Page 65 of Intermission

“All true.”

“Have you told your parents you’re going out?”

“We haven’t actually ‘gone out’ yet.”

“What about all those trips up to the waterfall?”

“They don’t count. I mean, it’s not like we’re going on a date. He doesn’t pick me up or drop me off. My dog comes with me. Not a date.”

Jenna’s look is dubious. “You have picnics, right? And you discuss acting stuff and Jesus stuff and hopes and dreams stuff—just guessing here...”

I nod.

“And I know he holds your hand and you hug and kiss and—”

“You make it sound like we’re just going up there to make out! It’s not like that at all.”

“Iknow.” Jenna takes a sip of her soda. “That’s what makes it such a romantic stinking date!”

“Itisromantic, but I still say it isn’t a date.” I grin, but... she has a point. Still... “We’re hanging out. We haven’t gone out, like on a real date, yet.”

“Real-schmeal.” Jenna rolls her eyes. “Do you know how many girls would kill to have the sorts of dates you and Noah have? Dates where a guy just wants to talk—and listen to you talk—about stuff you care about instead of just wanting to get into your...” Jenna breaks off with a scowl. “Well, a lot of girls would love to be in your,” she makes air quotes, “not-a-real-date shoes, Faith Prescott.”

I stare at my friend. “Do I need to kick Cole in his man parts?”

“What?” Jenna sputters, choking a few coughs of Mountain Dew. “Not really. Not yet. But he’s not exactly romantic, you know?” She sighs. “Cole never wants to just talk anymore. It’s just all about the kissing. All the time. Honestly, I’m getting a little tired of having to take concealer with me when we go out.”

“Concealer? Why?”

“To hide the evidence of chin burn, m’dear.”

I laugh. “Chinwhat?”

“Chin burn. You know, it’s like carpet burn from a guy’s stubbly chin rubbing against yours for an extended period. Cole’s a hairy guy. I mean, he’s been shaving since seventh grade or something.He’s got a good start on a five o’clock shadow by two in the afternoon. By nine or ten, it’s like rubbing sandpaper on my skin. Translate that into a twenty-minute make-out session, and I practically need face camo before I go home.”

Noah often has stubble, but I’ve never... “How come I never have that happen when Noah kisses me?”

“If I had to guess, it’s probably because kissing isn’t recreation for you guys like it is for Cole and me.”

“Recreational kissing.” I laugh. “Is that a new sport?”

“If it was, Cole and I would win the state title. Maybe the nationals.ESPNwould be all over us.” She snort-laughs. “While we’re all over each other.”

“Gross. Remind me to change the channel that day.”

“Like you’d ever watchESPNon purpose, anyway.” Jenna snorts again. “But seriously, the way you describe kissing is totally different, kind of foreign to me. For you guys, it seems like it’s more like... like the punctuation at the end of a sentence. For us, it’s more like the whole paragraph. Chapter. Most of the book, actually. Probably.”

She laughs, and so do I.

“But you get it, right? Cole and I kiss because we like kissing. You and Noah kiss because you’re just being in the moment or something.” Jenna picks up her glass. The napkin sticks to the bottom.

I laugh. “Serves you right.”

“I don’t care if every drink I ever order sticks to my napkin. I will still think you’re a freak for salting yours.” Jenna peels the napkin off the bottom of her cup. “What were we talking about before we got sidetracked with the kissing stuff?”

“I have no idea. Studying for ourFahrenheittest?”

“No...” Jenna fiddles with her straw. “But that’s probably a good idea. Quiz me.”