The clock struck five as I made my way to the coffee shop, my heart thudding louder than usual. Scarlet had texted earlier, suggesting we meet up. I couldn't stop replaying the kiss from prom night in my head. Did it mean something to her, or was it just the moment?
As I walked in, I spotted her right away, sitting by the window. Her fingers nervously traced the rim of her cup, her eyes glued to the world outside. I hesitated, wondering if I should've dressed nicer or done something different with my hair. Taking a deep breath, I approached her.
"Hey," I greeted, pulling out the chair across from her.
Scarlet's face lit up with a warm smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hey, Max. You made it."
"Yeah, of course. Wouldn't miss it," I replied, forcing a casual tone.
We fell into a slightly awkward silence, both of us unsure how to start. I cleared my throat and decided to break the ice. "You look... really nice today."
She laughed softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks. You too."
The barista brought my coffee, and I took a long sip, trying to collect my thoughts. "So... prom night," I began, careful with my words. "That was... something."
Scarlet looked down at her cup, swirling her coffee slowly. "Yeah. It really was."
I glanced at her, trying to read her expression. "I've been thinking about that kiss."
Her cheeks turned a soft pink. "Oh..."
I chuckled nervously. "I mean, was it just because of the moment? Or... was there more to it?"
Scarlet hesitated, biting her lip. "I... I don't really know. It just felt right at that moment, you know? Like everything was just... perfect."
My heart pounded harder. "Yeah. I felt that too."
We looked at each other, the tension hanging between us. I wanted to reach across the table and hold her hand, but I didn't want to push it. "So, where does that leave us?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Scarlet met my gaze, her eyes soft but unsure. "I guess... I'm just as confused as you. It's scary to think about where this could go. I don't want to ruin what we have."
I nodded slowly, understanding the weight of her words. "Yeah. I get it. I just... can't stop thinking about you."
A small smile appeared on her lips. "You know, you're really bad at hiding your feelings."
I shrugged. "I guess I've never been good at that. Especially with you."
We shared a laugh, and the tension seemed to ease just a little. Scarlet reached out, lightly touching my hand. "Let's just... take it slow. See where this goes."
I squeezed her hand gently, relieved. "Yeah. Slow sounds good."
As we sat there, sipping coffee and talking about random things, the awkwardness faded. The kiss might have left us both uncertain, but one thing was clear: neither of us wanted to walk away.