Chapter 3

Finally, the damn party was over, Bruno and his mom would be staying at our house…since his mom was practically like our mother…she was always there for us! My brothers usually wouldn’t let a guy stay over, but since it was Bruno they had made an exception. His room ended up being right next to mine, we had said our goodnights and went to our rooms. Days went by and with each passing day I could feel something more for Bruno…I didn’t know what it was, but every time he was near me I could feel my heart beat faster—I couldn’t think. At nights, I couldn’t sleep, I would stay up thinking about a conversation we had. It was so simple but it stayed in her mind forever. He was so funny, always made her laugh…just like when they first met. And here I was again lying on my bed, thinking about him, and the kiss we almost had that day, stupid Jamie had to interrupt. ‘But was that even going to be a kiss, what if he was just blowing something on my face…I mean nothings happened after that, oh God I think too much.’ Suddenly there was a knock on my door, I got up to open it and see Bruno standing there in front of me.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t sleep. I thought you might be up too, so I came to check” He said. His eyes were looking at the floor, like he couldn’t look me in the face. 

He didn’t know why but he had to come and see her, he didn’t know what was happening to him. All he saw when he closed his eyes was her, he had to do everything in his power to not grab her and kiss her every time she was in front of him. He thought with time it would get better, but it wasn’t…it was only getting worse. He didn’t know why he wanted to see her, he just needed too.

“You want some cookies and milk?” I asked smiling.

He looked up. “What?”

“Whenever I can’t sleep, I have a little midnight snack” I looked at him in the eyes, I wanted to see if I could read them. And too my surprise, I could…he seemed…nervous. ‘But why?’ I asked myself too many questions, why wouldn’t my mind just shut up.

“Well…okay” He finally spoke.

We walked downstairs quietly, if my brothers heard…or even saw us; they would have a heart attack. A girl---and not just any girl they’re baby sister being alone with a boy at night wouldn’t make them too happy. We finally got to the kitchen, I opened the cupboards and grabbed the cookies I had baked in the morning, then went to the fridge and got milk and poured it in 2 glasses.

“Come, lets go sit on the table”

“Why can’t we sit on the couch” He protested.

“I don’t want to get crums on the couch, bugs will come”

“Oh dear lord, you’re a clean freak aren’t ya”

“I am no kinda freak” I said sticking my tongue out at him.

“Please, we’ll be more comfortable” He looked at me with pleading eyes, then smiled.

‘Shit, how did he always manage to make my heart skip a beat’…”Well I guess it’s okay, but please Bruno be careful”

“Okay madam” His tone of voice made me giggle. We made our way over to the couch and just sat down, he looked at me…with that nervous expression in his eyes.

“Is there something on your mind?” I couldn’t help it anymore, I needed to know.

“Are you reading my mind or something?”

“No, it’s that look in your eyes…it’s like you’re nervous about something?”

‘How did she know me so well’…”Well, looks like I can’t hide anything from you now can I Kiki?”

I smiled. Oh how he was slowly killing me. “Well, no…it doesn’t look like you can”

‘Her smile…oh God that smile, I can’t even think straight’…”You know I want to be a musician right, it’s all I ever wanted to do, it’s all I’m good at” He paused, the spoke again “I met this guy, Phil…Philip Lawrence, he seems cool…he heard me sing, and well he wants to meet me again tomorrow. He said I have what it takes to make it big, but I’m scared…I’ve never been good with rejection”

I don’t even know when I got up and went beside him, or how my arms went around him and my head on his shoulders. I didn’t know what to say to him, but I knew how he felt…I felt the same way about my dancing and teaching. It always felt right.

“Bruno, I heard you sing…no one will reject you, and if they do it’s their loss. All you can do is gain experience and better yourself for the next client. Even if you don’t get a singing chance right away, still go with…do whatever you have to do. Just get your foot in the door, and learn from what you can.” I finally looked up at him; he was looking directly at me. His eyes, the expression had changed…into something else, something more sensual, I could feel my skin starting to melt under his eyes. How did he always manage to do this to me? “What?” I finally managed to say.

“Your eyes, they’re beautiful.” He said. He was so close, I could smell him, he smelled so good, like that axe spray that makes angels fall. ‘What the hell Kiara, why are you thinking of stupid axe commercials…STOP THINKING! STOP THINKING’

“Thanks” I finally got that one stupid word out. He was still looking at me.

“No, thank you. You don’t understand how much your words mean to me, as long as you have faith in me…I know I’ll make it big.” He smiled at me, with that same expression in his eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that”…OH SHIT, did I just say that out loud…Kiara what did I say about thinking out loud?

