The First Love Anthology: A collection of novellas

by Amy Sparling

  It’s almost like a date.

  Well, maybe not. But still.

  “I’m glad you’re cool,” I say as I finish my second cupcake.

  She looks a little startled at first but then she plays it off with a casual shrug. “What do you mean?”

  “Imagine getting stuck in here with some old person or like, a kid or something? It would suck.”

  She nods. “I guess you’re right, but I wish I got stuck in here with someone who had a phone.”

  “I don’t,” I say, thinking about how if she wasn’t a total stranger to me I would have asked her out by now. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be stuck in here with than you.”

  Her cheeks immediately turn as pink as the sprinkles on top of her cupcake. She holds back a smile and focuses on folding up the cupcake wrapper into a neat square. Maybe I’m just getting delusional from being stuck in here so long, but I think her expression is telling me that she feels the same way.

  Chapter 7

  Emma

  I stare at the cupcake wrapper that I’ve just folded up. Was Jaxxon flirting with me? I mean sure, if this was a TV show and I was at home in my pajamas watching it from afar, I’d say that he was definitely flirting. But I’m not some TV actress. I’m Emma Fisher. The only guys who flirt with me are guys at the very bottom of the popularity ladder at school. And Jaxxon is definitely not one of those guys. Everywhere he goes there’s probably girls just tripping over themselves to get a single second of his attention.

  “I’m sorry,” Jaxxon says. “I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward.”

  “No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “You’re fine.”

  Okay so maybe he was flirting?

  I look up at him. He’s watching me from his spot across the table from me. I study his features under the fluorescent glow of the lights above us. He’s handsome in this boyish way. His eyes are the color of a deep ocean and they’re filled with something more than himself. Jaxxon seems older, wiser, than the average high school guy. Maybe he just has a lot on his mind.

  I mentally shake myself and tell myself to snap out of it. I can’t just sit here and ogle some cute guy, letting my imagination run away with ideas of getting to know him better. He’s clearly going through something right now and he’s upset about losing his dad’s necklace. I can’t just sit here and fantasize about kissing him. What kind of jerk does that make me?

  I need to do something productive. I glance around the room and notice a toolbox in the corner. I walk over to it and lift the metal lid. Bingo.

  “If there’s a phone in the offices, we’re going to find it,” I say, holding up the crowbar I just discovered.

  Jaxxon’s eyes widen. “I like the way you think.”

  I wiggle my eyebrows mischievously and then head toward the nearest locked office. I’ve never broken open a door before, but it seems pretty intuitive. I shove the end of the crowbar into the door jam near the lock and push on it. Nothing much happens. Then Jaxxon appears next to me. He puts both hands next to mine and shoves hard on the crowbar. His strength is just what we need. The door cracks a little and then pops open.

  We glance at each other before going inside. I flip on the light switch and then my mouth falls open. While this is definitely an office—it’s not what I was expecting.

  The desk is empty, and boxes line the floor. Whoever used to work here has packed up all their stuff, and there’s no telephone anywhere.

  “Crap,” Jaxxon says. “Let’s try another one.”

  One by one, we pry open the lock on each of the five offices. They’re all packed up and we can’t find a single phone. Looks like my awesome idea wasn’t so awesome after all. I hold the crowbar in my hand as we stand inside the last of the locked offices.

  “How is it possible that there’s not a single phone in this building?” I say. I’m so annoyed I feel like throwing this crowbar as far as I can.

  “What’s even worse is that this building doesn’t seem to have a single fire alarm,” Jaxxon says, shoving his hands in his pockets.

  “I didn’t even think of that,” I say, looking around.

  “I’ve already checked,” he says. “I looked all over and can’t find one. That can’t possibly be up to building code or whatever.” He sighs. “I’m sorry you’re stuck in here.”

