Preface

My first kiss was a boy who lived just across the street. We were the same age—Sam was only two weeks older—and we went to Kindergarten together. We were best friends.

Birthday Party and Alone

Years later, it was his ninth birthday party. I was the only girl, and Sam’s mom didn’t want me to feel left out, so she didn’t let any of the boys spend the night. After all the other guests left, my mom volunteered to help clean up the mess we kids made.
Sam and I went outside, to the creek almost hidden in the trees behind the house. We had always been told not to go into the water, or even near if it was in the rainy season. It had been dry for almost a week, so we sat on a log and watched the water trickle by.
Sam surprised me by asking, “Have you ever kissed someone? I mean, outside your family.”
I glanced over at him and gave him the answer Mom told me to give any boy if he ever asked such an inquiry. “Samuel Levi Jackson! That is not a question you should ask a lady!”
His forehead wrinkled. “I know, but I’m asking you.”
I looked back out to the creek. “No, I haven’t. Why would I? Only grown-ups kiss. Why would you even ask a question like that?”
He blushed. “Something one of the guys said…but it’s nothing, really. I was just wondering, that’s all, I pinky promise. No need to get your braids in a twist.”
“Uh-huh. What did he say?”
“That…you were my girlfriend. He said he bet we kissed behind the bleachers in gym class. So I was just wondering…”
“What?” I stood up quickly. “I am not your girlfriend! Who said that?”
“I-I can’t tell you. But don’t worry, I told him he was wrong. I know you’re not my girlfriend.”
And then Sam did something that, now as I look back, made me sure he was just playing me. At the time, I didn’t know what to think. Sam Jackson, my neighbor and best friend, pulled me back down and kissed my mouth.
The moment he let go of me, I ran back up to the house, ignoring Sam’s pleas for me to stop, to wait for him, and told Mom I wanted to go home that instant. We left, Mom giving Mrs. Jackson the look that means well, what can you do?

Sam and I didn’t talk after that. He moved later that month. I didn’t know his family was moving away, but all his other friends knew. After he left, they all ignored me. Sam was the only thing tying them to me. That tie was now broken.
I passed through the rest of the school year without any friends, but I befriended some other girls over the summer. When school came around again, I had my own little gang and I forgot Samuel Levi Jackson.

Summer after Freshman Year

I woke up on the last day of my freshman year, looking forward to the summer. Anne and I were going to go to her grandparents’ house in California for a month. They lived right on the beach. Anne and I vowed to get the best tans in the whole school, as well as meet hot California boys. But first, I had to go to the educational prison they called school for three more hours.

I hurried out the door and into the green civic that was idling on the road in front of the house. In the driver’s seat was Alex, Anne’s older brother. Anne was waiting in the backseat for me.

The plane soared up, above our heads. I smiled. Soon, Anne and I would be laying on our towels on the beach, peeking around at eye candy. We walked into the airport, checked our bags, and walked through security with a half hour to spare, so we grabbed some lunch at one of the over-priced cafés.