“Look at you like what?” He was smiling, he knew exactly what she meant…he could see her melting under him…feel her skin burning against his. He liked what he did to her, because she did the same to him.

“Like that…you know exactly what I’m talking about. Now take that damn smirk off your face you little monkey” I smiled at him, he continued looking at me.

“Kiara, you’re so beautiful you know that?” He said touching her face. God was she beautiful, he wanted to kiss her, taste her, touch her…he wanted to have all of her.

Oh my god. How does he do that with just one touch? How can he make me forget how to breathe?...Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…this…is….not…working, she needed to get up. Why can’t I move, oh shit…I forgot how to walk, and what the hell do I do now? Say something…say something. “It’s getting late…you have meeting tomorrow, maybe we should sleep.” Okay good now get up. SHIT! How the hell do I get up, when he’s looking at me like that.

“If you wanna go, why don’t you get up?” He was smiling, she looks so cute when she blushes…her cheeks turn this rosy colour.

I close my eyes. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me…I can feel it. “Because” I said with my eyes still closed, “I forgot how to”

“What?” Now he was confused.

“When you touch me, I don’t know…I just forget everything else other then the fact that your skin is on my skin” My eyes were still closed, I couldn’t look at him. “It was like this when we were younger too, that night…our first time together. When you were sleeping, I woke up…this may sound a little creepy but I couldn’t sleep. I know I was just 2, and this may sound crazy but when you had your hand in mine I couldn’t think about anything, I didn’t remember where I was and why I was there, all I remember is you and your breathing. It was so in rhythm, when I looked at you sleeping you looked so peaceful and I forgot about all my pain, and just thought about you and how I never wanted to see anything but a smile on your face.” I stopped….I couldn’t continue, I didn’t know what I was saying it. It just felt like he needed to know, like to assure him that he would never feel rejected around me.

“Kiara, open your eyes and look at me please”…I didn’t move. “Please Kiki”

I opened my eyes, I choked…was he crying? Were those tears? Oh my God…I did exactly what I didn’t want to do to him. “Bruno, I’m sorry…I didn’t want to make you---“

“Shhh, you talk a lot.” I wiped his face.

And then it happened. He put both hands around my face, and brought me closer, so close that I could feel his breath on my skin…his lips so close to mine. Chocolate chip cookies. I smell I will never forget, and then all at once he kissed me. I felt my head start to spin; like I was floating…I could feel little lightning bolts going up and down my spine. How could a simple little kiss do this to me? No it wasn’t simple, nothing about it was simple there was too much passion, too much care, too much LOVE. Oh my God. I love him

Whatever she was feeling he was feeling it too, the floating the little lightning bolts. He’s kissed girls before, but never was it like this, this was passion, this was care, and this was a feeling he never felt before. He cared for her deeply, not only now but ever since they met at the park that day. He knew she was going to be special, he never forgot about her, still had all her letters with him. He took them everywhere, they always made me feel better, always gave him faith. SHE gave him faith in himself, when he didn’t feel good enough, she was the reason he wanted to push himself to become a big time singer. He wanted to do all this for her. For the girl he could die for.

After what seemed like forever they finally parted, eyes still closed…breath held in, just had their foreheads touching.

“That was.” I couldn’t finish my sentence.

“Special” He finished it for her.

We finally looked at each other, all I saw in his eyes was love, I don’t know if it was a friend love, or something more. It didn’t matter, I didn’t care…I loved him more than anything, and would do anything to make him happy. I smiled at him.

“Don’t smile like that, I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself” He said touching his nose to mine.

I didn’t say anything, didn’t know what to say. I just looked at him and held his face and kissed him again, I wanted to stay like this forever…but I knew if my brothers came down. This would be the end of us, no matter how bad I wanted him, I had wait. I pulled away and looked at him, he was smiling at me. ‘How the hell am I supposed to think properly when he smiles at me like that.’ “I think, we should go back upstairs now.” I stood up. Wow, I actually got up. I picked up the plate and the glasses and went to the kitchen to wash and put them away. I was drying the glass when I felt his hands on my waist. I would have dropped the glass, but I was already in midst of putting it away. “Bruno I---“ He turned me around, and took the hair out of my face.

