Bitter Sweet by Lennell Davis Page B

they never really liked me either. Seith still sat alone in the back and aced every test; it was like that night never happened.
     
                  The closing ceremony and our last night in the camp came sooner than I had expected. The teachers handed out certificates that meant nothing and at a dinner that was much better than usual, everyone exchanged numbers and emails. I looked over at where Seith usually sat, but he was gone. I got up and slipped out of the dining hall. I headed to the physics lab but he wasn’t there, then the dock, and again, he wasn’t there. I didn’t know what I expected to say to him if I had found him. I was heading toward my cabin when I saw him sitting on the steps.
     
                  “Hey,” was all I could think of to say.
     
                  “I thought your roommates would get here before you,” he sounded concerned.
     
                  “Have you been waiting for me?”
     
                  “Not long.”
     
                  “Why?”
     
                  “I will probably never get a chance to do this again,” he said and he took a step toward me. He leaned in, taking my hand in his, and he kissed me. I didn’t know what to do; I had never kissed a boy before, but I knew that if I wanted to kiss anyone, it would have been this boy. The kiss lasted a long time and I naturally raised my arms to around his neck and his hands moved to my waist. When we finished, my heart was racing and he took my hand, raising it to his cheek. “I’m sorry for pretending. I pretended that I didn’t like you, it’s just that I’ve never done this before. It took me all this time to realize that I would rather have you here for a moment than never.”
     
                  “I know the feeling…” We both smiled lightly.
     
                  “I guess this is the last time I will ever see you.”
     
                  “Yeah.”
     
                  “Should I say bye?” he asked.
     
                  “I rather you didn’t.”
     
                  “Then good night, Vanessa,” he said, letting my hand go. I watched him disappear into the dark for a second time. I didn’t see him the next day when our parents came to pick us all up.
     
                  No boy had ever spoken to me like Seith had after that. They all seemed to be too afraid to take that leap. It made me miss those few moments when Seith and I were together every time I went on a date like this.
     
                  Lost in my reminiscence, I hadn’t notice that the movie was over until Eugene tapped me on the shoulder. It was still a little early so we walked in and out of the stores around Time Square. We passed a Victoria Secret and he went all red so I grabbed his arm and pulled him inside for about twenty minutes; he would turn cherry red and splutter as I asked his opinion on various objects I held up for him to see, even buying some of the smaller thongs I found. Occasionally, his eyes would dart to the little pink bag and he would turn red again.
     
                  We ended up at a Burger King to complete the picture of the most classic date: a movie and a dinner, although I don't think Burger King is the best date dinner. Eugene went on about how we have to stay in contact as I stared out the window, remembering Seith and watching cars go by, not really paying attention to him. I became bored of this conversation fast and I was ready to go home. We got to the car and were heading home, then we got a flat tire. He was going on about some ball he hit at some batting cage when there was a loud bang and the car hobbled to a stop just as we were crossing under some subway tracks. Eugene looked a little shaken, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. He turned to me and asked if I was okay before he got out of the car to check on