  “I’m sorry you’re stuck in here,” I say. Normally I’m a polite person who would put things back where they go, but right now I’m feeling more than a little annoyed with the Spring Falls Historical Museum. I drop the crowbar to the floor and it crashes to the tile with a satisfying clang. “At least no one forgot about you. My mom has clearly forgotten about me.”

  “I’m sorry about that,” he says. “It could be worse though. There could be no power and we could be starving. But luckily we have lights and cupcakes.” He flashes me a smile that makes my knees weak. For the millionth time tonight I wonder if Jaxxon would ever notice me if we went to the same school. Would he smile at me like that if we had a class together?

  “What do you want to do now?” I say. “Maybe we could take some revolutionary war weapons and blast a hole through the door. Do you think that old cannon still works?”

  He laughs. “That might get us arrested.”

  “Probably,” I say with a sigh.

  “We could make out.”

  My head snaps up so quickly I’m surprised my neck didn’t break. I try to say something but I can’t think of any words. He wiggles an eyebrow at me in this playful way that makes him even cuter somehow.

  “You don’t even know me,” I manage to say after a few seconds. “I could have a boyfriend for all you know.”

  “You probably do,” he says. He turns to walk back out into the museum part of the building. “The pretty girls always do.”

  I rush forward to catch up with him. My pulse is racing and my cheeks are definitely blushing a furious shade of red. Did he just call me pretty? “I don’t,” I say, following him into the main exhibit room. “I’m completely single.”

  “Good to know,” he says, but he’s not looking at me. He’s staring at a mannequin that’s dressed in a black tuxedo. He squints and then runs toward it, leaping over the velvet barrier that’s meant to keep people out. He reaches for the mannequin’s neck and pulls on a silver chain necklace that’s halfway underneath the vintage tuxedo.

  I can’t see the necklace very well from back here, but I can tell by the way his shoulders slump that it’s not the necklace he’s looking for. He drops it and then steps back over the barrier. “Wishful thinking,” he says solemnly. He looks back up at me. “What were we talking about?”

  “Nothing,” I say quickly. Maybe a little too quickly.

  His eyes flash like he suddenly remembers exactly what we had been talking about. “Oh right,” he says, stepping toward me. “You were saying you don’t have a boyfriend.”

  I swallow. He steps a little closer and peers down at me. I can feel my heart beating erratically in my chest as he takes me in, his gaze raking down my body and back up. “I can’t imagine why,” he says softly. His fingers reach out and brush across mine, sending a spark through my nerves.

  I can see his eyes trail down to my lips. I stand perfectly still, afraid to move or talk or do anything that might make him change his mind about kissing me. His fingers slide down my arm and then interlock with mine. His other hand grabs my elbow. He’s just inches away now, and I wet my lips, preparing to kiss him. I can’t believe this is happening.

  I can’t wait for it.

  He lets go of my hand and takes a sudden step backward. “Sorry,” he says, blinking and looking away as if waking up from a trance. “I should not be doing this.”

  Chapter 8

  Jaxxon

  Oh my god, what was I thinking? I can’t just feel up a girl and then make out with her after only knowing her for an hour. What kind of asshole does that make me? This is exactly what Coach Jonson talked about when he said guys need to treat women with more r
espect. I consider myself a good person. I’m kind and loyal and I’d never cheat on a girl. But kissing Emma in the museum would be taking advantage of her. I can’t be that kind of guy.

  Emma seems great and I’m dying to get to know her better. I want to take her on a date outside of this place. I want to see her smile in the sunshine and take her driving down the beach in my truck on a summer night. I want to hold her hand in the movie theaters. I can’t do any of that if I blow my chances by taking things too far, too soon.

  “I should not be doing this,” I say, letting go of her hand.

  Her eyes widen in surprise and then she looks away. Her lip quivers and she looks like she’s about to say something, but then she doesn’t. She just turns and walks away, but just before she goes I can see tears forming in her eyes.

  Crap.

  “Emma,” I call out, but she doesn’t say anything. She walks quickly toward the front of the museum. “Emma, wait!” I say, starting after her.