She was so beautiful, it was going to be hard to keep his hands off her…he knew he shouldn’t be doing this. But her face in the moonlight, it was so angelic, so innocent. And her eyes, he could drown in them. “Shhh, like I said you talk too much” He lips were on hers again, this time a little more aggressive, he was doing everything he could to not take the straps of her night gown off, he felt like his head was going to explode…never did he want a girl like this. All of his friends made fun of him for being almost 19 and still a virgin, but he didn’t care. He knew he was waiting for the right girl…and the right girl was her.

“Bruno----“ I pushed him back. Oh how I wish we were alone, and I didn’t have to stop, but I can’t risk this, I can’t lose him----again.

“I know, I’m sorry…I don’t know what happens to me around you. I lose control, I can’t think, you know what you were saying to me earlier. It made me tear up, because I feel the same exact way about you. I don’t know what it is. I can’t explain it, but right here…right now I’ve never wanted anyone more. You’re that girl for me Kiki, that girl…that no matter what happens, will always hold a special place in my heart.”

I touched his face and smiled, glad to know he felt the same way. He might not know that its love right now, but he will soon. “I know Bruno, I can see it in your eyes…but we should really get to sleep now. Goodnight Bruno” I gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll see you in the morning, we have a meeting to get too.”

“I know, I just wish we could spend more time together.” He held my hand and started walking up the stairs.

“Me too, and we will…but right now, let’s go to sleep. I will see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight Beautiful” He kissed her again, not wanting to let go of her lips.

“Goodnight”  I said, and walked to my room. I turned back looking at him, and I knew I shouldn’t have…he smiled. Those dimples. I ran back to him and hugged him, I didn’t want to let go.

He pulled her in front of him, he smiled…he knew what he did to her, he could see her knees going weak, but he knew if he pushed things too far too soon, they both might regret it. Patience. That’s what they both needed. “Patience” He said it out loud.

“I know, but when you smile at me like that, something comes over me, and I’m usually pretty good and being in control. I don’t know what happens to me, when I’m with you”

“I know what you mean, I feel the same way”

His words sounded so good to her. Oh how she loved him, but she wasn’t going to tell him yet. Like he said ‘Patience’.

“Darling, go sleep now. We have an early morning tomorrow”

“I know, goodnight Bruno”

“Goodnight Kiki” She walked to her room, this time she didn’t look back and he knew why. He smiled to himself, he didn’t understand what he was feeling. His hearts never beated so fast before, he thought of their first kiss, never in his life had he felt so much….love…was he in love? He walked to his room and shut the door, he stripped down to his boxers and laid on his bed. Was this love? He didn’t know, he never experienced it before. All he knew was he cared about her a lot…too much! Only time would tell if this was love or not. He couldn’t sleep, every time he closed his eyes, he saw her…she had invaded his mind, and without him even knowing, she now owned his heart.

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Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. ‘Oh God, this alarm’ I got up too look at my alarm clock, 9:00AM in big red lights was staring at her.  “I want to sleep” She sighed, she knew she had to be there for Bruno…he didn’t have to ask her, she already knew. “Time to shower” As I stood there, in the shower under the cool water all I could think about was Bruno and that kiss. Just the thought of it brought shivers down my back, she wondered to what extent he knew about what he did to her. This was getting harder and harder with each passing minute. ‘Hmm, what should I wear today?’ Opening my closet, I looked at all my clothes…she wasn't the biggest fashion icon, she wore whatever was comfortable to her. ‘It’s hot outside, maybe I’ll wear shorts’ I grab my shorts and a red t-shirt and put it on. ‘I wonder if Bruno’s awake now’…I picked up my bag and went to his room I knocked on the door and no answer. I pushed the door open, and see him sleeping. He looked so peaceful, just like he always did. I didn’t want to wake him up, but I also didn’t want him to lose this opportunity. “Bruno….Bruno wake up, you’re going to be late?” He didn’t budge. “Bruno” I spoke a bit louder, still nothing. What was wrong with this boy, I mean I liked my sleep too…but at least I got up when I needed to, and this was his big meeting day! “BRUNO!” I raised my voice a bit more, still nothing.

“He’s one heavy sleeper” Aunt Bernie said, startling me a litte.

“Oh, you scared me” I said walking over to give her a hug.

“So he tell you about his meeting?”

“Yes he did.” I smiled at her, she was so sweet.

“Look at you awake and ready, when it’s his big day!” She looked at him, her son was on heavy sleeper. “You know what I use to do to wake him up?”

I smiled, knowing that this was going to be good. “What?”

“I would put water in his face, ice cold water. It always worked”

“Are you trying to tell me to get a bucket of ice cold water”

“You’re a smart little kitten aren’t you?” She smiled at me.

