Cassandra

I burst through the back doors and closed my eyes, letting the chilled air consume me and wash away all my thoughts.

Little did I know someone was already there.

I opened my mouth to speak...

"Andrew...?" I started.

Andrew was sitting down on a bench (the same one me and James's sat on when he "proposed" to me) staring into the night sky but when he turned to face me, his eyes turned into saucers and his jaw dropped.

"Cassandra?" He gaped, genuinely surprised.

Feeling a bit flustered by his gaze, I fluffed my hair, dusted the skirt of my dress, waved hysterically at him like a complete and utter idiot and blurted out: "Hi!"

We stood in silence for a couple of seconds (even though it felt like years) as Andrew took the sight of me in.

I shifted from foot to foot in my heels and looked at the floor.

He finally spoke and murmured "Whoa... you look beautiful... gorgeous even..."

I looked up at him.

He thought I looked gorgeous!

I thought back to when James picked me up at the door earlier today.

Being called beautiful and gorgeous was way better than being whistled at and getting called "hot" I concluded.

"Really? You think I'm beautiful?" I tried to contain my happiness.

He looked at me with sincerity.

"Always." He responded.

My heart swelled.

"Soooooooo..." I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Whatcha doing here? Where's Victoria?" I asked while the vision of her on the school steps replayed in my mind.

Now it was his turn to blush and avoid my questioning gaze.

"She uh... she got sick and couldn't come." he lied.

I decided I wouldn't push it if he didn't want to talk about it, so I shrugged and said "ok."

Eager to keep our conversation going, I asked Andrew "So if you're girlfriends sick, why are you here instead of with her?" I smiled at the wittiness of my question. 'How's he gonna lie himself out of this one?'

He just smirked at my attempt to catch him in a lie. He knew me too well. "Duh, I would get sick too. And anyway, my friends wanted me to go with them instead."

Then he turned the tables on me. "And why isn't Miss Perfect with her own boyfriend?"

I snorted at the fact that he called me perfect. "First of all, I'm not perfect. I'm actually very far from that. And secondly, It was crowded, I was bored and my boyfriend was talking with his friend so I decided to leave for a while and get some air."

He grinned. "Oh yeah, because breathing is very important. Not to mention living and moving." Referring to the conversation we had in Chemistry.

I covered my face with my hands out of embarrassment (and to try to hide the blush that had crept onto my cheeks). "Oh my gosh, don't bring that up, it's soooooooo embarrassing!"

He chuckled. "I thought it was cute."

Our eyes met but I quickly looked away.

'What am I supposed to say to that?' I thought.

Silence fell over us until Andrew abruptly said: "I have an idea!" And started scrolling through his phone, searching for something.

"What is it?" I inquired as I tried to peek at what he was doing on his phone but he turned the phone at an angle where I wouldn't be able to see anything.

"NO PEEKING!" Andrew hissed at me playfully, making me laugh at his childish antics but I did as I was told and stood there, waiting patiently.

Finally, he finished doing whatever he was doing, set his phone down on the bench and stood up.

Just then, musical chords started to hum from out of the speaker on his phone and into the nighttime air around us.

"Since we have nothing better to do and we're, conveniently, at a school dance, I was wondering if you, Cassandra Kivetsky, would dance with me?" Andrew held his hand out to me and squeezed his eyes shut like he was scared of what my response would be. Like I would reject him.

And I thought I would melt into a puddle right then and there, it was just too adorable.

I giggled and stepped a little bit closer to him "It would be my pleasure, Andrew Millers." And placed my tiny hand into the palm of his.

Just because I wander 'round the places we would go, hoping that I'd run into you one last time.

Instantly he pulled me closer and I felt the electricity running between us, just by being so close.

Just because I never took your picture off my phone, doesn't mean that you're still on my mind.

I felt his strong, muscular hands, move down to my waist and I inhaled sharply at the sudden change of position but smiled up at him, nonetheless. And when my fingers made their way up to his shoulders, he shivered but chuckled breathily soon afterward. We started to dance.

Just because I accidentally slipped and said your name, well, I heard your song, it makes me insecure.

"I like this song," I said as we swayed along to the music. "Where'd you find it? I thought you were all about rap?"

Just because I know I'll never ever feel the same, doesn't mean I love you anymore.

Andrew reddened. "Um... I was going Christmas shopping with my mom in Target and this was blasting on their speakers and it made me think of you so I added it to my playlist."

'He was thinking about you!!!' inner me squealed but I was able to keep my excitement to a minimum.

Am I lying to myself again, when I say you're not the best I've ever had?

"Wow, a song from Target. I feel so loved." I said sarcastically. He rolled his eyes at me in a joking kind of way as I continued "and why this song? It's Christmas time, shouldn't they be blasting those cringy, Christmas jingles by now?"

His eyes glowed in agreement. "That's exactly what I was thinking!"

Am I lying to myself again, when I say that I'm not missing you so bad?

We danced together in silence, enjoying each others company when I asked in a small voice "Why'd you lie to me?"

