The lights from the Ferris wheel were lighting up her face. She looked just like a painting in the moment. I felt so lucky to see her eyes in every shade of amber. I loved every single one.

My throat tightened at the idea of kissing her in this moment. I was nervous. I only gripped tighter onto the plush bear in my hand. I leaned down just inches closer to her, but I halted immediately.

You can't. Not now, I thought. I gulped to swallow my emotions.

I felt Audrey grab the back of my neck and confusion quickly ran through me as she pulled me gently against her lips and I kissed her back without thought.

She was sweeter than the swirled cotton candy in her hand. I could taste the sugar crystals still sprinkled along her bottom lip. She pulled back from me after a brief moment, evidently nervous. I couldn't move from my place. Shock, joy, excitement all shut down my ability to move.

But suddenly fear jolted through all corners of my mind. Was this a mistake? Am I supposed to stop her?

I didn't care.

Audrey peered up at me through those long, dark eyelashes. I could see my reflection inside of her eyes. I bounced my vision between each iris of hers. I couldn't help my lips from pulling into a beaming smile, which she returned. Suppressing my emotions wasn't an option in this scenario anymore. I gently placed my hand on the side of her face, overwhelmed by her beauty.

This time, I leaned into her. She reached out and pulled me closer to her chest with a simple grip of my t-shirt that laid loosely on my chest. As our lips reconnected, I dropped the bear I clutched on to all night and held on tight to her instead. I wanted her close. I wanted to absorb and feel every single second of this.

Her round nose brushed against mine as we changed the tilt of our heads. Our lips worked together better than I had ever experienced with anyone else. I didn't know that kissing could feel like this.

It felt like we were in a fishbowl. Swimming, people staring, every sound other than our short breaths unable to be understood. My fingers combed themselves into her hair and pushed it over her ear.

The kiss was so deep and emotion filled. It felt long overdue, but never once had thought or shown signs of being anything more than friends. Harmless flirting here and there was fun, but I don't think either of us expected this.

"Audrey," I mumbled into her lips. She couldn't hear me or chose to ignore me, but it made our kiss last just a few seconds more. Reality was beginning to set in and I needed us away from this crowd and where no one would reach us.

I gently pulled away from her, but still kept her close to my chest. I reached for her arms as I scanned the crowd ahead of us that were all approaching the exit sign. I peered down for a moment to find Audrey already staring back up at me. I softly moved a strand of hair from her forward.

"Let's head on home," I whispered. I was unsure of where home was, whether it be her house or mine or an abandoned parking lot. I didn't know, and frankly, didn't care. As long as I was with her.

Her arms were tight around me. I broke the comforting hold and reconnected our touch through intertwined fingers. Her hands were smaller than mine, but her fingers I just realized were lengthy.

I led her back to my car, passing the empty space where she said her and Kennedy had parked. She spoke softly, her lips still pink from our kiss. Even under pale yellow street lights at a quarter to midnight she looked enchanting. The ocean air had curled her strands of her hair. Her knitted cardigan hung loosely off her shoulders. It engulfed her and I imagined she'd look the same way in my t-shirt.

Perhaps I was getting too ahead of myself. I was fabricating an idea that was undetermined if it would ever happen. This night could end abruptly here. Our friendship could end here. I thought about her and Ashton. The arguing, the unknown status of their relationship, the messy background and even foreground. I didn't want that. I simply wanted Audrey in my life, but more than just an acquainted neighbor. I wanted closeness-friendship or more than that. I wanted her close.

"Luke?"

"Hm?" I looked over at Audrey who was sat silently in my passenger seat.

"Are we going?" She asked. I glanced quickly from her lips to the keys in my ignition.

"Yeah," I quietly responded.

I turned over my engine and left the emptying parking lot. Audrey soon began shuffling through the CDs in my glove box, the sound of plastic cases rattling broke our silence. I studied the road ahead of me intensely, trying not to take my eyes off of the road and study her. I was stiff, nervous, and the tension between us was undeniable.

A soft, breathy laughed escaped from her lips. The corner of my lip tugged up at the sound.

"What?" I curiously asked.

