My Recycled Soul (A Sample)

Smiling impishly, relief in his eyes, he gently pushes me down onto my back and shifts to lie on his side next to me, draping his arm over my waist.

He asks seriously, "Where do you go at lunch break, I never see you?"

Shyly I look up at him. "Hiding."

" Where could you possibly hide at school?"

" You don't want to know." I laugh embarrassed.

" So why were you so sad? It could not have been the weather because it was a beautiful summer."

" I didn't want to be here. I wanted things to go back to the way they used to be."

There is a moment of awkward silence, and then he asks softly, "So how did you end up moving to Ireland then?"

" Sean, my step-dad, inherited our new home from his father last year and over a period of a couple of months convinced my mom to move here. I had to follow."

" Is your dad still in South Africa?"

" No. He died when I was four years old."

" I'm so sorry," he says softly.

The mood is getting morbid.

Smiling up at him, I say, "So, you wanted to give me an Irish welcome by throwing me into the icy waters of the sea. How can that possibly be an Irish welcoming?"

" That was just an excuse to get your attention."

" Ah, but you already had my full attention," I reply teasingly.

With a smile playing across his face, he traces kisses with his lips along my neck, up the side of my face, over my eyebrows, and getting frustrated, I move my face, searching for his lips. I lace my arms around his neck, reaching toward him and we kiss. While we kiss, I turn onto my side as his hand on my waist moves to the small of my back, and he pulls me closer to him.

After a while, I draw back from him reluctantly, catching my breath and he smiles at me, his green eyes dreamy.

" You said there was something you needed to know?"

He frowns briefly, looking puzzled.

I explain, "Before everything, you said there was something you had to make sure of."

He smiles slowly. "I needed to know if you like me. I was supposed to establish this, before pouring my heart out to you."

I feel warm inside. My tummy feels like hot, gooey molasses. Feeling self-conscious, I change the subject, "So, how did Jane orchestrate this whole get together?"

He sighs exasperated. "Connell phoned Aaron, telling him his parents were away for the weekend and wondering if he should organize a party. Connell is into Sarah now. Siobhan and John have been together for three years; so Aaron suggested just a small get together, mentioning Sarah. Connell fell for it straight away, so then Aaron phoned Jane, asking her to speak to you. Jane then phoned me and I needed the opportunity to speak to you, without the whole school staring at us. I didn't know how welcome I would be knocking on your front door." He smiles bashfully. I feel as if I could hug him forever. "Jane also thought you wouldn't come, after my rudeness on Friday, especially if you knew I was here, so my Jeep is parked at John's house, around the corner, and we walked." He pulls me even closer to him and continues, "Does that answer your questions now? I would like to discuss a previous issue."