I had done it. Finally Ashley knew the truth. A huge weight had been lifted off of my chest.

A week later we spent the entire day together. Ashley had packed a lunch and we went to Thrasher park. After eating we started to walk through the woods. In a small moment of bravery I reached down and linked our pinkies. She looked over and smiled.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully and eventually we ended up back at Ashley’s. We walked out to the backyard and up the rather large hill for a view of the stars. It was a startlingly clear night and we lay down close together on the soft grass. She reached over and brushed my hair out of my face. My breath caught as she looked into my eyes. Nothing physical had happened between us and amazingly Ash seemed rather nervous whenever we got close.

That night was different though. There was electricity around us, between us. I looked into her eyes that were so full of love and sighed happily. She leaned down slowly and pressed her lips to mine. Her hands cupped my face and as our lips moved gently against each others I felt myself being transported to another world. One full of magical tingles. This then was what it meant to be in love and have it returned. She gently ran her tongue over my bottom lip and pulled away. I had never experienced anything like it. No kiss before that could ever compare. It was the first kiss of first kisses. I wanted to cry, I was so happy. I was also pretty sure no one would ever be able to kiss me like that ever again.

At the same time it sent my mind reeling. I had wanted to kiss her so badly and now that it had happened I didn’t know what to do or think. The situation had just cemented itself in reality and I wasn’t sure if I was ready. I had hoped that confessing my love to her would make me feel better. Instead I was even more confused, mainly because it had never occured to me that she felt the same. Thoughts of what people would say started to cloud my mind. Would I spend the rest of my life hiding? Constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure no one caught Ashley and I holding hands? Would I stop everytime I heard low whispers, thinking someone was talking about me? I had no idea.