Page 17 of String Boys

Kelly let out a soft chuff of air. They were standing so close, it brushed Seth’s chin, and he moved his finger to his own face, trying to still the tingle.

“Two years ago, in the eighth grade, I went to dances,” he whispered. “Remember?”

Seth nodded. “Yeah. Your mom got mad because she couldn’t chaperone.”

“ThankGod,” Kelly returned with feeling. “So I made out with two girls at those dances. ’Cause they were funny and they wanted to dance, and making out seemed like what you were supposed to do.”

Seth’s stomach went cold. “Awesome,” he muttered. He hadn’t made out withanyone.It was just… just… getting home and practicing his next piece always held more fascination to him. Being there to walk Kelly home, to have their own quiet after-school club, just the two of them, seemed so much more important.

“No,” Kelly said, shaking his head sadly. “I mean, pleasant, but not awesome. And then Jimmy—you remember him? We used to sit at lunch together because the grades couldn’t mix?”

“Jimmy Durreson?” Seth remembered. He was a white kid, which wasn’t that common. Dark blond hair, a big dent in his chin. Green eyes.

A wave of panic crashed into Seth, like it had just been waiting to douse him as he stood on the shore of oblivion.

Cute.

Jimmy Durreson was damned cute.

Kelly nodded, mischief in his smile. “Yeah. Jimmy frickin’ Durreson. We were at the dance together, and we got bored, and we went outside to use the bathrooms and didn’t come in right away. And it was spring and just us, and he stops me and says, ‘Wanna make out?’ And Idid.And it wasawesome.And he wanted to do it again. Wanted to be boyfriends.”

Oh God.“You have a boyfriend?” Panic in his voice.

Kelly patted his cheek gently. “You’re so pretty, but oh my God. There’s shit you don’t see. No, I don’t have a boyfriend. Not yet.”

Seth nodded, trying to still the surge of jealousy that had followed the panic. “But if you thought it was awesome—”

Then Kelly kissed him.

Oh dear heavens, Kellykissedhim.

His plush little mouth was soft on Seth’s, and that amazing smell Seth had just discovered filled his senses. Kelly’s warmth blocked out the chill of the November rain.

Seth gasped, and Kelly pushed his tongue in, just enough to taste, and Seth closed his lips and sucked lightly.

Kelly pulled away and smiled, biting his lip.

“Jimmy wasn’tthatawesome,” he whispered. “It was good. Jimmy Durreson is a good kisser. But he doesn’t taste like you.”

Seth kissed him back, licking along the seam of his lips, sighing when Kelly let him in. Kelly opened his mouth fully, and Seth thrust his tongue inside, wanting to taste him. Kelly’s tongue met him halfway, and they stroked each other, stunningly intimate, terrifying.

Not scary enough to make him stop.

Seth groaned, wanting more… more… more what?

The question pulled him back, and he leaned his forehead against Kelly’s.

“We’re kissing,” he gasped.

“You noticed!” Kelly teased, nuzzling Seth’s cheek. “You want to do it some more?”

Seth’s whole body tingled, so many parts he wasn’t sure if he could inventory them all. He swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, but….” He pulled away and looked around them. The dank little alley, the rain that had finally let up. “Not here,” he said. “We… we have tomorrow. It’s your day to sit and draw while I practice—”

Kelly nodded excitedly. “Think maybe you can practice a little less?” he urged. “Just a little? ’Cause I gotta tell you, I’ve been waiting since eighth grade for that, and it was awesome, but I want to do more.” He wrinkled his nose, which was still on the small side, and nodded. “Not here, ’cause you’re right. It’s gross. But… back then, in eighth grade, Jimmy Durreson said, ‘You wanna do it more?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, but not with you.’” Kelly’s face fell. “I coulda said that better. He was hurt. He didn’t sit with me for a week until I explained that I just really had it bad for you and I wantedyouto kiss me. And then he said that was okay, he was glad we got to make out just once, and it was ok—”

Seth kissed him again. Partly because he didn’t want to hear one more damned word about Jimmy Durreson, but mostly because it was their last time before the next day.

He hated that he had to wait an entire day before he tasted Kelly again.