Presley

She had to be feeling what I was feeling, when we cuddled for the last part of the movie. She made the first move. She put herself there, so close to me. And I was glad. If I'd had made a move and she wasn't into it - ahh, that would have been embarrassing. But she did it, and her head on my shoulder was the best thing that had happened to me in a long time. How I could feeling her heart beating through my body. How my hands rested on her stomach and she didn't move or push me away.

   I didn't think I deserved a girl like this. I'd spent two years feeling sorry for myself because I missed out on a lot. I'd spent two years spending most of my time in my bedroom, making music that sometimes made me feel a bit better. But this - this is what I wanted. This is what I needed. I had to make this girl understand that we met for a reason.

   Now we were sitting next to each other again, close, but not as close as we were. The blanket was now mostly across her lap, her hands crossed together on top. She was so beautiful, with her hair down and those freckles across her nose. God, I wanted her close again. But I knew the only way to do this was to be a gentleman. Err on the side of caution. Don't move too fast, even though I wanted to.

   The second movie began, an action thriller that I'd also seen a handful of times. I was a home body and I liked movies. They helped me pass time and get lost in a world that was better than the real one. I watched a lot of movies when I was in the hospital, too, to take my mind off of pain, and loneliness.

   I waited, keeping my fingers theoretically crossed that Magnolia would cuddle up to me again. I mean, that had to be why she'd agreed to stay for the second movie, right? I watched as her eyes stayed on the huge projected screen in front of us. It was so dark, but I could see her because my eyes were so focused. On her. Was she teasing me on purpose? I was aching for her to be close again, just as she glanced at me and smiled.

   "Want some blanket?" she asked, and I knew that was her way of asking if I wanted her to get closer.

   I nodded, because my throat was dry and without screaming yes, I didn't know how else to respond. With a nervous look on her face, she scooted into my arms again. This time I didn't hesitate. I didn't wait until she told me it was okay. My arms wrapped her body close to mine, somehow different than the first time. Now, her head was mostly on my chest. I could have leaned down and kissed her head, or her cheek or her neck, just like that. But I resisted. We had to go slow. I had to go slow.

   The movie was playing, but it was the furthest thing from my mind. I hadn't anticipating this. I had assumed we would watch from opposite sides of the car, and I'd sneak glances at her when I could. This was a million times better than what I'd imagined. She seemed comfortable with her body pressed against mine. She smelled so good, it was intoxicating. My body was reacting, of course, so I tried to adjust so she wouldn't feel anything. I didn't need to make this awkward. I wished I knew what she was thinking.

   "This is so nice," I whispered in her ear. "You warm enough?"

   "Yeah, cozy. Thanks," she answered, her voice sweet and shy.

   I got a shiver up my back thinking about doing this again. Or taking her to a nice restaurant. Or bringing her home to meet my mom. Or making out with her in my bed. Okay, I knew I was getting ahead of myself. But she liked this. I knew that now.

   We were on the same page.

~~~

Magnolia

I had never felt like this before. When I bumped into Presley at the college fair, I was angry. Sad. Worried. When he looked into my eyes, he saw me. He calmed me, for that moment. Then again, in the parking lot when he convinced me to get into his car. I'd been nervous. Unsure. But as we sat together at the skate park, he made me feel calm and comfortable. It wasn't anything he'd done in particular. It was his demeanor and how he looked at me like I was something special. Something he wanted.

   Now, in the back of his car with his arms around me, all I could think was how I'd never felt like this. Warm. Comfortable . Happy. The way he slipped his arms around me this time was with more ease, with more certainty. I was too scared to let myself worry about what happens next. I just wanted to be in the moment.

   I'd never seen this movie, but it was clear that was not why we had stayed. I couldn't focus, with his warm body against mine.

   He's going to kiss me. Does he want to kiss me? Does he think I want to kiss him?

   I thought I wanted him to kiss me, but I had no idea how to let him know.

   He seemed to be focused on the movie, but I was only focused on his steady breathing. It settled mine.

   "Hey," he whispered, his mouth so close to my ear.

   "Yeah?" I asked back, not moving.

   "You good?" he asked sweetly, adjusting a bit, so he was holding me tighter.

   "Yeah," I said, but that didn't seem very convincing. "Really good."

   "Good."

   The word made the hair on my arms stand up, likely because his lips were practically touching my ear as he spoke it. Every sensation was new. Every touch was something I didn't know I wanted. I knew he was waiting on me to make the first move, once again. I knew I wanted to, but I didn't really know how.

   After about ten more minutes, I knew the movie was wrapping up. It was after midnight, I saw Presley's watch. I'd never felt so alive, or awake. It wasn't a question now whether or not he would want to kiss me. But was I courageous enough to try?

   I didn't want to lose the chance, so I shifted my body a little, so I could easily see his face. His eyes immediately came to meet mine, questioning. One of his arms dropped to the side, the other still sort of holding me. I was looking up at him, trying to give him my best look of desire. I mean, come on, I hadn't practised this or anything. I hadn't been anticipating cuddling him or thinking so hard about kissing him. But it was happening.

   "Magnolia..."

   Oh god, why did he say my name like that?

   Yasmin had been calling me Lia for ten years and my mom called me Maggie. My dad rarely addressed me at all, but it was usually Magnolia, with a stern tone. So this. This was magical. It was sexy and it felt like his favourite word in the world.

   "Presley..." I said back, but smiled without thinking.

   When his lips collided with mine, it felt like I was finally taking a breath after being under water for too long. They were soft and warm and my body exploded like fireworks at the gentlest touch. He didn't over do it - though I wouldn't have complained - and when he pulled back, there was a sparkle in his eyes.

   "Oh, shit, was that okay?" he asked, sort of ruining the moment. I liked that he was so conscious about what I wanted though.

   "Yeah," I said, our mouths still close. "It was more than okay."

   He squeezed his eyes shut and laid his head back against the side of the car, sighing deeply. It happened fast and I wasn't sure if I'd done something wrong or what. I moved so there was some space between us, but he quickly popped his eyes open and pulled me back in close again.

   "Sorry. That was... I didn't mean to kiss you like that."

   I was a bit confused, but smiled up at him. "Why not?"

   "I didn't know if it was too soon... if I should have waited, or -" he sounded frantic.

   Reaching up to graze his cheek with my fingers, he closed his eyes again. There was a whole minute where we just sat like that, me trying to remember how his lips felt on mine.

   The credits were rolling before I knew it and we were frozen in time. As he slowly opened his eyes, a smirk grew on his lips. There was so much to say, I knew that. But right now, I just wanted him to know that he didn't do anything wrong.

   "I wanted you to kiss me," I whispered.

   "Yeah?" he asked, the smirk turning into a grin.

   "Yes."

   His heart was pounding, I could feel it. I was pretty much laying on his chest now, looking up at him. His arms were around my back, keeping me close. But the movie was over and cars around us were starting their engines and driving away. I had time, but I didn't have too much. I didn't want to go back to the front of the car and drive back to Yasmin's, I knew that.

   "This is... tonight was..." he said, not finishing a sentence.

   "Yeah," I agreed knowing what he meant.

   "I kind of want to stay here like this..." he admitted, then leaned down and pressed his mouth to the top of my head.

   "I know."

   After another deep breath, he opened his arms, releasing me. Just like that, it was over.

   "I should get you home. Or, to Yasmin's."

   Even though I felt like crying, sat up and agreed.