He looked down at me questioningly "What do you mean?"

I inhaled slowly. "I know Victoria wasn't sick, I saw her here at the dance. So why'd you lie?"

He looked at the floor, then back at me "You really wanna know?"

I nodded my head.

"Ok then, fine. I'll tell you." I could tell the story pained him to tell but I didn't stop him from telling it.

Just because I'm on my knees and swearing I would change, and I'd do anything to hear you say "I'm yours."

"Before we got to the dance, I, Victoria, and a bunch of all our friends carpooled together and one of them, Hunter, decided to bring alcohol with him. Now he and his girlfriend were allowed to drink because they were both already 18 but we're 15 and it's illegal and all so I said no. Victoria, on the other hand, took up the offer faster than you could say 'tequila', her being a daredevil like that and they all started drinking while I sat quietly, being the only sober one. Thinking about it now, it's a miracle that we didn't all crash and die since Hunter was drinking and driving. We got here and already, Victoria was sooo drunk. Like, her words were slurring and everything. I was a bit uncomfortable being around all of them and said I was going to the bathroom but instead, headed out here. So that's that now."

Just because I know I'll never ever feel the same, doesn't mean I love you anymore.

I knew now was so not the time but I told him anyway. "Andrew... before I came out here I was at the front of the school and I saw Victoria making out with Hunter. I'm really sorry..."

His eyes widened in surprise and it looked like somebody had punched him in the face.

It broke my heart.

He tried to mask his feelings with a smile. "It's fine."

Am I lying to myself again, when I say you're not the best I've ever had?

And then I asked something that could potentially destroy our friendship forever.

"Do you like me?" I blurted out, then, realizing what I did I bit my lip nervously and looked away into the distance while my heart doubled its speed.

He went silent and I knew that whatever we had before was done for.

Finally, he spoke.

Without looking at me and blushing madly he let out a mumbled "Yeah..." in response.

Am I lying to myself again, when I say that I'm not missing you so bad?

I felt my heart literally EXPLODE as my inner self shrieked 'HE SAID YES!!!!!!!! AIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

And while that happened I just said "Oh." Because what else am I supposed to say when my crush finally reveals the hidden feelings he's had about me for all this time?

Just because I'm on my knees and swearing I would change, and do anything to hear you say "I'm yours."

Then he asked my question back at me. "Do you like me?"

I thought about it before I answered with "I don't know."

Just because I know I'll never ever feel the same, doesn't mean I love you anymore, more

He gave me a small smile. "What do you mean 'you don't know'?"

"I'm afraid," I admitted.

He pulled me in a little closer so our bodies would almost be touching and asked me, his voice dropping an octave. "Afraid of what Cassandra?

I gulped. "Loving you."

Doesn't mean I love you anymore (anymore, anymore), doesn't mean I love you anymore.

A smile crept onto his lips and he responded. "Well don't be." As the song began to end.

He twirled me around and dipped me as echoes of the music faded off into the distance.

It was then I realized how close in proximity we really were.

His perfect features shone in the moonlight but my eyes were locked on his beautiful, diamond blue eyes, I could stare into them forever.

I saw his eyes dart to my lips and I knew he was thinking of doing what I was hoping he'd do.

I felt something pulling me towards him as he leaned in towards me.

His lips hovered over mine, making me wait. I could tell he was debating whether he should do it or not.

Just when I couldn't wait a second longer I said "Andrew..." his name is a low moan in my throat. "Now."

I could feel his cool, minty breath caress my cheek when he mumbled softly "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this..." And I braced myself for impact.

I finally felt his soft lips brush up against mine and I sighed with delight.

His kiss was slow and sweet at first, then we start kissing the way we should have for weeks. Urgently and holding nothing back.

He licked my bottom lip, begging for entrance but I didn't grant it to him at first. I would make him wait just like he made me.

But as soon as he deepened the kiss, I gave in and let my lips part so he could taste me.

I let all of my worries wash away as I kissed him passionately. Every bone in my body screamed 'More! I need more!'

We stood up straighter but it didn't  stop us from kissing.

His hand travelled up the length of my back and into my hair while mine twirled hypnotizing swirls on one of the many curls on his head.

It felt like the ground under me was spinning and fireworks were going off in my brain, it was amazing!

But it didn't stop there. He stopped kissing me at some point and I groaned, disappointed that we weren't making out anymore. Instead, his strong hands grasp my tiny waist and spun me in the air.

I grinned. "WHEEEEE!!!" I squealed like a six-year-old. I don't think I've ever had this much fun in a while.

When he finally set me back down on the ground, I gave him a huge hug and mumbled into his chest, "thank you."

He stroked my hair soothingly. "Shhhhh... it's ok."

Just then I felt something cold hit my nose. Then another and another.

I looked up at the sky to see that it was filled with white fluffiness raining down on us

'The first snow!' I smiled to myself and hugged Andrew tighter.

And even though I felt so safe in his arms, I couldn't help but worry about what would happen next. The aftermath.

But one thing was for sure.

That was definitely a kiss to remember.