I smelt the rain before it came the familiar smell of wet asphalt and pine needles, the scent of every secrete Ontario keeps bottled beneath summer’s last breath. A bruised colored sky hunched over maple lane as I hopped off my bike and wheeled it up on my driveway. My mom’s SUV was gone. Leni’s telescope poked through her bedroom window like a curious periscope and next door Leo Ramirez dribbled a basketball in that maddening rhythm her reserved for taunting the neighborhood.

He spun around eyeing me with an arrogant but mischievous look

“Rain’s coming. Flores, might ruin your curls.”

I tugged at my wavy brown hair “ worry about your jump shot not my hair” i said rolling my eyes

“Jump shot’s fine.” He said Sinking the ball into the hoop attached to his garage net whispering “ Can’t say the same ‘bout your handlebars, their squeaking”

“Maybe God can forgive lousy comedians,” I muttered loud enough for him to hear, “but I wouldn’t bet on your chances.”

His laugh rolled out , deep, careless. Typical Leon: six foot-something of swagger wrapped in grey hoodie, green eyes bright as bottled glass. I pushed into the house before the sky split open.

Inside, silence pure suffocating silence the yearning to go outside and argue with Leo was pulling hard. Mom was was at a restaurant, her double shift ending whenever her tip dried up. Outside Leo wrestled with his basketball hoop, trying to tip it before the wind did. The pole teetered, wheels skidding. Without thinking, I dashed outside across the puddled grass. Water soaked my sneakers, cold as glacier melt.

“Need two hands?” I yelled about the gale. He blinked surprised I’d crossed enemy lines then shoved the hood of his hair “ If you’ve finally come to worship my game, sure”

“Just move,” I snapped planting my shoulders against th pole. Together we muscled it down, anchoring it behind his dad’s truck. Rain hammered, thunder growled, clouds unleashed another round. Lightening shredded the horizon, and the streetlights surrendered.

Leo squinted at my porch, a dim outline beyond the hedge “ Your place or mine till this eases?”

Mom’s rule: Never allow boys inside when she’s not home. But the storm was chewing the branches of the maple tree, I hesitated

He read it “Relax Flores, I’m not a wolf.”

“Demons don’t..........redemption isn’t .....”I started the old proverb Grandma used dancing on my tongue. “Just come on.”

We sprinted across the lawn, water slapped my cheeks, wind clawed at his hoodie. The screened door banged behind us,and we stood dripping in the dark hallway, breath puffing like we’d out ran an avalanche

“Flashlight’s in the kitchen drawer,” I said stepping put of my squelching shoes. My toes felt like frozen peas.

He produced his phone. “Dead, figures.”

I groped along the counter, fingers finding metal. Click, a weak beam cut the darkness. The storm outside moaned, rattling the eaves. Leni’s door opened upstairs “Jazz? Power’s_” Her voice faltered when she say Leo “ Oh. Hi.”

“Hey Maya.” He gave her the respectful nod reserved for little sisters nationwide.

She beamed, braces twinkling. “You two hiding from the apocalypse?”

“More like babysitting it” I said tilting my head at Leo.

He rolled his eyes “I can leave.”

Lightening cracked, shutting that idea down. Rain hammered harder somehow. The house shook.

I motioned to the living room. “Couch, Towels .”

We draped our selves with terry cloth. My flashlight cast long shadows, cave paintings on dry wall. For a minute neither of us spoke. The only sound was our synchronized breathing and the wind combining through cedar branches

Leo’s voice lowered “you okay?”

“Storms don’t scare me.” That was a lie so transparent even the dark can see through it

He twisted the towel between his hands, muscles flexing “They used to freak me out too. Mom would tell me thunder was just sky bowling.”

I pictured Leo at eight _ elbows to big, hair falling in his eyes_ asking “Maybe,” his grin flashed, half moon bright , “Though I’d complain more.”

I laughed before I could stop myself, and sound startled us both.

The front door slammed suddenly, wind slithering in despite the latch I jumped; Leo rose, protective reflex kicking in. My flashlight caught a branch lodged between door and frame, rainwater pooling around it like ink.

“Stay back,” he ordered. He wedged his shoulder against the wood, heaving. The branch snapped loose and the door clicked shut. His hoodie clung to him, outlining every league of muscle, heat crawled up my neck, ridiculous considering the temperature.

He turned, noticed, “ Cold?”

“Just_damp.” I hugged the towel tighter.

Candles, mom kept them in the hall closet. I fetched two, and Leo’s lighter _a basketball tournament souvenir _ ignited them. Warm glow replaced the anemic flashlight.

Sitting cross-legged opposite him on the rug, I studied the flicker dancing in his eyes. Green became gold each time the flame leaned his way.

