"It's very, very true," was the first thing I said when he finished the song. And I knew he believed my words as our eyes remained locked on each other—as they had the whole song—and the room around us faded into a blur.

I couldn't help but think at that moment that my life was starting to feel like a movie. The boy I liked—who was gorgeously handsome and kind, people were starting to adore and desire, and could sing like an angel—liked me back. I was the envy of all. And I was revelling in the intoxication of the drug his attention had become.

Though, like the addict I had become, I knew I needed more. More Frazer. More commitment. More proof that he was really mine and mine alone.

Which was why one specific desire suddenly consumed me—though the same seemed to fill him at the same time.

It was like the magnetic forces in us had switched on. In unison, we started to drift closer.

My gaze trailed away from his and instead took in his full, plush lips that were slightly parted. A part of me wanted to rush in before the moment was lost again to the terrors of poor-timing, but the other was tired of our magical moments being stolen.

So I let the steady pace of closing the distance continue. Even when his hand gently touched my cheek. Even when his thumb stroked the length of my jaw. Even when he whispered, "Emilia..."

Our lips were so close.

I could feel my name on my mouth as it left his.

And just as we were a breath from each other...

Thud! "Hey, guy's! What's... Oh. Have I interrupted something?"

I jumped away from Frazer with our sudden audience standing in the doorway in the form of Kevin.

All the while Frazer's head slowly turned, a look that could kill plastered across his face.

"I'll just.. head back this way," Kevin mumbled as he started inching backwards.

Though inhibiting him from leaving the room was the rest of the crew barrelling in behind him.

"Hey Fraze and Em!" Caleb greeted, oblivious to the tension in the room.

As the others took seats around the room, picking up an instrument of choice, Frazer slumped in defeat, realising our moment had definitely passed.

"Later," I whispered in his ear.

His gaze glumly met mine, making him look almost like a lost puppy. "You promise?"

I smiled at him with a nod, while he scooted closer, wrapping an arm around my waist as his compromise for the closure he needed now.

◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷

Though later turned out to be much, much later.

At second break, the guys were already in the music room. Frazer and I instead decided to take a walk, though we struggled to find any secluded area in the school. So it wasn't until we were in his car when we were finally alone again.

We pulled up in his driveway, a silence overcoming as we took a moment to rejoice in the quiet.

Yet it didn't take long until our hungry eyes turned to each other.

His hands jolted for my face, and my fingers hastily wove through his hair.

Though once again, before we could close the distance, a car screaming into a nearby driveway brought us to a halt.

And one glance at the driveway in question had me dropping Frazer in a heartbeat and clambering out of his car. "See you tomorrow," I blurted.

"Em, no! Wait—"

But I already closed the door, trying to act natural as I walked towards my house and past my dad's suspicious stare.

◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷

It was a few hours later when I had managed to duck out of the house under the guise of a grocery run that I started to concoct my final plan to secure our first kiss.

I worried the whole way about the timing of asking him to come outside.

If I text him too soon, dad might see him leaving. But if I wait too long, I might miss my chance.

When I left the shops after collecting all the necessary items, I decided to send the text, hoping that the walk back would be enough time to warn him.

Me: Meet me in the park in 5 minutes. Sent at 4:55pm.

When I had reached the park though, he wasn't there.

He might have not seen it yet... Or maybe he's getting his shoes on. I should give him a moment.

I ducked under the playhouse as I waited for him, avoiding my dad's potential curious gaze out the window. All the while, I stared at my phone desperately to see if he read the text.

Though no ticks appeared.

When three minutes had passed with nothing, I started to wonder if I should just head home.

Should I call?

No... it would be weird to call him over this. Maybe today is also not meant to be.

Oh, why didn't I just let him kiss me yesterday when my face was covered in—

"Boo!" a voice whispered from behind me.

A yelp escaped my mouth, echoing around the plastic and metal shelter, quickly succeeded by a thunk as my head hid the roof. "Ow," I whimpered.

"Shit!" Frazer exclaimed, rounding the fortress before ducking under it to join me. His hand gingerly stroked my head, now with a sizeable egg atop. "I should have thought that one through. I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I mumbled, a slight pout forming on my face, especially as Frazer struggled to hold back the smirk.

Though once my throbbing head finally returned to some form of functioning, I realised, He's here.

At once, I pressed him against the wall, his body thudding against the frame.

He let out his own pained grunt, yet I barely paid his displeasure any mind. Instead, my hands hungrily sought him.

One drifted up to his shoulder, keeping him pinned just where I needed him. The other wound around to the back of his head, fisting his hair as I yanked his ridiculously tall stature to a more suitable height.

Then, without delay, I shifted onto my tip toes and all but slammed my mouth against his.

In my hurry to move us along, Frazer had let out a confused, "What is... What are... Oh."

He froze for a moment as my mouth brushed over his.

Though eventually his desire kicked into action.

One arm wound around my waist, tugging my body impossibly closer to his, making me wonder where I ended and he began.

Another hand cupped the nape of my neck, tilting my head higher as he returned my kiss, his mouth parting, our lips dancing with each other.

Yet it still wasn't enough.

I trailed my tongue over his top lip, and he willingly opened his mouth wider.

I forced my way further into him, stroking him, tasting him, drowning in his intoxication like I had been starved of him.

My behaviour that day in the park was a little absurd, looking back. I mean, it had only been 24 hours since we started dating, and I was acting like I'd die if I didn't kiss him as passionately as possible in that moment— as if I didn't prove in this one kiss how much I desired him, I'd never be able to kiss him again. Or perhaps I was acting as though it was my only chance to ever kiss him.