"This is a stack of classic rock music," she stated. I could tell she was holding up a case and I quickly glanced over to see which. I instantly recognized the blue faded cover which I had forgotten I threw in last year.

"Do you have a problem with Madonna?"

"No," she giggled quietly, placing it back in the stack. "It just stuck out like a sore thumb." She had a new case in her hand, and she inserted it into the CD slot above my radio.

My ears perked at the intro to "Hells Bells". Audrey fast forwarded through the first song, then the second, and began listening to the beginning chords of "What Do You Do for Money Honey". She turned the volume up high and my ears were on the edge of ringing from the loudness.

I smirked, pleased with her taste. She sat back in her seat and rolled her window down.

"I didn't think you'd like AC/D," I loudly said over the grungy guitars. The air rushing into my car from the chilly September air surrounded us. I could feel her stare on me. I glanced over to her expected annoyed face then squinted back to the road, a pair of bright headlights blinding me.

"You're working in bars", I sang along. "Riding in cars." I nudged her thigh and she pulled it back from me. "Never gonna give it for free."

The song continued on, the lyrics running sparking my memory so easily. I nudged her thigh once more, this time she hadn't pulled away.

"You bitch, you must be getting old," Audrey sang back finally as we hit a red light.

I relaxed my head onto the headrest, rolling my eyes over to her. Her legs were crossed tightly which made her appear smaller than she was.

"Honey, what do you do for money?" I spoke along to the beat of the playing song. She rolled her eyes at me as if my question came from my own curiosity and not playing on a scratched CD.

I took the long way home tonight. Singing, belting, laughing. Slicing away at our tension and burning it. I passed our houses four times to avoid ending the ride. To avoid an unwanted end to this night. It was funny how it worked out. I planned to invite Audrey as a friend in hopes that it would heal her hurt. I could only pray this wouldn't bring a new one.

We eventually pulled into her driveway. It was only minutes until 2am and I knew the wrath from my parents was nearing. She didn't get out once I pulled in, though. She sat and spoke to me and recalled the dizzy night we had. We laughed about our ferris wheel ride and our competitive sides showing during more than a few games of bumper cars.

She didn't mention our kiss. Not even a nudge at the topic. She danced around it so gracefully, like a ballerina at a recital. My eyebrows stayed furrowed at the lack of specific conversation. Even while I entered my home and argued with my parents about curfew. The questionability of her avoidance stayed at the front of my mind.

I circled in my messy room and let my hands grip at my hair.

Maybe I should've said something. I should've started that conversation I was wanting more and more as the night went on, but she was the one to kiss me first. I wasn't familiar with this situation or this lack of words.

I huffed and puffed as I changed. Comfy joggers sat lowly on my hips now. I tugged my shirt from the back of my collar and over my head. I made my way to my window and stopped in front of it. The streetlight peaked through my curtains and I could only remember Audrey underneath them tonight. I snatched them in each hand and stared up at the curtain rod to watch them separate. I instinctively look across through the glass panel and found Audrey leaning on her elbows outside of her own window, hair waving in the gentle breeze. I unlatched my window and pushed up.

"Hi," she sweetly greeted. She was dressed in a thin white tank top and I could spot the goosebumps running up her arms.

"What are you doing?" I asked, not attempting to hide my smile.

We sat in silence for a moment, simply sharing each others presence. Only the rustling leaves were our background song. Audrey cleared her throat and I listened in.

"Sorry for kissing you tonight."

I nervously laughed. I could feel the heat burning in my face.

"You're face is red," she taunted. My hands rose to cover my cheeks. I shut my eyes in hopes the red would fade.

"Don't make it worse, Audrey," I said. I sighed, opening my eyes and meeting hers once again. "And don't be sorry. There was a reason I kissed you again."

Audrey hung her head down, which I assumed was an attempt to hide the scarlet on her cheeks as well. My joyous smile couldn't be hidden as she raised her head back up. "Well," she began, standing up. "You're a very good kisser. I had fun."

I stood up as well, this time taking a step back and reaching for the white wood of my window.

"Goodnight, Audrey."

"Goodnight, Luke."

-

A/N:

listen i really just needed this kiss from luke's POV because he makes me SO SOFT

this story is going to have a BOMB playlist