“You really hate me, huh?” He asked softly

“Hate’s dramatic” I twisted a curl around my finger, “ You annoy me, that’s free entertainment”

He drummed invisible rhythm on his knee, “ Good to know”

Thunder rolled again, but farther now, like a lion strolling away after roaring. Somewhere in the house Leni resumed humming to whatever galaxy she’d returned to.

Silence pressed between us, thick as syrup,sweet and dangerous , I swallowed.

Leo looked less like a self appointed king and more like boy who’d been hiding behind a crown too heavy for one head.... Maybe I’d misjudged him. The storm had forced us under one roof, but something else_ quieter, warm_ was keeping us there

I breathed out “ so what now?”

He looked up from the candle light as his green eyes stared deeply at mine a flicker of something warm showed

For a second I stopped breathing the intensity left me shaken

I fumbled with an excuse “ The... candle... is giving out let me get some more.”

I got up from the rug taking his candle and giving him the flashlight i blew out the candle, I stood up from the rug and my leg hooked the rug and , I landed on top of Leo and my lips landed on his. My mind told me to pull away but my body wouldn’t obey, I felt Leo taken by surprise but kissed me back and I gasped as he put his arms on my waist savoring my lips fueled with passion. We stopped when we ran out of breathe our breathing ragged, and Leo looked at me with his green eyes filled with passion.......... Uh oh ......

...****************...

**Leo**

I stared intently at the candle and my heart was racing I had never been as close as this and for some reason I wanted more as she spoke I lifted my head to meet her gaze and for a split second I saw surprise and affection she mumbled something about candles but I couldn’t pay attention to anything i only analyzed the perfect shape of her sexy addictive lips, her caramel skin, her curly hair and the way her tiny waist moved . How didn’t I notice this before and why does this make my heart race?, I just wanted to kiss her feel the texture of her lips. And like as if a god heard my prayer she tripped on the rug and fell on me and her lips joined mine at first she felt surprised but she didn’t pull away and I intensified the kiss and fueled it passion longing to taste even the tiniest cell of her lips, my hand fell on her waist and I held her tight, afraid she might run away at even the slightest moment.

I felt her breath hitch, and I pulled away, my breathing ragged I missed the warmth of her lips and how it had kept me warm unlike the cold after rain feeling. She averted her gaze from me, my face felt warm.

The silence pressed in and I was regretting kissing her, but why did the thought of her warm, sweet lips make my heart race.

I decided to apologize, “ I’m so sorry Jazz, ... for ... I know I crossed a line but I couldn’t stop myself_”

I stopped short when I saw her blushing “ Nothing it’s fine really.”

I felt a little bit relieved, and I wanted to kiss her again and feel that warmth again but I stopped myself and stared outside, the storm had stopped. I need to think , alone collect my thoughts on why my heart is hammering. I turned to her, she was lost in her own thoughts, I decided to leave.

“T..The rain has stopped I guess I should get going now”

I saw a flicker of disappointment in her eyes “ Yeah it’s fine the rain has stopped.. so uhm bye.”

“Yeah bye..Jazz” I said turning towards the door.

I stepped out in the wet soggy grass as I made my way to my front porch, I walked into my house and Empty, as always I went up to my room my collection of trophies were stacked on my shelf , and huge window made it possible to look in Jasmine’s window I sighed and stared for a little while and went to take a bath.

I came out drying my hair, my eyes took me to Jasmine’s bedroom and I saw her come in looking grim,and she stared right at me, she looked at me up and down and her brain booted and she covered her eyes, went for her curtain and closed it. I was shocked, why did she act like that? Then I saw my chest, I forgot to put on a shirt, that made me smile. I put on a shirt just incase she peeps again and see me to avoid any heart attack. I layed on my bed facing the ceiling I tried to think of the basketball tournament coming up, but I keep thinking about Jasmine, her smile, her body, those lips that I wanted to claim, and take her to my room to_ Urgh this girl is going to drive me crazy and these thoughts wouldn’t get me into the school, but something is keeping me back Jasmine. Non no no this.. this I don’t love her it’s just the kiss that’s getting in my head, and the heart racing it’s just a sign that I’m going to get a heart attack, nothing to worry about, I’ll soon leave anyway so there’s no use chasing a girl who hates every fiber of my being, but she said she doesn’t hate me, and I think she does hate me Urgh this is stressful. Let me just sleep and forget about everything and I’ll be fine.

