Before I know it, I’ve leaned forward and my lips are on hers.  She’s pulling away, kind of, but mostly she’s just sitting there, feeling me.  I can feel her face heat up against mine and I fight back tears.  Liza pushes me backwards with her hands.

“Ashums, you’re hurting right now and i don’t want you to make any stupid mistakes…”

I cut her off with my lips, more forcefully this time.  And she lets me.  She kisses me back, snaking a hands around my neck and pulling me closer, teasing my lips with her tongue.  I open my mouth and our tongue lash against each other, battling for dominance.  She tastes like stale happiness.

“Ashums,” she manages again, pulling me away more slowly this time.  Her voice goes up a the end of my name, like she’s asking a question.  But she’s not looking into my eyes.  She’s watching my lips, wanting my lips.

“Don’t worry Liza,” I say.  “I really do want this.  I want you and only you.”

Then she’s on me again and we’re sinking to the floor of the theatre.  The bell rings above our heads but we don’t detach.  We’re still holding each other and exploring each other.  She’s glowing, literally glowing, and I smile at the fact that I’ve caused her happiness, that I’m what she wants.  I smile at Liza and ignore the fact that it’s not her face that I see.   I see the same wide smile and blue eyes from earlier and there still shining bright.  I see the same blonde hair, the same bounce in her step.  I see the love of my life in Liza’s eyes.

“Helllooooo.  Earth to Ashley.” Liza said, standing beside my car window.

“Huh? What?” I say, fumbling with my seat belt.  I look to my left and my mom is gone.  I’m in the car alone.  Liza chuckles at me and opens my car door.

“She yelled something about you being ridiculous and then marched that way,” Liza explains pointing toward the auditorium.  I just smile lazily and she leans down for a quick kiss.   I smile into it.  This is good.  We are good at being comfortable with each other.

“I love the new hair,” I say, seductively and Liza just pulls me from the car, slamming the door behind me.

“C’mon tiger,” she replies with a wink and I latched my hands about her waist, following her toward the building.  I did love her hair.  The blue streaks were red now, fire red, and it brought out her soft brown skin.  I plant a light kiss on her neck and when she swats me away with her hand, my cell phone rings.  I reach into the purse on her arm and fish out my phone.

“Hello?” I say, my voice unusually hugh-pitched.  Liza nudges me with her butt.  “Hellllooo?” I say into the phone, laughing now because Liza is poking me in the stomach.  “Anybody there?”

 There is a sigh on the other end and I stop dead in my tracks.  I know that sigh, the way  it ends with her voice, a soft ahh.  The way her eyes are faraway when she does it, deep and blue.

“Congratulations.” she says quickly and then hangs up.

I’m not moving.  I’m just holding the phone and not breathing.  Liza stops poking me and then pulls our foreheads together.

“You okay?”

“Y-y-yeah,” I stammer.  When she doesn’t look convinced, I lace my fingers with her own and spin her around, pulling her into me.  “C’mon.  Let’s go get us some grown up!”

Liza chuckles at this and we start walking again, our steps in synch. But my heart is forty beats ahead of hers.  My palms are sweating.  My eyes are scanning the parking lot around us, for just a glimpse of her.  It’s been three months, but she still gets me worked up.  She still makes me crazy.  She’s still the one.

“Really Ash.  You okay?” Liza says, not looking back at me.  I squeeze her hand and we continue walking.  This is it.  This is the day.