The Kissing Booth

by Beth Reekles

  ‘You can’t tell me who I can and can’t go with,’ I protested. I knew he’d do this, but it was the way he just expected me to accept what he said that made me mad.

  ‘Elle—’

  ‘I’ll go to the dance with whomsoever I choose – got that? Whether or not they ask me to go as a friend.’

  Noah slid back out, setting down his spanner. ‘Listen, Elle. I’m trying to look out for you here and you’re not making it easy. It’s a dance – guys are bound to try something. I mean, look what happened at that party. And if it’s a masquerade, and there’s a chance they won’t get caught stealing a kiss, then they’ll try it.’

  Alright, maybe he had a good point about the masquerade bit. So what?

  ‘Not everybody’s a jerk like that, Noah.’

  ‘A hell of a lot of guys are.’

  ‘Maybe I don’t care,’ I snapped. I did care, really, but I wasn’t going to agree with Noah without putting up a fight first. Even if he was right about it. ‘Maybe I want some guy to kiss me during the slow dance.’

  ‘I sure as hell care,’ he told me firmly, but he wasn’t shouting or anything. He stood towering over me. I hated being so much smaller than him when I was trying to stare him down.

  ‘Why? Why do you even care?’ I snapped, narrowing my eyes. I had a feeling I knew the answer, but I didn’t care. I was mad at him.

  ‘Because I want that slow dance with you all to myself,’ he retorted.

  He probably thought that cheesy line would soften me up – with me being such a romantic at heart – and it kind of did. Because when he kissed me then, I kissed him back, my heart racing, sparks dancing through me.

  ‘I hate you,’ I mumbled against his lips, smiling.

  ‘I know,’ he said, and I felt him smile back.

  The sneaking around with Noah, the thrill that we might get caught together, made the whole thing so exhilarating. I knew we couldn’t keep it up forever, but I’d sure as hell enjoy it while it lasted.

  ‘Did you really mean that?’ I asked, slightly breathless, after a few minutes. ‘About having that slow dance?’

  He nodded. ‘Yeah, I did. In fact, I want the whole night.’

  ‘Oh, do you, now?’

  ‘Yep.’ He kissed my lips again quickly.

  ‘Is that you asking me to the dance?’

  ‘Not quite,’ he chuckled, kissing me again. ‘But almost.’

  ‘I’ll take what I can get.’

  He gave me another kiss before moving away to carry on fixing his car. In the shiny hood of the car I could see that there were oil smudges on my face and neck now. I’d have to try and clean those off before I got home.

  ‘This is it,’ I said quietly, a smile spreading across my face. ‘This is the one.’

  ‘You said that about the last five dresses,’ Lee complained. He sounded a lot like Brad when he was given vegetables with his dinner.

  ‘Yeah, but I’m sure about this one.’

  ‘How sure? You were sure with the others. I liked the pink one.’

  ‘That’s just because it practically had my boobs falling out.’ I rolled my eyes in the mirror and Lee laughed. ‘Can you imagine what your brother would say if I wore that?’

  ‘He wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off you.’ For a second he sounded so serious, my stomach dropped and my eyes bulged with panic. But then he laughed. ‘Or, you know, he’d stand there batting guys away from you with a stick. You’re sure about this one though?’

  I nodded, grinning. ‘Positive.’

  ‘How much is it?’

  ‘It’s on sale. Sixty bucks.’

  Lee nodded. ‘Cool.’

  I smoothed out the skirt again, admiring myself in the mirror. The dress was a dark apple green, just about hitting my knees. The skirt flared out and swung when I moved, and the dress was completely backless, right down to my hips. It had straps that tied behind my neck, and a v-neck that didn’t go too low. Tiny silver beads adorned the neckline, sparkling brightly when the light caught them. I loved it.

  ‘Are you sure it’s the one?’ Lee checked again.

  ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘It looks okay, right? Before I buy it?’

  ‘Yes, Shelly, you look beautiful.’

  ‘You said that about the blue one. And the black one.’

  ‘Well, you looked lovely in all of them,’ he said with such honesty that I had to laugh. Lee was great for occasions like this. He would give me an honest opinion – he didn’t just say ‘You look great,’ and ‘No, you don’t look fat.’ He’d tell me straight out if my butt looked big, or if my legs looked stumpy.