I closed my eyes, tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep. I stood up and I stared outside the window and saw Jasmine’s curtains still closed and I felt that was strange she never closed her curtains unless she wants to have a bath and this is midnight, so I returned to bed and this time I slept. What I dreamt of was something else I dreamt about that kiss and it extended, as I held her waist and her hair she started taking of my shirt and feeling my chest and she went to my shorts and pulled it off all while moaning and I was biting her lips, clashing with her tongue, she stopped for a second and said

“ I’m all yours make me scream your name.” Now that did it, I took of her clothes and saw her body and lord she was beautiful, she jumped on me and twerked violently on me and I was about to enter inside her. And I woke up drenched in my fluids, and sweat and my member was already up. And my face was red I cursed that this was all a dream I stood up and looked out the window now her curtains were open, and I closed my own shut, I couldn’t let her see me like this and how will I survive the day knowing about the kiss and my nasty dream

......................

......................

...Jasmine ...

After the kiss I flushed, my face was as red as a tomato and I felt amazing I wanted to jump on him again and he decided to apologize.

“I’m so sorry Jazz...for....I know I crossed a line but I couldn’t stop myself_” he fumbled

But honestly I didn’t care I enjoyed the kiss as much as I know he did. “ Nothing it’s fine really”

I saw him look surprised and he looked outside “ T..The rain has stopped I guess I should get going now”

My face fell but I forced a neutral face “ Yeah it’s fine the rain has stopped.....so uhm bye”

He stood up and headed out the door “ Yeah bye... Jazz”

And like that he left, I felt broken for some reason I couldn’t deny it I always had a tiny little crush on him now the kiss made it grow a little. I stood up and crashed on the couch I thought about him his basketball tricks, his grin anytime he tried to get me to watch and I hated the feeling I tried to kill the love by thinking of all the time he teased me and how it got me into trouble I felt sadness for a little while and I got up to my room, I looked through the window and what i saw made my heart stop, I saw Leo coming out of the shower with only his shorts and he was drying his hair, he caught me staring at him and he looked at me not annoyed, not angry, but astonished like I was the one shirtless, I gave him a quick look and covered my eyes reaching for the curtains and I closed it.

Oh my someone hand me a fan cause this guy is hot . I collapsed on the bed trying to get that memory out of my head. “Fuck I need to have a bath” I got up and started showering and i came outside and wore my clothes and went to sleep , and Christ my dream was crazy in my dream I kissed him and wrapped my legs around his hips devouring his mouth and he held my butt and I shaked on him and he purred and I moaned he took off my shirt and massaged my chest and right when the night would have gotten crazier my mom yelled my name from downstairs I woke up sweating and my trousers soaked in my fluids and I opened my window and I was relieved his was closed.

I ran to the shower, changed my bedsheets and wore my sleeveless cropped top and my low waist jeans, cause I’m going to meet my bestie Cora . I prayed that he doesn’t come outside at the same time as me or else that would be awkward. I got downstairs and saw my mom arranging too many foods for me to eat.

“ Mom, I told you I’m not ready to add weight” I said looking at her with my arms crossed

“ where are you going to dressed up like that? Anyways it isn’t all for you, it’s for Mrs Ramirez and Leo I invited them over” Mom said dropping the juice on the table

“ WHAT! Why mom? You never tell me anything and I’m going over to Cora’s and I wanna grab my phone so hold that thought” I said going back upstairs I got my phone and called Cora. I went down and saw Leo and his mom seated I was dumbfounded I froze on the stairs and stared at Leo until my mom called me.

“ Oh Jazz come and have breakfast” she gave me a grin and a look telling me not to argue

Leo looked up and his green eyes locked on mine, we were both screwed he looked surprised, then astonished, then he eyed me up and down analyzing me, I gulped let a big black hole swallow me now the dream flashed in my mind as I sat down opposite Leo he looked at me then faced down at his cereal usually he would have been grinning at me but now he’s... shy. Everything was done in silence until Leo’s mom started the conversation.

“Leo wouldn’t you talk about your upcoming tournament next month.” Leo’s mom (Mrs. Samantha) said looking at Leo who tensed up at the mention of his tournament.

Usually his smirk would be on display, urging me to see him play, but now there’s only a ghost of his smirk. And he looks embarrassed?

“ It’s not much of a big deal” Leo said looking at his plate

“Not much of a big deal! Leo you’ve been practicing for this and you’ve been really excited, what changed?,” Mrs Samantha said looking at Leo

Leo looked up and looked in my eyes, then he immediately looked down, and blushed. What the, I’ve never seen Leo like a nervous wreck, and he almost seem shy but why.

Leo refused to answer the question but the way he looked at me answered more questions than I would’ve liked. Leo and his mom left an hour later and thanked us for the accommodations. I waited until they far from sight and I ran to the garage, took my bike and pedaled far away from the neighborhood and parked at the memorized address of Cora.

......................