Chapter 10

"I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE seeing Art!" Avery smiled at Auntie Jenny after placing her carry-on in the overhead bin.

The trip to D.C. was the graduation gift our parents gave to us. But, of course, they wouldn't allow it if Art's mom wasn't with us. It calmed me, too, knowing we were going with Auntie Jenny.

"Are you excited?" Avery pinched my side.

I sighed. "A little." I looked away, not wanting to meet her eyes.

"You don't have to lie to me, you know." Avery's cheek was now on mine. "I know you're excited and nervous too."

I glanced at Auntie Jenny, ensuring our conversation was out of her earshot.

"I feel like I'm more nervous than excited."

Avery rolled her eyes. "Don't worry too much. I've heard he never looked at anyone since he moved to D.C.

I took a deep breath. "But it doesn't mean Art wanted to see me after everything."

"It's been two years, Shells." Avery squeezed my hand. "We're eighteen now."

"That's what worries me. It had been two years, and he never came back to see us even as his friends."

Avery pouted and winked at me. "Duh! Because he didn't want to be friends with you."

As always, my best friend never fails to put a smile on my face. Despite my nervousness, her statement gave me hope.

But being reminded about it, Art not coming home for two years, made me lose whatever hope I had regarding us. No calls, messages, or greetings on special occasions, even on my eighteenth birthday.

He forgot what we had planned, that he would be my escort at my debut party. But it was a blessing in disguise. I didn't have the party mood in me anyways. So it was easier to convince my mom that I would save all the money for this trip instead of spending it on a lavish party. And Auntie Jenny was so helpful in convincing my mom and Avery's parents that we take this trip with her.

***

It took us an hour and forty-five minutes from Boston Logan to Washington D.C, but I felt like the travel time happened in just a blink. I was excited to see Art but also nervous about how we would react to each other when we got face-to-face.

Before my mind could further daydream about Art, Avery quietly pulled me towards a restroom.

"I heard Auntie Jenny telling my mom on the phone that Art would come to pick us up."

Avery brought out her makeup kit. Without a word, she started retouching my face with powder and finished it by putting a baby pink gloss on my lips. Then, she handed me a hairbrush as she fixed her hair and put her makeup kit inside her bag.

"Do we have to do this?" I looked at her in the mirror. "Nothing much changed." I bit my lip. "I'm sure Art won't see me any different now."

Avery tugged my hair in exaggeration. "You should always come prepared! Our goal is to make him regret and realize how prettier you'd turned from two years ago." She looked around and whispered, "to make him see how fuckable you blossomed into."

I tugged Avery's hair hard. "Crazy!"

She flipped her hair and rolled her eyes at me. "Call me crazy, but if you think my suggestions were boring, why don't you forget your feelings for Art? Instead, let's enjoy this trip as three best friends' adventure."

"I can't just grow another heart." I shook my head. "You knew how much I've tried."

Avery nodded. "I know. I'm just kidding. That's why we must ensure this trip will be worth the wait."

"Sometimes, I blame myself for not telling him the truth the last time we talked. I felt selfish not allowing him to explain or hear the truth about Ashton."

Avery took my hand and guided me outside, where Auntie Jenny was waiting.

"You are not selfish for wanting the same energy and love you give, Shells," she whispered.

As we walked near Auntie Jenny, my heart started beating fast. I felt goosebumps on my arms. I'm sure of one thing; Art is near. I feel him.

I looked around. Before I could tell Avery what I was thinking, her scream echoed in the airport lounge.

"ART!!!" Avery shouted.

As soon as Auntie Jenny turned around and smiled at us, Art appeared beside her.

I couldn't breathe. It felt like millions of butterflies were fighting inside my stomach while my heart was fighting hell to get out of my chest.

Even without seeing my face, the burning sensation I could feel the moment my eyes and Art's locked could attest to it. For a few seconds, he glanced at Avery but immediately, he met my gaze again.

As I tried counting the steps toward them, Avery dragged my hand as fast as she could. I wasn't sure if I wanted her to carry me quickly or the ground to swallow me whole instead. I couldn't even remember the lines I rehearsed while on the plane.

Please, someone, help me remember!

I knew I had prepared for this moment. But my mind went into total blackout as my heart turned into a raging bull.

"Triple OMG, Art!" Avery pulled him for a hug, then she tapped his shoulder hard. "Look at you! Where did you buy those abs?"

Art chuckled, but his eyes were still on me. When Avery pulled away from him, he started walking toward me. My eyes turned glassy, and a lump formed in my throat as an overflowing emotion of longing and happiness engulfed me.

When we were a breath away from each other, Art opened his arms. I could feel the heaving of his chest. And I was sure he could feel mine.

His lips curved into a signature smile. "Hello, Shells!"

I smiled, feeling my lips trembling. "Hi, Art!"

There was something different about him.

I didn't make the first move. His arms pulled me towards him. As he enclosed me in his embrace, he whispered, "I miss you freaking much!" I didn't say the first word.

Though my mind was debating with my heart, my hands quietly had their way. It slowly circled his neck. And my voice had its mind, too, I guess. "I miss you, too. So freaking much!"

Slowly, I felt my body lifted from the ground. Art's hard muscles were on display as he pulled me closer, making my face level with his. And the moment our eyes met again, everything was perfect.

I knew he would kiss me on the forehead like always. I couldn't wait. Though I've been hoping for more for so long, a friendly forehead kiss would be an excellent welcome I wouldn't decline.

But what I thought was right. It confirmed something was different with Art beside his leveled-up gorgeousness and panty-wetting body.

I braced myself for his forehead kiss and closed my eyes. However, I felt his breathing too close to my lips as he said my name. "Shells, I should have done this a long time ago."

Before I could open my eyes and ask, I felt his lips on mine. Even though the world stopped, I could feel his tongue gently seeking mine. And this time, my heart won. I slowly gave him access to mine.

It was like a split second of non-verbalized emotions. We expressed all the bottled-up feelings we had for each other for years in the longest, softest, and sweetest first kiss of my life.

Art kissed me. He was still kissing me.

I kissed him back. And we are still kissing.

***