  I went back into my little cubicle to put my shorts and shirt back on.

  I really did love the dress. Lee had a tux already, from the Winter Dance. Boys were lucky like that – it’s not like I could wear the long-sleeved blue dress I got on sale for the previous Winter Dance without it being recognized. But besides, it’d be way too warm. Girls had it so much harder!

  I’d get shoes while we were still at the mall, but that would be easy, I thought as we left the shop. I already had my eye on some silver heels nearby. We just needed to find some masks—

  Oh, man.

  ‘What?’ Lee asked when I groaned as we left the dress shop. ‘What now?’

  ‘We need masks.’

  ‘No shit, Sherlock!’ he gasped dramatically.

  I hit him with my free hand. ‘Thank you, Sergeant Sarcasm. But we need masks that match our outfits. Which means you need a purple one like your tie, and I need to find a freaking apple-green one that’ll match this dress . . . Or, no, ooh, maybe I could get silver . . .’

  ‘Should’ve gone for the pink dress,’ Lee said in a sing-song voice.

  ‘Oh, shut up.’

  We managed to find a fancy dress shop that had a small selection of masks at the back. Lee instantly picked up a big bird mask with a giant beak and green feathers, thrusting it at my face.

  ‘How’s that?’

  ‘Oh, grow up.’ But I was laughing too. There was a mirror straight ahead of me and the mask looked hilarious.

  We weren’t really taking this very seriously. Lee wanted to buy a purple horror mask, some kind of zombie thing. I found a mangled cyborg one that was silver so would kind of match my dress.

  Eventually, though, after the manager gave us a few stern warnings, we managed to settle on our masks.

  Lee found a purple mask that only covered his eyes and was all superhero style. It was pretty cool actually. My mask was a little more elaborate, covering my face all the way down to the bottom of my nose. It was almost the exact shade of my dress, only slightly darker, and had silver beads and sequins around the edges. It was perfect – if a little too expensive. But I rationalized that since the dress hadn’t been full price, I could afford to pay a little extra for the mask.

  ‘Now you just need a date and you’re all set,’ Lee said.

  I stopped in my tracks with another groan. ‘Damn.’

  How was I going to explain when I turned up with Noah? Someone was bound to recognize me, or Flynn, surely . . . Especially Lee. Definitely Lee.

  I was screwed.

  I’d have to come up with a really good excuse.

  Or you could just, you know, tell him the truth . . .

  I sighed and shook my head. ‘Never mind.’

  ‘You’ve still got a week,’ he said brightly. ‘That’s plenty of time for guys to ask you—’

  ‘Guys have asked me,’ I said. ‘Three of them. I counted. So did you. But Noah said no before I had a chance to respond. He’s just there, hanging over my shoulder, at the most inappropriate moments, I swear.’

  Lee laughed. Then he said, ‘Hey! Maybe you could go with Noah!’

  I gave him a look, hoping he wasn’t aware of my racing pulse. But there was so much innocence in his smiley, open face I knew instantly that he didn’t suspect anything. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because he won’t have a date, and he won’t let you have one. Just make the be
st of you both being loners.’

  I rolled my eyes. But actually . . . maybe I’d use that. If that’s what Lee thought we were doing when we turned up together . . . then why not?

  Or you could tell him the truth.

  If Lee told people that’s what we were doing, they’d all believe him.

  Or you could just tell. Him. The. Truth!

  I’d think about that. It seemed like a pretty good idea.

  Lee trailed around after me while I bought some shoes, and then we went to the food court for giant ice-cream sundaes and sodas.

  ‘I can’t believe there’s only one week till the dance,’ he said.

  ‘Hey, and only, like, two and a bit weeks till our birthday!’ I exclaimed.

  ‘I know!’ He grinned. ‘Do you know what you’re getting?’

  ‘I think I’m getting a car, but I don’t know yet. My dad won’t tell me.’

  ‘So it’s a surprise but not really a surprise?’

  ‘Pretty much,’ I laughed. ‘I’ve seen all the car brochures he’s failed to hide. How about you?’

