Noah hardly pondered his thoughts

in the first person, and he was hardly

the first person to kindly take

cheap shots at himself.

One Sunday morning,

fate rearranged his life.

His parents went to church.

Noah feigned a fever

to skip Sunday school.

His parents called

to say they’d be home late.

A thought flashed across his mind

before a devious grin set in.

Noah phoned his tenth-grade crush, Olivia,

to slide through the sliding glass door

and break down their platonic barriers.

Olivia and Noah,

who had been neighbors for years,

had always been close friends,

but Noah had always yearned for more.

As their love blossomed,

it seemed to act as a shield

against the pains of the past,

fusing their hearts together

in a genuine and unbreakable bond.

What he found hard to believe

was learning the hard way.

Illusions of Olivia’s lips

pressed against his

plagued his dreams,

stabbing his self-esteem to fail

to make headway.

Noah swam for headway,

breaking sweats in the still

night of cool chills,

trying hard to pinpoint

Olivia’s needs.

What this meant to Noah

meant more to Olivia

than it seemed.

Love arrived as living proof

of empty pleasantries

on display for an awkward

encounter in a basement.

Dad told Noah to take the long

way, but Mom spilled into

a nervous breakdown

as her memory went blank

and panic clouded her view.

Olivia had words to say.

“Life’s best interests lay

on the hard way, like a song

that replayed until your dreams

fell into your lap.”

Noah clasped his hands behind his back.

“I made headway overnight.”

Olivia laughed.

“What?” Noah arched a brow.

“The freeway to my heart is on life support, silly.”

“I don’t follow,” he said.

“I won’t wait forever,” she said.

Noah moved his hands to his back pockets. “My good intensions are paved with bad decisions.”

Olivia rested her hands on her hips. “Let’s hear it.”

“So, I was thinking…” Noah paused.

“Oh, god.” Olivia sighed and lifted her hand to massage her forehead. “You and thinking don’t go together.”

“I like love,” Noah said. “There, I said it.”

Olivia covered her mouth, and a smile danced in her green eyes.

Noah shrugged. “What’s so funny?”

“We’re making headway,” Olivia said, tucking her long red bangs behind her ear.

He moved closer, and her breath quickened.

Olivia wrapped her arms around him.

Noah kissed her cheek and moved to press his lips against hers.

Mom opened the door and went down the stairs. She cleared her throat and covered her heart.

Noah turned around, wearing Olivia’s lipstick. “I can explain.”

Mom closed her eyes, lifting her palms. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t see this,” she said, turning around to climb the stairs. She paused. “I won’t tell Dad,” she said. “But get it out of your system. You only live once, and there’s no reason to learn the hard way.” Mom closed the door.

Olivia blushed.

Noah grinned.

Olivia cupped his cheeks, and she kissed him like she meant it.

By Andy Cooper

From: United States

Twitter: AC0040