“I am a lioness, hence the name.” I winked and she laughed.

“Your mother really chose the right name for you” I smiled, I loved hearing about my mother.

“She did!” I winked at her and walked over to the washroom and got a bucket and filled it with water. Oh this was going to be good. I walked back to the room, and Aunt Bernie was gone. I walked over to Bruno’s bed and he was sleeping so peacefully, I looked at his face and then at the bucket. Who was I kidding, I couldn't do this to him…he was too cute. I put the bucket down and went over to him, I touched his face his skin was so soft, his breathing in rhythm again…just like when we were younger. I leaned closer and kissed him lips, suddenly I felt his kiss me back. ‘Oh so this is how he wakes up’ I pulled away and looked at him and smiled, his eyes still closed. “Wake up” I whispered.

“First kiss me again, nobody has ever woken me up like that before” His eyes still closed, but he was smiling. “It felt nice”

I smiled and kissed him again, he pulled me closer and got on the bed and laid beside him. “I like this”

“Me too” I said touching his face. ‘Oh his skin is so soft.’ I kissed his cheek “We gotta get going, you have to meet Phil remember”

“Darling I’d rather stay here like this” He smiled, and finally opened his eyes. ‘Oh God, did she always look and smell so wonderful.’ He noticed she was all ready to go; she was wearing a red top and shorts, red was his favorite color. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer. “I like this a lot” He leaned closer and kissed her again.

His kiss always sent her into another world, it was getting harder to control herself. She could feel the kiss getting more and more aggressive. They needed to go, otherwise he’d lose his chance. I finally pulled away. “Bruno, we have to go”

He looked into her eyes. She’s so beautiful, but he knew he had to go. “Okay, gimme 2 minutes, I’ll be ready” He finally got up! She sat on the bed just looking at him trying to pick out his clothes.

He looked so cute. “You go shower, and I’ll pick out your outfit.” She smiled at him, and he smiled back.

“Okay” He grabbed a towel and walked to the washroom.

Now what should he wear? I look down at my clothes; I was wearing a red top with, my jean shorts…what if I made us match a little. Lets see what does he have that’s red, ahh here we go. A black and red plaid shirt, with these skinny jeans, oh and here’s his black converse shoes…and his favorite fedora hat. Oh my God, he will look perfect! I put the clothes on his bed and walked out, I started making my way downstairs and bumped into Jamie.

“Oh shit sorry” He looked up and me and smiled…ew, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like him. I always got this weird feeling around him.

“It’s okay” I made a half smile, so I wouldn’t be completely rude, he was Ryan’s friend…but I didn’t know why…most of Ryan’s other friends were funny, and treated me like their sisters. This one, he gave me “That look”….that “I want you look”…eeew I didn’t want him at all. I quickly walked past him, I heard him call my name, but kept on walking like I didn’t hear anything. Phew that was close. I made my way into the kitchen and saw Lauren cooking breakfast with my sister and Aunt Bernie.

“Hello guys” I smiled at all of them, I was in such a happy mode. Bruno made me happy.

“Hey there sleepy head” Danielle always made sure she said ‘sleepy head’

“D, you always have to say that?” She liked bugging me.

“Well, yes…because you are.” She stuck her tongue out at me. Oh God, my sisters such a child at times.

“Well” Aunt Bernie jumped in for the save. She always did that, always was there to defend me. I love her. “My boy sleeps more than her, so from now on, he can have that sleepy head title”

I hugged Aunt Bernie, I loved her like a mother. She looked at me and smiled “So did snorlax wake up?”

OMG, did she just call him a pokemon? God I loved this women. I laughed “Yes he did, it wasn’t hard” I thought back to how easy it actually was.

She smirked “Oh really? The water worked?” Then she winked. My heart stopped, did she see us? I didn’t want to lie to her…Oh my God, what if she saw?

“Umhhh…Errr…I didn’t use the water.” Oh great why did I say that?

“Oh yeah, then how did he get up?” She had that same smirk, I was sinking.

“Mom, quit bugging Kiki.” Bruno jumped in. Okay I could finally breathe. “I’m not that heavy of a sleeper.”

“Quiet boy, you could sleep through an Earthquake” Aunt Bernie always had some witty comeback.

“Okay guys, breakfast is ready” Lauren finally spoke. Phew, as long as this sleep conversation was over, I could breathe.

We all ate our breakfast, and Bruno and I were out the door. Everyone wished him good luck, except for Jamie, Oh my God how I hated him. We jumped into my car, and were on our way.