“So, are you gay or something?”
“What?! No! Why?!” The words came out in rapid fire succession as her question burned in my ears. I looked
at her incredulously.
“I’ve just never seen you with a girlfriend or anything.” One hand held my fishing pole while the other traced
small designs in the sand. The fact that she had paid that much attention to my social life should have told me
something.
“So?! I just haven’t met anyone I’ve liked that much!” I was near stuttering as I sat flustered.
“Seems gay.” Came her response.
“Well I’m not, so drop it.” I was getting a hold on the shock and pure anger was rising now.
“If you say so.” Infuriatingly sweet. “Maybe you should prove it.”
“What? How can I prove it?” She shrugged and began reeling my fishing pole like she knew what she was
doing. “No, really, how do you want me to prove it?”
She turned and peered at me. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.” She smirked. My blood was boiling at this
point, I was about to blow a gasket and go ape shit on her—throw sand in her face, scream, yell, just have a
general temper tantrum. Then this voice in my head was whispering Kiss her. Kiss her! That’ll shut her up!
Just before she turned away I leaned down to her and pressed my lips against hers. I was awash with fear and
anger even as fireworks of amazement went off in my head. I had never kissed a girl before, and I was waiting
for the scream—or slap. To my surprise she did neither scream nor slap me nor did she pull away. At this point
we were just there with our lips pressed together and our eyes closed. At least mine where closed. Knowing
nothing else to do, I slowly pulled away ending the embrace.
My heart was pounding and butterflies filled my stomach. Our eyes were locked together for a time after the
kiss. Neither of us spoke. In that moment my fishing pole, forgotten in her hand, nearly jumped from her as
something hit the line fiercely. She managed to keep hold and cried out “What do I do!?”
We both got to our feet and I said “Start reeling it in!” She was having trouble just holding on to the rod so I
moved up behind her and put my arms around to grab the rod. “Here pull it like this!” I helped her guide the
pole as she reeled. I issued commands on when to reel and pull and when to stop and let out the line. This fish
was putting up a huge fight. Anna would chirp with delight each time the fish would trash and pull at us. At one
point it almost pulled the two of us off our feet. As the lake monster neared the surface I could tell it was a big
one. We were both smiling and laughing and we pulled it to the edge to be scooped out of the water with the
net. It was a striper nearly as big as my entire leg.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve never caught a fish before!” She was beaming.
“I’d have thought you’d never been fishing before.” I ribbed. She playfully slapped my arm.
“Now what?” She asked.
“Fish more I guess.”
“No way, we gotta get back and show this off!”
I kind of thought that’s what she’d want to do. “Okay. Well, let’s get our stuff together.” I looked in my pack for