Then he put his hand on the back of my head and we kissed and I forgot all about whose body I was in. It was just me, Nate's lips, and the pounding of the waves. I slipped my arms around him and held on tight. He tasted salty. It wasn't until later that I wondered whether this counted as my first kiss. Did I have to use my own lips? "I should get going," he said finally. "I was supposed to be home over an hour ago. School starts tomorrow." "What time is it?" He checked his watch. "Almost midnight." "Midnight?" I gasped. "I've got to go." We slid down the rocks and stood for one last moment on the cold sand, holding hands and looking at each other as if we could stop time. But we couldn't. I kissed him on the cheek and whispered, "Good-bye. I'll never forget you." Then I scurried up the stairs 116 without letting myself look back. I fled through the shadows at the side of the house, dropping the single pink flip-flop into a trash can before sliding open the glass door. The house was dark and quiet.
