As Perceived by Crystellen 14

Losten looked over at me.  Finally, my sister’s beau noticed I was there.

“I need you to come with me,” I said.

Losten stared at me as if I wasn’t real.  Good grief, I thought, is this guy that dense?  How long was he going to stare at me before he spoke?

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” he finally managed to say.

I continued to stare at Losten.  I had hoped Losten would come willingly, but it didn’t look like that would be the case.

“Dude,” I said, as I continued to stare at him, “I need you to come with me.  It’s about Em.”

He cleared his throat.  “I’ve been here before.  The last time I went with you, I wound up in the river.”

Oh, great, I thought.  He thinks this is a cassidium dream.

I smiled.  “And, what was the worst thing that happened?  My sister made out with you until it stopped.  Was that so bad?”

“I was terrified.  I believed I was drowning and got a horrible headache.  I’m not going anywhere with you.”

It occurred to me that the library was not a great place to have this conversation.  I glanced around, and noticed somebody standing at a copy machine fifteen feet away.  He probably couldn’t hear us, but just to be on the safe side, I said, “We can’t talk in here.  Let’s talk outside.”  Plus, I thought, I need to get you outside anyway.

I stood up from the table and looked down at Losten.  After a long pause, he put his stuff in his backpack and followed me from the table.  As we walked out the building past some smashed plants, I opened my purse and retrieved my schnarkite lipstick.  I had hoped I wouldn’t have to use it, but this was quite possibly a matter of life and death for my sister.  Plus, it wasn’t like he’d be the first guy I kissed. 

When we arrived outside at my car, Losten spoke.

“I’m not getting in with you, not after what happened last time.”

I walked over near my car and turned to face him.  “Get in.”

Losten stared at me for a moment as if I wasn’t real.  “Tell me what’s going on first,” he said.

A breeze blew my hair in front of my eyes.  I brushed it out of my face and opened the passenger door.  “Please get in.  For Em’s sake.”

Losten walked over to where I stood.  Good, I thought, he’s close enough that this shouldn’t look too obvious.

“Tell me what’s going on first,” he said.

“Bend over,” I replied.  “We’re in public.  Let me whisper in your ear.”

Losten bent down as requested.  Before he knew what was happening, I pulled him forward and kissed him on the lips.

He squirmed for a moment to get away from me, but I held him close.  I wanted to make sure the schnarkite had time to absorb into his lips.  Plus, anyone who was around would be made uncomfortable by our display of affection, which would cause them to look away.  Thus, it would be easier for me to get him into my car.

“What was that for?” Losten asked when he finally broke free of my grasp.  He staggered backwards.  I folded my arms and grinned. 

He leaned against my car.  I could tell he was about to pass out.  After a moment I pushed him inside it, lifted his legs, and shut the passenger door.  I glanced around the parking lot.  Nobody appeared to have noticed. 

I got in my car and drove down the road.  Before we left the parking lot, I pulled out a napkin and wiped my lips.  No reason to leave the schnarkite on my lips.  Plus, the last thing I needed was to have Em’s boyfriend’s saliva in my mouth.

I glanced over at Losten.  I hope that’s the last time I have to kiss you, I thought, for both our sakes.