  She turns on her heel and glares at me. “Leave me alone.”

  “What did I do?”

  She snorts sarcastically. “Typical guy.” She turns back around.

  I chase after her. “Emma, I was trying to be nice.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Pretending to kiss a girl is your way of being nice?”

  “Well, yeah,” I say, sounding like the idiot that I am. I am not explaining this well at all.

  “Look,” she says, holding out her hands to stop me from getting any closer to her. “We are two strangers and we are locked in here and that’s all we need to know. Don’t talk to me unless you find a way out of here.” Her eyes meet mine and she brushes a tear off her cheek. “Just leave me alone.”

  This time when she storms away, I don’t chase after her. I know better than to piss her off even more. I feel like a complete jerk, and here I was trying hard not to be a jerk. I walk in the opposite direction and make my way back to the employee break room. There’s an old leather couch in the corner and I lay out on it, covering my eyes with my arms. I’m such an idiot. I should have done this whole night differently. Here I was obsessed with finding the necklace and the universe was sending me an amazing girl that I should have been focusing on instead. I should have become friends with her and not made her hate me. That way I’d have a chance with her once we get out of this situation.

  Now I’ve probably ruined it all.

  I have no idea why Brett is suddenly in my mind, but he is. My little brother is probably still at his girlfriend’s house, eating homecooked meals from her mom and watching cable TV and having a great night. Ever since they started dating, my brother has become so much more mature than he used to be. He’s only a sophomore and yet his life is so much better than mine. He’s happy. He has a second family now with his girlfriend’s family. It’s way better than our life at home with Aunt Vivian.

  Brett doesn’t know I’m missing yet. He wouldn’t have tried to reach out to me tonight. And Aunt Vivian doesn’t care where I am at any given time. How long will it take for someone to realize I’m gone? Will they even notice if I’m not in my bed tonight?

  I think of Emma, and how she actually came here with her mom tonight. At least I was alone, and that’s why no one is looking for me. I can’t imagine what she feels like, knowing her own mother forgot about her. And here I was about to kiss her during this ordeal. I should have been comforting her instead.

  I sit up on the couch. I need to apologize. I’ve probably ruined my chances of actually dating this girl, but as the minutes go by, it seems more and more likely that we’re going to be stuck here all night. The least I can do is apologize for my epically stupid behavior. Just because she seems like my dream girl doesn’t mean I’ll actually get to date her. After all, we just have one night together.

  And then we’ll go back to our normal lives and forget this ever happened.

  Chapter 9

  Emma

  I can’t believe I’m actually crying over this guy. How pathetic does that make me? I turn around and press my back to the front doors of the museum and let out an exhausted sigh. I guess I’m not crying over him, specifically. He’s just some hot guy that I barely even know. The tears are because I feel like such an idiot for thinking that a hot guy I barely even know would consider, even for a second, that I’m kiss-worthy material.

  I really thought we had a moment earlier. It certainly felt like we did… but I guess being locked up in a building together can make you do crazy things. My whole body was on fire and even my lips tingled, and for just a second, I thought for sure that he was about to kiss me. I could practically feel his lips on mine.

  And then bam.

  He snapped out of it.

  He must have realized that I’m not nearly cute enough or popular enough for him. So he released my hand and shrugged me off and probably tried really hard not to make gagging noises behind my back. Ugh. Typical guy.

  Whatever. I don’t care about him. I don’t care that he has actual emotions underneath that hot guy façade. Unlike every other guy in my school, Jaxxon actually cares about stuff. But none of that matters because he’s clearly repulsed by me.

  I should bang on the doors again just for something to do because I’m sick of crying. I wipe my tears away and then slump to the floor, bringing my knees up to my chest. I wish I knew what time it is. I wish I had my phone.

  I wish a lot of things.

  I cross my arms over my knees and rest my chin on top. Besides the men’s bathroom, there’s no part of this museum that I haven’t explored yet. Earlier it was so packed with people that it was hard to see everything. Now, I’m sick of looking at it all.