A week passed, quick as a blink. Neither of us had a summer romance yet. I was depressed, in that regard. I thought my hot pink bikini and Anne’s lime green one was going to get the boys to flock around.
Anne was sunburned, so we decided to stay away from the beach for at least a couple of days. She wanted to just stay inside all day, but I couldn’t agree to that. I wasn’t exactly claustrophobic, but I simply couldn’t stay in a house all day unless the weather was absolutely horrible. And this weather wasn’t bad in the least.
I pulled on a bright blue tank, a white jean skirt, gold bangles, and my black flip-flops. Grabbing my wallet and phone, I put them in my bag and promised to be back later.
Walking around in downtown alone was depressing. Everywhere I looked, there were couples of every age or friends hanging out. I ducked into what looked like to be a coffee shop. I was right, although it was also a bookstore. I ordered a frappe and sat at a table by the window, the only empty table in the whole store, it seemed.
As I was sipping my drink, a hand touched the table. I looked up to see a boy who seemed like he lived here. It wasn’t that he was messy or anything, but he looked like he simply belonged here.
His kinda long, dark brown curls framed a cute tanned face with those black nerd glasses that rarely look good. He made them look good. He wore a blue-purple-green plaid shirt and a black tee over dark wash jeans. On his feet were black converse.
“Can I sit here?” He asked me, quietly.
“Yeah, yeah, sure you can.” I moved my bag from the seat across from me and put it on the floor beside me.
“Thanks.” He smiled shyly and glanced down at his scone before looking back up at me. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I haven’t been here before. I’m just visiting California with a friend.”
“Oh. I didn’t know you were with someone here…” He stood as if to go, but, surprising even myself, I reached out and grabbed his arm to still him.
“No, no. It’s fine. Stay, please. My friend…she wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed home. But I couldn’t stay inside all day, so I opted for exploring the city. Do you know any fun places I should go see?”
“Yeah, I do, actually. There’s a bunch of sites to see, but I don’t know exactly what you would be interested in. I mean, there’s museums, restaurants, beaches…There’s everything and more, really.”
“Are there any good art museums?” I asked, starting to get excited. Art was one of my passions. I wasn’t a Monet by any stretch of the imagination, but I loved looking at paintings and sculptures.
“Yeah, there is. Umm…okay. So you walk out of the door, turn right, and go straight for about three blocks. Then turn down Fifth Ave. and walk about half a block. There’s a brick building there, kinda looks like an apartment building. Go inside. The outside doesn’t look like much, but the art inside is priceless.”
He lost me at the door—almost literally. I had always been bad with directions. “Wait…can you write that down?”
He laughed softly. “Better yet, I can take you there. My shift doesn’t start for another hour or so.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I work here. That’s how I knew you hadn’t been here before. I know all the regulars, and that’s all who come. That, and I think I would remember seeing you.”
I blushed. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. It’s only the truth. I’m Sam, by the way.”
“I’m Danni.”
Something flickered in his eyes, but it was gone before I could identify it. I quickly forgot it, though, as he answered, “Well, no time like the present, I suppose. Are you ready to go?”
I finished my frappe and threw away the cup. “Yep, all set.”
He tossed his trash in the garbage too and walked forward to hold the door open for me. “After you.”
As I walked by him, I heard from behind me someone yell, “Jackson! You better be back on time! You already got two strikes, dude!”
Sam chuckled, and I realized the shouter was talking to him. “You said your name was Sam.” I accused, turning to face him.
“Yeah, it is. Sam Jackson. There’s another Sam who works here, a girl, so I go by my last name to make it less confusing.”
The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t remember from where. I shrugged it off and followed him down the sidewalk. Within ten minutes, we were in front of the brick building.
Sam glanced at his watch. “I got a lot of time to spare. Mind if I join you here for a while?”
“Of course not! I’m sure you know your way around this place. Better than me, anyway. But only if you’re sure you don’t mind babysitting a tourist.”
“I don’t, I promise. ‘Sides, I got nothing better to do.”
I led him up the steps and to the door. “Oh, how much is it to get in?”
“Two dollars per person.”
“That’s it?”
He shrugged and opened the door for me. “Yeah, well. It’s a small place and doesn’t have any stuffy, old, world-famous paintings like the Mona Lisa. You aren’t complaining, are you?”
“Of course not!” I grinned and walked inside. A brunette woman sat at a desk in one corner. Behind and to her right was a doorway. Through it, I could see art on the walls and on the floor.
The woman looked up and smiled at us. “Not you again, Sam. When will you get tired of the art in these walls?”
“When pigs fly and fish walk.” He answered and went up to the desk. I followed, digging into my bag for my wallet. When I glanced up, Sam was handing over a five dollar bill. The woman gave him only a one back.
I shook my head. “I can pay my own way.”
Sam turned to me. “Danni, come on. Let me do the gentleman thing. It’s only two bucks. Not much difference.”
“Which is exactly why I can pay for myself. It’s not much difference, after all. So take my money.”
He rolled his eyes, but took my bills and stuffed them in his wallet. “Danni Rose, you are as stubborn now as ever.”
I paused. “How do you—?”
“C’mon, Danni. Don’t you remember me?”
“No.” I recognized the name, but not the face. Who was this boy?
“Hmm. Well, that’s interesting. I’ll tell you what: I’ll tell you who I am if you can’t figure it out by the time we finish the art tour, okay?”
“It’s a deal.”
He led me into the next room, and I gasped at the first painting. It was colorful and bright, interesting and intriguing. I could spend hours in this small room! But we only had about half an hour.

Outside on the steps, twenty-six minutes later, I sat down and faced the street, the cars, the pedestrians. “Okay, Sam. I give up. Who are you and how do you know me?”
He sat down beside me. “I used to live across the street from you. We were like, best friends until I moved when we were both nine. I can’t believe you don’t remember me.”
I stared at him for a few seconds, then it clicked. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe I…wow. Um, yeah. Your birthday party was the last time we spoke. I remember now. I’m sorry, it was just so long ago and…I thought it all was some dream I had when I was a kid or something.”
He nodded and grinned slyly. “I was your first kiss.”
I blushed. “Yes, you were. I had no idea that you were about to kiss me, and then you did. I was so mad…furious, really. You were supposed to be my best friend, after all. And I still believed in cooties at the time.”
“Do you still now?” He asked.
“N—” But I didn’t get to finish before his lips were on mine. I should have guessed this time what he was planning, but he caught me by surprise.
At first, it was a gentle little peck, but when Sam pulled away, I cupped both his cheeks and brought his face back to mine. My hands trailed back to tangle in his hair. His hands came up to rest on my hips.
I pulled back and stared into his mischievous eyes. “Samuel Levi Jackson, you do not kiss a lady!”
“I know.” His grin widened. “That’s why I kissed you.”
I crushed my lips to his again. This kiss was better than the one when we were nine. A lot better.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 13.07.2012

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