  ‘Nothing special.’ He shrugged, mouth full of ice cream. ‘I think I might get a new computer – pitch in some of my savings for it or something. My model’s kind of old now. Plus, it’s slow – and I mean, slower than those computers in the library.’

  ‘I know. You’ve complained about it enough times. I still think you have a virus from playing those online racing games against Dutch people.’

  ‘Hey, now, that game is awesome.’

  ‘You don’t even understand what’s going on. It’s in Dutch.’

  ‘So?’

  I laughed, but it felt and even sounded half-hearted. ‘Okay.’

  ‘All right, Shelly,’ he said, putting his spoon down. Everyone knew that if Lee stopped eating, things were getting serious, so he had my attention straight away. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘Don’t be all “Huh?” with me. Something’s on your mind. Now, are you going to tell me what it is?’

  ‘Honestly, don’t worry, it’s nothing.’

  ‘It’s Noah, isn’t it?’

  I did a double take, worried that he’d finally caught me. It had been almost two months now; I’d been starting to doubt our good luck with the whole sneaking-around thing.

  But he hadn’t seemed suspicious or anything earlier . . . So what was he saying?

  All I could think was, Huh?

  ‘I knew it.’

  ‘Lee, just – don’t . . .’ I stammered helplessly, feeling flustered. My palms had turned clammy, my stomach had dropped away. Suddenly my toffee ice cream with the strawberries didn’t look so appetizing.

  ‘Don’t let him get to you, Elle,’ Lee said gently, putting his hand on mine and smiling at me warmly, comfortingly. ‘He’s looking out for you, and I know it’s a bit too extreme, but . . . just bear with it, all right? Just another couple of weeks, then he’ll have left school, yeah? Things won’t be so bad next year. And he’s just trying to keep you from getting hurt.’

  I was lost for words.

  He didn’t know I’d been sneaking around with Noah. He didn’t know that there was something between me and his brother. He thought I was worrying about how overprotective Noah was, and how he wouldn’t let me have a date for the Summer Dance.

  I didn’t know whether to be grateful and relieved or sick with guilt. It was a weird mixture of both.

  I forced a smile at Lee. He was just so sweet sometimes. ‘Thanks,’ I mumbled. ‘And yeah, you’re right. I forgot Noah was leaving for college in September. Do you know where he’s going yet?’

  Lee shook his head. ‘I know he wanted to go to San Diego, but I don’t think he’s decided yet. He applied to a couple of Ivy League places too.’

  ‘Really?’ Lee nodded, shovelling more ice cream into his mouth. ‘Oh, right. That’ll be weird if he’s not there all the time.’

  ‘I know what you mean. At least things will be a little quieter. And then I will officially be the hottest guy in school,’ Lee added with a cocky smirk that was weirdly similar to his brother’s. The resemblance to Noah was marked: they both had dark hair and bright blue eyes and strong jaws. Their noses used to be the same before Noah got his broken. Noah was a bit taller though, and way more muscled. Not that Lee was too bad – a few summers spent in the gym had seen to that, and all the swimming.

  I laughed. ‘In your dreams, Lee.’

  ‘Just because you have a crush on my brother . . .’ he teased.

  ‘Shut up! I do not!’

  He laughed again, taking another giant mouthful of his ice cream. I rolled my eyes before going back to mine.

  But part of me was still thinking about Noah going away to college.

  I kind of wanted him to stay close to home so he’d still be around. I didn’t want to think of him leaving. It’d be so weird. And I’d definitely miss his kisses . . .

  And, I realized, I’d miss those times when we just hung out.

  But there was another voice that said it would be a good thing if he went to college further away. Then I could have a fresh start at school without him threatening every guy who might ask me on a date. I still hadn’t had an actual date since that disastrous one with Cody, unless you counted the secret ones with Noah.

  I sighed. My life was getting so messed up.

  Chapter 18

  ‘SO, UM . . .’ WARREN leaned against the lockers next to mine.

  ‘Yes?’ I prompted, when he trailed off.

  ‘Do you have a date for the dance yet?’

  I shook my head. ‘Noah scared them all off.’

