Noah... Who tells someone they are crushing someone and makes out with them? Surely it's impossible... I quickly deduced that I had misread his reaction.

"Oh, okay," was all Callie had to say back though, making no move to go.

"Um... just... Also I wanted to remind you. About things that need to be done and why we came," I said, trying to talk around the kiss list so that Flynn didn't know.

"Yup. I know I still have to kiss someone tonight," she said. "I'll be in shortly." Then she turned her head slightly—not enough to look at Flynn to see his crestfallen face, but enough to indicate that she wasn't done with him.

My eyebrows shot up as I looked between the pair. Flynn wasn't surprised meaning he must know. "Does—" I started, but she already predicted my question, cutting me off.

"Flynn knows about the list."

Pressing my lips together, I raised my eyebrows. "So... what was going on between you two then?"

This time Flynn sighed, getting to his feet. Then he draped an arm around Callie's shoulders, causing her eyes to go wide. "I was just helping her with the list."

My eyes narrowed. "But you're not—"

"I know I'm not on it," he cut me off, eyes seeming to spark with a little bit of... Anger? Jealousy? Sorrow? I wasn't quite sure. "Callie wanted to know how to kiss and now she is going to head in and tick Fraser off her list."

"Is that so?" I asked, still studying Flynn's face, trying to read him.

He seemed sure that this was what Callie was going to do. But part of me wondered if he wanted it... Because what I saw from the distance didn't seem like someone just 'learning to kiss'... it was too passionate for that.

"Anyway," Callie said, causing us both to look at her. "If you could go, Lexi... I need to talk to Flynn for a moment then I'll meet you inside."

Furrowing my brows, I nodded, shooting one more curious glance at Flynn—his own face marred in shock from my sister stating she had to speak to him.

But knowing I could just tell Sara later and she could pry all the details from Callie for me, I spun on my heel and headed back in, unfortunately forgetting the reason I came out here in the first place.

Because as I slid the door open, a voice beside me, belonging to none other than Fraser Fowler, said, "Lexi! I've been looking for you."

Fun story for you:

So... When I pick names for my characters, I generally go through a few options to see how first name and surname flow as well as how they might go with the other characters. But the worst part is when I eventually find out why my subconscious said it sounded so good. -.- 

The actual process went like this. My original idea for this story saw only the 'Callie' character is a lead, having a best friend named Sara and crushing on her brother Noah... until I decided the twins would be the focus. Noah was a name I took from my favourite book (Pachinko by Min Jin Lee), which is where he got his name from.

Flynn I found while looking at name generator lists and it came up as a first name and I went 'hmmm... Noah and Flynn. Sounds good.'

BUT as I was perusing the 'YA' tag on Wattpad the other day, I was amused that C+LKL came just before The Kissing Booth in the listing. BUT THEN I NOTICED THE DAMN MALE LEAD IS NOAH FLYNN. My subconscious was playing terrible tricks on me...

I want to change my character names now D:  Should I?

ANOTHER QUERY

Do we want me to post a 'cast' of characters (collage of images of actors who I imagine when I write the characters) or would we prefer I left it to your imagination? Because I do have faces in mind >.>

And finally... I'm not good at memes. But I've been asked to make them. So I tried: