Read To Kiss You Again for Free Online Page B

might get more, but Anna remained aloof. It’s funny – I followed her around like a love sick puppy, much the same way Jenny followed me around.
    One night a couple of months after we met, the other kids left us alone at the point. We sat atop the rock wall, both kicking our dangling feet around in nervous anticipation. I don’t remember what we talked about. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t take my eyes off her enticing lips. So plump and pink, they begged to be kissed. When I sensed an awkward pause in our conversation, I made my move. She didn’t pull away, and I finally tasted her.
    We kissed for a long time. I took her hand and pulled her off the wall. She followed as I led her to the chapel at the point’s peak, around to the back where no one would see. I pulled her down to sit on the stone bench encircling the building. We resumed our kissing, until our lips swelled and bruised. Though I vowed to take it slow, my teenage hormones took me off course, and she didn’t stop me when my hand slid up her blouse. I was in a daze when I made it to third base, and she dared to touch me back. It was a first. None of the other girls would do anything without the protection of my jeans. Her horror when I came in her hand brought our activities to an abrupt halt, but gave me great hope for our future.
    For six more months we continued our courtship. I was madly in love, and I so wanted her to give into me, be each other’s first, but our initial night of passion remained the benchmark. Things never went any further. Toward the end, she seemed angry at me most of the time, but I never knew why. When I asked, she denied it. Thinking back on it now, I might know, even though it sounds crazy.
    When Jenny first came, Anna thought it was cute the way she followed us around. She teased me relentlessly, but I know she felt sorry for her. After a while, the teasing became a little harsher, and I sensed her anger. I pulled Jenny aside one day.
    “Look, kid, get lost. Go play with Ginny, or someone your own age.” It didn’t feel mean when I said it, but the hurt I saw in her eyes haunted me afterward. There was something about her, a feeling like I knew she was supposed to be there. My little talk didn’t stop her, but she did try to be less obvious. Her tailing me around only served to make me feel like more of a stud, so I won’t say I minded.
    A few times, our families had dinner together, and she always made sure she got to sit by me. One time, Mom let me invite Anna. When Jenny slipped in beside me, and I didn’t make her move, Anna stormed out of the party. After supper, I grabbed Jenny by the arm and yanked her into the courtyard. “Listen to me, you little shit. I’m tired of this. You need to stay the hell away from me from now on.”
    She burst into tears. “I just want to be your friend, Matt.”
    “Well I don’t want you as my friend. I don’t even like you.” A loud crash followed my announcement, and I thought it was the sound of her heart breaking. I watched it happen, saw the pain spread across her face. It turned out the crash was my father falling out of his chair, the first of several heart attacks. His health was what took us away from the island.
    The next day, Jenny was still there, but her gaze seemed clouded, almost detached. It matched my mood. My father was rushed to Athens for the hospital and I didn’t know what was going on, but worse, Anna wouldn’t see me. At first, I thought it was just bad luck I couldn’t find her at any of our spots, but when I cornered her cousin in the agora, she told me Anna didn’t want to talk to me.
    Two nights later at the point, the day I learned we were moving back to the States, the conversation quieted as I approached. Someone had been talking about her.
    “What about Anna?”
    “Nothing,” Maria said.
    “No, I heard you. Did you say something about her and Michalé?”
    “No, I didn’t say that.”
    My friend, Petros, nudged me in the rib.