Scarred and Loved

The Kiss

Samuel

     I was at the school entrance the next day with Heather and my friends, hanging out until the bell rang. We were talking about everything, but our main topic was Scarlett. Well, the guys did most of the talking. 

      “Dude, that girl is smoking hot. I can’t believe she was hiding all that beauty underneath those ugly clothes,” Jackson said. 

      “It’s impossible not to admire her now. She is beautiful,” Devon agreed. 

      “Yeah dude, I would date her in a heartbeat” Jackson smirked. 

      I had a frown on my face at their comments. It was bothering me, but I couldn’t admit it. 

    Why was I feeling this way? I only want her back as a friend, or do I? I tensed, trying to ignore what they were saying, but failing to be discreet about it. 

     “What is wrong with you? Don’t tell me that you’re upset about it,” Heather said, raising her eyebrow and folding her arms across her chest.

      “Of course not. They can say whatever they want about her. It’s not like I care,” I replied. I didn’t want anyone to know I was starting to feel things for her. Was I starting to have feelings for her? 

     It was enough that they knew about me wanting her in my life again.

      The sudden sound of a motorcycle was heard and we just stood there in silence while Scarlett parked it, right next to us. 

     She took her helmet off and walked our way, not taking her eyes off me. To our surprise, she grabbed me by my football jacket and kissed me. 

      I was shocked at first, but then relaxed and held her by the hem of her leather jacket and as soon as she was against my body, I wrapped my arms around her waist. She put her arms around my neck, deepening our kiss. 

      We both pulled back, feeling like our breaths were escaping us and stared at each other. After just a few seconds, she seemed to have come to her senses and pulled away from my arms. 

      Scarlett cleared her throat and she walked away from me. I followed her and grabbed her gently by the warm.

      “What was that about?” I asked, confused.

      “I don’t know. I just felt like doing it, there should not be a real reason behind a kiss,” she replied, and that made me upset. 

      I pulled her inside the school and found the janitor’s closet. Locking the door and facing her, I noticed how indifferent she was.

     “Is this some sort of game to you? What have I done for you to mess with me like that?”  

     “You have done nothing to me,” she said, holding her chin with her fingers, “oh wait, now that I think about it, yes you did. You let your little girlfriend attack me, and now this scar won’t go anywhere. I just want to have a little fun, I thought you liked fun girls.” 

      I let out an exasperated sigh and ran a hand through my hair.

     “How many times do I have to apologize? This is not the real you. The real you is kind and selfless.”

      “I guess not anymore, you all made sure of that,” she said and opening the door, she walked out, leaving me there.

******

Scarlett

      I left the closet and walked down the hallway when my classmates saw me and waved. I tried to ignore them and walk the other way, but they still caught up to me. 

      “Hi, Scarlett. How are you? We haven’t seen you at practice anymore and we have the competition coming soon. Where have you been?” Zoey asked. I felt guilty but had to pretend I didn’t. 

      “Well, I’ve had a lot to do. Been busy with other things. Now, if yoI’ll excuse me, I have to get to class,” I replied.

     I walked away from them, knowing they were my classmates and they have always been there for me. But I had to act as if nothing bothered me. As if I didn’t care. 

****

Samuel

      Another day of football practice and the guys were warming up. I couldn’t focus at all. All I was doing was think about that kiss.

      “Hey, dude,” Devon said, waving his hand in front of my face, “What’s going on with you? We’re about to start practice and you keep spacing out.”

      I just shrugged my shoulders and started to get ready for practice. 

     They were all in position, and when the coach blew the whistle, the game had started. I was so out of it, giving my teammates a chance to tackle me several times.

     The coach was pretty angry and yelled at me.

     “Come on Samuel, get it together! What’s wrong with you today?”

      I took my helmet off and jogged towards him.

    “Sorry, coach. I can’t practice today, my mind is not in the game.” I said while he took a deep breath and nodded. 

      “Go take a shower, and don’t come back to practice until you’re sure your head is in the game, or I will suspend you until the end of the season, you hear me?” he scolded. 

      “Yes, coach. I promise” I replied and jogged to the locker rooms. On my way there, I looked at the benches and there she was, sitting and looking straight at me with a smirk on her face. I just gave her a quick glance, shook my head and kept going. 

******

Scarlett

      I felt a little guilty for what I did in the morning, but I wouldn’t let Samuel know what I was really feeling. I watched as he entered the locker room and I decided to follow him. 

      I walked in and locked the door behind me. Samuel was about to take a shower. He had a towel around his waist and I could feel butterflies in my stomach. What the hell is wrong with me?

      I’m supposed to hate him and ignore him, but then why am I feeling as if my heart would come out every time I see him? It’s not like I haven’t seen him since we were kids, we’re neighbors for God’s sake.

     I had to admit to myself that I just wanted to hug him and kiss him, but this time not just to anger him. There were feelings there, but I couldn’t show it and it was killing me on the inside. I had to be strong. 

      Thinking about it, I decided to walk out so I didn’t bother him. 

      “Scarlett?” He said. Busted. 

      With a shy smile, I ran out of there and when I opened the door, some of his teammates were standing in front of the door and looked at me with their eyebrows raised. 

      “What? Don’t tell me you haven’t seen a girl come out of the locker room,” I huffed. 

      “Yes, we have. But coming out from the actual girl’s locker room,” one of the guys pointed out. I looked at the door and feigned ignorance. 

      “I guess I went in the wrong one then” I shrugged my shoulders before I walked away.

      “Sure, with Samuel in there, any girl would get confused and go to the wrong locker room!” they yelled as their laughs were echoing in the hallway. 

     Typical boys, assuming. I would never try to seduce Samuel on purpose. That kiss in the morning was just a mistake and I shouldn’t have done that. But on the inside, I felt as if I melted every time we were near each other. I was trying so hard to stop feeling that way.