Love Among the Pizza Boxes

Oh boy. Oh boy.
I’ve got the tingles again.
They’re pretty little tingles that float just under my skin and sink deeper and get really warm.
Oh deary.
So this is cloud 9. It’s a nice place.
Take a chill pill.
Calm the silly, girly thoughts.
Okay. Be cool.
We real cool.
We ditch school… Stupid poem.
Stupid drama class.
“Oh, how sweet!” Kairi says, rocking back and forth a little in Sora’s face. “You’re both blushing…”
Riku mutters something about blushing and polar bearing.
Maybe I should get some ice and stick it to my face.
Yeah.
That’d be a turn-on.
Hellz yeah.
Boo ya.
Should I say something now?
No.
Awkward turtles… Had babies…
I’ll just focus on Riku’s hands. They’re big.
I like big. Solid is good.
His hands are good. That’s a weird statement.
But it’s true.
Definitely a change from Lance’s small, oily hands.
Riku’s are hardened- yet soft.
Perfectly warm.
I like his hands.
Hmmmm…
Warm.
Riku sighs again.
Sora pulls up a crappy plastic chair and sits at the table with us.
Kairi comes over and sits on Sora’s lap.
Sora carries on like nothing happened.
“So how long have you two known each other?” he asks.
Nosy little… thing.
I look at Riku. Is he going to answer? It’d be bad if we both did and…
“Two months,” I blurt out. Riku remains silent and relieved in his chair.
“How’d you two meet?” Kairi asks.
Wow. Both of ‘em are nosy.
Riku’s turn to answer.
Riku sighs. “I was delivering pizza to her. At the observatory.” He’s just staring at our hands, still tracing circles with his thumb. He seems embarrassed.
The tingles move to my tummy. Oooookay then… Butterflies are silly and don’t belong in my tummy.
I smile and nod.
Yep.
Awkward silence.
“Well, anyways.” Riku stands up suddenly, still holding my hand. “I think we’ll just leave now. See you later, guys.” He waves once, lifts our hands over Sora and Kairi’s heads as we walk past them.
“Nice meeting you.” I wave with my free hand and we’re out the door into the starry night. The sky, the purest shade of black and the stars are brilliant, radiant.
Once we’re clear of Dunkin’ Donuts, Riku lets go of my hand.
My stomach drops.
Stupid stomach.
The butterflies have taken flight and disappear among the stars.
“Uh… thanks. For pretending to be my girlfriend and all.”
“Sure. Any time.”
What?
Dude.
You are so pitiful.
“So, uh… What’d you think of my friends?” he asks.
“Ha. Well. Hm. They’re very nice. And accepting. And nosy. And Kairi’s kinda desperate and Sora’s oblivious and that’s my personal opinion.”
I left out the part about me thinking that Sora’s gay.
“Hmmm.” Riku nods, and smiles down at me. A crooked smile. “Awesome.”
“You have a really nice smile. You know that?”
Oh. Gee.
I said that out loud.
Hee haw. It’s that ginchy.
Riku kinda tenses up. Makes a face.