  I lean my head back against the door and close my eyes. When I open them, I notice a sparkle coming from the clear plastic brochure holder that’s on the wall near the entrance. I remember grabbing a brochure when I got here with Mom and David earlier so that we could read about each exhibit before wandering around.

  Only now, there’s a silver necklace shoved into the front of it. A cross hangs over the edge, sparkling under the bright museum lights.

  I jump to my feet. Someone must have found it and shoved it in there before they left. I take it out and look at it, turning the cross pendant over in my hands. Without thinking of my former embarrassment or how Jaxxon totally rejected me, I run toward the break room.

  “Jaxxon!” I call out as I turn into the employees only hallway and come to an abrupt stop in the doorway.

  He’s laying on a couch, his arms folded over his face. “Yeah?” he says without moving his arms.

  “You might want to sit up for this,” I say.

  His arms move and he looks over at me, slowly sitting up. “Emma… listen, I need to apologize.”

  I blink, momentarily confused. The necklace is tucked in my fist so he has no idea what amazing news I’m about to share with him, and suddenly I’m unable to speak. I find myself moving closer, crossing the distance between us. I want to hear what he has to say.

  “Here,” he says, sliding over on the couch. He pats the seat next to him. “Please sit. I’m not good at apologies, but I’m going to try.”

  My eyebrows furrow as I sit down. “Just forget about earlier,” I say. “We’ll pretend it never happened.”

  He shakes his head. “No. I really am sorry for what I did. I had no right to touch you or hold your hand or anything.” He meets my gaze. “I do really like you, but I should have been more respectful.”

  My jaw falls open. “Wait… what?”

  He looks so remorseful and it makes me want to laugh. I bite my lip. “You’re apologizing for grabbing my hand?”

  He nods.

  I feel a smile tugging on my lips. “I thought you were grossed out by me and that’s why you dropped my hand. I liked when you held my hand.”

  “Why would I be grossed out?” he says, sitting a little straighter. “I got stuck in here with a beautiful girl. It’s like I won the lottery.”

  I am definitely blushi
ng, but I try to ignore that fact. I roll my eyes. “Well… thank you. Most guys just do whatever they want to girls. They don’t care if we’re annoyed by it.”

  He offers me a small smile. “I try really hard not to be like most guys.”

  My heart swells up with how much I have a crush on him. “Trust me,” I say. “You’re much better than most guys.”

  We stare into each other’s eyes for a moment, and my mind is swirling with all the possibilities of what might happen next. He said he likes me. I know I like him. Could we actually become something?

  Then I remember the reason I came here in the first place. “I almost forgot,” I say. I open my hand, showing him the necklace in my palm. “Is this your dad’s necklace?”

  His eyes widen. He takes the silver chain and holds it up, then closes the cross in his palm. “Oh my God, you found it.”

  I grin. “I’m glad.”

  Jaxxon reaches for my hand and I hold onto his tightly so he knows I want him here. “Can I kiss you?” he says, his voice low.

  I nod eagerly, trying not to grin like a cheesy goofball, but I don’t know how successful I am at that.

  His hand cups my cheek and he leans forward slowly, his gaze never leaving mine until his eyes close, and his lips press against mine. He tastes like cupcakes.

  And it’s the best kiss I’ve ever had.

  Chapter 10

  Jaxxon

  With my dad’s necklace gripped tightly in my hand, I kiss the girl I’m now so very crazy about. We’re sitting in a break room in a building that we’re locked inside, and I never thought I’d find my dream girl in a place like this. Fate does crazy things.

  When we pull apart, she smiles at me. I slide my hand through her hair and kiss her again. She leans into my kiss, her hands sliding around my neck. As much as I want to take this further, lean her back on the couch and make this a true make out session, there’s still so much to say. So much to talk about and so much to learn about this beautiful girl.