  He laughed nervously. ‘Yeah, right . . . Well, I was thinking . . . Do you want to maybe go with me?’

  ‘As friends or . . .?’

  ‘I was thinking as more of a date than friends,’ he admitted, not quite meeting my eyes.

  I smiled at him easily, wondering at how nervous he was. He was usually a pretty confident guy.

  ‘I don’t know, Warren . . .’

  ‘Well, we could always go as friends?’

  ‘How about if you haven’t managed to find someone who hasn’t already got a date, I’ll go with you then? But I’m sure there are plenty of girls who’ll go with you.’ I smiled again.

  He looked a little disappointed but smiled back. ‘I’ll hold you to that.’

  ‘Okay,’ I laughed. ‘Good luck.’

  ‘I’m going to need it,’ he said. ‘Everybody rushed to get their dates as soon as the flyers went up. There’s barely a week to go.’

  ‘I know. It’s ridiculous. I only just got my dress on Saturday.’

  ‘Really?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Well, I’m going to go see if I can get myself a date. See you later, Elle.’

  I closed my locker and turned around. I jumped when I saw that Thomas was suddenly stood right there. He was smiling at me – well, actually, he was smirking at me. ‘Hey, Elle.’

  ‘Um, hi . . .’ I wanted to storm off, or tell him where to go. But I couldn’t summon the courage to do that. Then it hit me what Noah had meant about me being too nice. Guess this was one of those times.

  ‘So why’d you turn him down?’ he asked me, jerking a head towards Warren.

  ‘None of your business,’ I snapped. ‘If you’ll excuse me . . .’ I tried sidestepping, but he blocked my path. I went the other way, but he moved again. Just as I was about to look up and glare, he stepped forward, forcing me back into the lockers.

  ‘Then what do you say to going with me?’

  ‘No, thanks.’

  ‘Aw, come on, Elle, why not?’ he asked, still looking obnoxious and confident. ‘You don’t have a date, and neither do I. Why not?’

  ‘I don’t want to go with you. All right?’

  He was about to argue when someone slammed him sideways into the lockers, making me jump violently, my heart skittering.

  ‘Back off,’ Noah said menacingly.

  Rory scowled, sho
ving Noah away. He glared at him and stalked off. Before I could respond, Noah grabbed my hand and started dragging me off.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  He pulled me into one of the small study rooms, with its computers and bookshelves and couches and an old out-of-order coffee machine. He shut the door behind us, and luckily (or maybe unluckily), the room was empty. The bell rang at that moment, signaling we should be getting to class. I had a free study period, but that was irrelevant. Neither of us moved.

  ‘How many guys is that today? Four? Or five?’

  I huffed. ‘Two, actually. And Warren doesn’t really count. So only one.’

  ‘See what I mean, though?’

  I rolled my eyes.

  ‘I heard you say you bought a dress,’ he continued. ‘What’s it like?’

  ‘It’s tiny and low cut and extremely tight,’ I said sarcastically. He raised an eyebrow and I rolled my eyes, sighing. ‘It’s down to my knees and green, and the skirt’s really swishy. It’s really nice, actually.’

  He nodded. ‘It sounds nice. I’m sure you’ll look great.’ Then he lowered his voice. ‘And, uh, since we’re already late . . .’

  He took a couple of steps closer and I smiled, going on tiptoe so that I could kiss him. I knew I should’ve made an excuse to go – but I really didn’t want to. His arms curled around my waist, warm and secure, and I smiled against his lips.

  ‘Hey, Elle? Noah? Are you—’ Lee’s voice cut off.

  I sprang away from Noah, tripping over my own feet and staggering to regain my balance. My entire body had turned to Jell-O, and suddenly I was finding it hard to breathe. I glanced over at Noah, who was frozen in place, his eyes fixed on his brother, his expression indefinable.

  The hustle and bustle of stragglers getting to their classes died down outside, until the three of us were surrounded by silence.

  Lee closed his mouth, which had been hanging open the entire time, and took a breath as if he were about to say something. Except no words came out.

  I was speechless too. He had to understand – I couldn’t lose him. He was never supposed to find out like this. Now he’d hate me forever. I had to say something.