At the same time, my desperateness made sense. Because, even if it had just been 24 hours since he was mine, he had been in my heart for months. And for weeks, as I laid in bed listening to his voice caress my ears and soul, I dreamed of a world in which we'd be this close.

Though whatever shame had accrued in me for my behaviour that day did not linger long, as Frazer clearly needed me just as much I him, acting just as irrationally and passionately as me.

His hand that had been safely on my waist became greedy for more. At first it just yanked me impossibly closer against his frame, so that all I felt against me was his lean body. Yet then it began to wander up and down my back, tracing over the outline of my bra, dipping down to play with the hem of my shirt, then finally stealing a few brushes of my bare back.

"Frazer," I sighed as we pulled apart to reposition.

And he groaned in response before pushing me against the other wall of the playhouse.

His waist now had me pinned against the wall. The wandering hand switched to cup my face. Though now the other hand explored its way over me, briefly grazing over my butt, creeping under the back of my shirt to trace my spine, and then eventually dancing up the side of my torso, stopping only just under my bra.

Too soon, he froze again.

His lips came off mine, his eyes flickered open, gaze full of lust and desire for a few beats of my heart.

Then his hand slowly retreated.

"Don't stop," I breathed, trying to tug him closer.

He caved for a moment, sharing another brief kiss with me, but I could feel the smile turning up his lips before he moved out of my reach, using his stupid height to detain my hungry mouth.

"If we don't stop then I'll take this too far too soon," he whispered before tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, eyes still so dazzling that I felt he was looking into the deepest parts of me.

"That's okay with me."

Though Frazer shook his head. "Too many romantic moments have been stolen from us. I'm not going to let all of them be ruined."

I sighed. "You saying kissing under a jungle gym isn't romantic?"

He snorted. "It's... a little cramped in here." It was then that I noticed his back and neck were bent to accommodate his height.

"At least I came through with my promise."

"You did indeed... and more. That was an amazing kiss. And might I add, you're a natural at it."

"Natural?" I repeated.

He hesitated. "At kissing."

My brows furrowed. "Rather than being a natural, I'd put it down to practice?"

Another pregnant pause filled the space. "What do you mean by practice?"

"What do you mean by natural?"

"Was that not your first kiss?"

I barked a laugh. "Of course not, Fraze. I'm eighteen..." Though when my eyes wandered over his expression, I dumbfoundedly asked, "Was it yours?"

He didn't say anything. Instead, he looked anywhere and everywhere but me. His cheeks became a little flushed, and his discontent was difficult for him to conceal, even though he was trying his hardest to feign nonchalance.

"Well, you are the natural."

Though he didn't say anything back, still refusing to look at me.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Then why do you seem mad? Or upset?"

"I'm not."

"You're something. Different to before."

"We should head back." He started to leave the playhouse, but I gripped his arm.

"Frazer, please don't leave," I croaked, hating that my voice was inflected with the fear that was now racing through me and my eyes already glossing over in anticipation.

My plea and tone stopped him in his tracks. He glanced back at me, concern quickly washing over his face before he pulled me into his arms. "Hey, why are you crying?"

"Because you're mad at me!"

"Oh, Em. I'm not mad at you."

"Then why were you—"

"I'm mad at myself."

"Because you haven't kissed anyone before?"

"Because I'm stupidly jealous that I don't get to share that first with you. And that my head keeps thinking about who it was you've kissed before and wanting to ask you who and when and how often and if it meant anything and... I don't want to be that type of person. I don't want you to think I'm... uncool or the jealous type because... you like me and only me now. That's what matters." He pulled back, glancing at me as if waiting for confirmation.

And I nodded, before wiping the tears from my face. "However, just as you've liked other girls, I haven't sat around not being interested in others. So you shouldn't be building those assumptions about me."

"You said you hadn't dated anyone before..."

"Yeah and people don't only kiss people they dated. Though the kisses weren't with people I liked, by the way."

"How is—"

"It was back when people still invited me to things at the beginning of high school. And we'd play spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven and all that stupid stuff. Though often when it landed on me there'd be complaints... who'd want to kiss Snappy Em? Not that that's what they called me back then."

His lips were on mine again briefly before he pulled back to rest his head on my head. "I want to kiss you. And screw those jerks. Though I'm glad they took no interest in you. Means you're all mine now."

"I'm starting to think you have an unhealthy desire to possess me."

"You know... I think that too. If I were a ghost, I'd definitely take over your body."

"Would you now? And what would you do with me?"

A sly smirk stole his face. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

I slapped at his arm. "Perv."

"Says the one who wanted me to go further before."

I responded by pulling him in for another kiss.

But interrupting us were the streetlights flickering on.

"Shit," I muttered as I glanced out of the playhouse. "What's the time?"

Frazer fished his phone out and read, "Five-thirty."

"Double shit! I have to go home. Dad thinks I was just getting groceries."

"I don't want to let you go though." He gave me another squeeze, but then released me. "However, I still want our car rides."

"If we still have them..."

"Em!"

"Wait here for ten minutes. That way he doesn't see you going home."

"Okay."

I took a few steps away from the jungle gym, but then paused. Spinning on my heel, I hurried back over to him, giving him a peck on the lips once more.

"Go, you kiss-aholic."

"I am!" I giggled, then jogged home, slowing down just as I entered the driveway to calm my breath and fix my hair before I entered.

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