A Spark Like This (Mature Jocks Series #3)

Chapter Ten ☽︎ My First Real Kiss

"Love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive."
-- Unknown

K I M B E R L Y

T H E N

"Holy shit!" My roommate, Brenda shrieks when she looks at my wallpaper, a selfie of Lee and I. "Omg, are you guys really a thing?! Tell me all about it,"

I met Brenda on my move-in day here. We may not be besties but we tolerate each other enough to share our problems and all with each other. Yes, she didn't like me at first because of the awful way my mom addressed her. But days later, she had to accept that I am nothing like Claire Summers.

"I don't really know, Brenda," I shrug, a shy smile spreading across my lips. "I mean, he hasn't even kissed me yet,"

"Do you want him to......kiss you?"

"His lips, I always stare at them," I mutter but she hears me anyway.

"You're in love," she whispers and I widen my eyes at her.

"I'm not in love, Brenda, it's just a crush,"

"Is it? because he just texted," she winks, handing my phone to me.

Lee - Our spot?

"Lee?" She raises a brow.

"Yeah, that's his middle name, just don't tell anyone, he swore me to secrecy," I giggle.

Kim - yeah, I'll be there <3

"Ouuuuu, she's blushing," Brenda teases. "Alright, alright, I'll head to class now,"

"I hate you," I tease.

"You're in loveeeeee," she sing-songs as she closes our door behind her.

I can't deny that I've been smitten since that night at the frat house. When I'm not with him, I long for him, and when I'm with him, I get nervous, most times I end up cuddling with him, and he'd kiss my hair. He loves my hair. Sometimes I catch him playing with strands of my hair and I blush, hoping he doesn't see me. I also noticed how much he loves seeing me in the stands cheering for him, sitting right next to his mom. And oh my gosh, she's such a sweet soul, and sometimes I wish she was my mother. Her cooking is extraordinary, she's a very carefree person and also very welcoming. She's everything I need in a mother, a listener, a charmer, a beautiful person on the inside, everything Claire Summers is not. Everything I wish Claire Summers was.

Liz: have a great day, miss you <333

A text from my kid sister takes away sad thoughts of our mother. I put on a bright smile as I decide to tour around campus, since I've got no classes today.

A few people recognize me from TV shows and Interviews. The attention is amazing, but also overwhelming. I'm halfway into the day when my anxiety takes over and I head back into the dorms in a rush.

The first thing I do is text Lee and tell him that I can't make it to our spot. He responds with a couple of sad emojis and I toss my phone to the nightstand, my thoughts filled with all the stuff said about my family across the halls. "Claire Summers is a control freak," they said; they don't know how painfully right they are.
"She's such an attention seeker," a girl whispered to her friend and I pretended not to hear. I just wanted to check out the campus, but now I'm terrified of even completing my years of study. Everyone makes me feel too visible, it's upsetting.

I take out my drawing book and a pencil from my junk bag. Yes, Jason- my elder brother- put it there. I fell in love with Art when I was six, but no one supported it. It sucked. It was the one thing I could do withouts stress, and no one at home cared about it. Well, except Liz, who literally swoons over everything I draw. I remember Dad saying I had more serious things to do with my life than draw "random shit" that'll just waste my time.