That One Time

   I hadn't met Aaron yet, not at this point. I was fourteen or so, and it was summertime. Ethan and I were going to a party together tonight, and I was really excited.

   Ethan was to pick me up at 7:30pm, and of course he was right on time. He was just loyal like that, and punctual. I had a rose coloured, strapless, wrap around dress and paired it was casual metallic flipflops. I left my long waves down and falling far past my shoulders. I didn't wear makeup, I never really wear makeup much.

   My Mom let Ethan in and he smiled sheepishly, showing those cute boyish dimples that he's had since I could remember. I smile back, because I can't help it.

   Ethan is tall, even by this point. He towers over me by far, and his thing form makes him even seem even taller. He's got a healthy tan to him, and a sprinkling of adorable little freckling on his cheeks. His hair is blonde, with a little reddy tint to it, and it hangs long in his eyes. His eyes are a aquamarine colour, and always bright and happy.

   To the party, he had decided on faded jeans and a plain green tshirt, which looked really good on him.

"Green is your colour," I say to him, without meeting his eyes. For some reason, for the first time, Ethan is making me nervous.

"Thanks," I can feel his gaze on my face, and it makes me blush. "You look great, Als."

I look up at him and see him grinning at me, in that trademark way he does, and I feel all my nerves and all the tension evaporate and I smile broadly back, "yeah? You don't think it's to much?"

He laughs as I twirl around him, poking his sides and making him squirm, "no, no. It's nice."

I stop and look up at him, "good. Ready to go?"

He nods and holds out his arm for me, like we're going to prom. I giggle at this, but take it.

 

 

   When we enter the party, there's people everywhere. Flocking every corner. Once people spot us, we're bombarded with a frenzy of "hellos", "you look so goods!" and "do you want something to drinks?".

   Once we get settled in, beer in hand and a comfortable place to sit, I relax a little. The backyard of our classmate, Zoey Chamberline, was decked out. There was a DJ booth by the fat fence, and there were tinkling, white Christmas lights hanging from every surface, giving the night a warm glow. There was a barbeque and a drink mixer, although we were hardly legal. There were plush outdoor chairs and loveseats put everywhere, for people to sit. There was a small amount of people dancing infront of the DJ table. Mostly just skanky girls grinding against their boyfriends.

I laugh, "look at Michelle grinding up on David."

Ethan looks where I am and raises his eyebrows, "huh. I didn't know they were a thing."

"I didn't either. Michelle's probably too drunk to care who she's grinding on, anyways." I snicker.

He looks at me for a long time and then says, "why do you hang out with those girls?"

I c**k my head to one side and blink at him, "what girls?"

"The s****y ones. You're too classy for that, Allie."

I chuckle at his somber expression, taken by surprise at his sudden shift in mood, "they're just some girls I hang around with, Ethan. They're not my friends, really."

"Good, because you're nothing like they are." He's looking right in my eyes then, and it's making my nervous all over again.

I can't help but stare back, and I do. I never miss a beat, "what am I like then?"

Ethan thinks about this for a second, "you're... intelligent, so smart. You're compassionate and caring. You're funny. You're shy. You're beautiful."

I gape at Ethan, frozen. Not knowing how to respond, I just freeze up. Ethan gets up and takes my hand, just as a slower song comes on. I recognize it immediately, 18th Floor Balcony by Blue October.

   Ethan puts his careful hands on my hips and I wind my arms around his neck as best as I can, being a few heads shorter. We sway back and forth, stepping to the beat. I rest my cheek against his chest, and breathe in his smell. Soap and clean laundry, and I smile a little to myself. Ethan draws me closer, laying his cheek on the top of my head, and I feel his breath in my hair.

   I look up and smile slowly, and his eyes are tender. I get those butterflies in my stomach, and they flutter around nervously. My mind is in a jumble of mixed feelings as he leans down, "Ethan..." I say. Not having much else to say.

"Als.." Our lips meet. I hesitate at first, not knowing if this is right. But I can't deny that it feels right. So I cave. My lips mold themselves around his, like they were made to do just that. His warm hand is in my hair and he parts his lips just a little, and I do the same. Our tongues meet for a breif moment, and then he breaks it. I blush fiercely as he looks down at me in awed silence. His cheeks are flushed, and his eyes sparkle gingerly.

"Hi," I mumble, just to say something.

He grins at me, "hey."

I laugh, I can't help it, and I draw him closer for the last verse of the song, and we dance straight through to the end. We're in a bubble together, dancing there. All I hear is that song, and all I feel is Ethans cheek against the top of my head, and all I see is my hand on his chest.

"Here we are,

On this 18th floor balcony,

We're both flying away..."