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Chapter 5 – I like you.

   Supper was quiet at first, Red's Dad sat silently at the head of the table. He ate fast, then left to go outside again and work on whatever he was working on before. When he left, Mrs. R. looked up at me and smiled, "So, Brooke, what classes do you and Jazzy have together?"

   I swallowed a bite of mashed potatoes, "Um… well we have English, and Art class, but that's it…"

   She nodded, "I heard Jazz was gonna switch her History class to the same block as yours, you're pretty much working on the exact same course aren't you?"

   I nodded.

   Red smiled, "Yeah, I asked Mr. K. about it and he said that that girl Christina was leaving Brooke's class, so I could take her place."

   This conversation continued until supper was finished, and we cleaned our plates.

   After supper, Red took me downstairs to a game room. She pulled out a few drawers next to a TV, they were filled with DVDs of all sorts, mostly horror.

   "I hope you like horror movies, " She laughed, pointing out a few, "We have lots."

   I  love horror movies…

   I smiled, "I love horror movies, especially the psycho-horror ones like Jason and Freddy"

   Red chuckled, I shivered. "We have lots of Jason, and the whole Freddy saga, if you want to take a look." She opened two more drawers, filled to the top with Freddy and Jason.

   I almost squealed with delight, sifting through them, we decided to have a Freddy marathon.

   Red pulled out a couple Black bean bag chairs from behind the couch and tossed them on the floor, "Want munchies?"

   I smiled and nodded.

   "Put the first movie in and get comfy, I'll be back in a flash."

   She bounded up the stairs and disappeared.

   I smiled after her and put the first Freddy movie in, glancing at the bean bags. I casually pushed hers closer to mine, smiling to myself.

   I sat down when she came back, a bag of Doritos in one hand and two glasses in the other, a 2 liter of coke resting under one arm.

   She smiled and set everything down, scooting her chair over more towards mine so they touched. I blushed.

   She raised an eyebrow and I winced, she totally saw me blush…

   She poured me a glass of coke and we started our movie marathon.

   It was 3:00 before we started to get tired, my eyelids drooped, we were partway through the third Freddy movie.

   Red yawned loudly, "Want to finish this tomorrow?"

   I thought you'd never ask…

   I nodded.

   "We can sleep down here tonight, my room still needs to dry"

   I smiled, my eyelids felt heavy.

   Red made up a mattress on the floor and lied down, patting the place beside her.

   My head spun. I felt like I was dreaming.

   I lifted myself from the bean bag and sat beside her.

   She watched me closely, it was silent for a long time.

   "I like you Brooke." She blurted. It broke the silence awkwardly, leaving a jagged edge in my mind.

   My eyes widened, I seemed to choke on my own breath.

   I saw her face redden slightly, "I'm sorry"

   "No, " I squeaked, raising a hand and waving it around like a fool, "It's alright…"

   She shifted uncomfortably; I lied down beside her, only a few inches away, staring at the ceiling.

   The silence was awkward.

   I like you too…

   No you don't…

   I do…

   No, Brooke you don't…

   I'm sure I do…

   You aren't a lesbian…

   Says who?...

   Says me, that's who...

   You know what?...

   What.

   I leaned over quickly and kissed Red hard on the lips, catching her by surprise. She looked like I was about to attack her the way she jumped when I started to move. Our lips locked together and electricity surged through me, making me dizzy. It lasted only for a moment, my lips quivering against hers.

   I lifted away, my eyes growing wide. I stared at the ceiling in shock, I didn't know what her face looked like right then, and at the time, I didn't really want to know.

   It was quiet for a long time, I could hear Red breathing steadily next to me.

   After a while she finally spoke, "Brooke…"

   I was surprised, the word seemed to sting my ears. I was shocked at how my voice sounded.

   "What…" I whispered, my throat was dry, it hurt to talk.

   I heard her voice quiver, "You didn't… have to do that… Thanks…"

   My heart jumped into my throat.

   Do what? I didn't just kiss you did I? Oh God…

   I could still feel the warmth of her lips against mine.

   I choked, "It's… I…"

   I turned on my side, wide-eyed and flustered, I wanted to look at her but I couldn't. My face flushed a deep red and I closed my eyes, curling around a pillow.

   I heard Red move after a few minutes, it was quiet, a gentle movement. I felt her hand rest on my waist. It relaxed me, strangely. I could almost hear the smile in her voice, "Goodnight, Brooke…" she whispered. I relaxed, smiling softly after a few agonizingly long seconds of waiting, for what I still don't know.