mamihlapinatapai (n.)
a look shared between two people, each wishing that the other would initiate something they both desire, but neither wants to begin
* * *
TWO days before Christmas, we had a half-day at school to start winter break. Right after school let out, our group gathered at Delaney's house.
"Okay, so I got cookie dough yesterday," Delaney announced, unceremoniously setting a tub of dough on the counter. "I thought it'd be fun to bake and decorate?"
Aubrey and I helped her grab the frosting, sprinkles, and cookie sheets out of the cabinets. After everything was set up, we started rolling the dough and cutting it into shapes.
"Need a hand, Eli?" I playfully nudged his side. He was struggling to get the gingerbread man out of its cutter.
"No, I can make cookies without supervision," he chuckled, accidentally ripping the cookie's head off. He shoved it in his mouth and tried again.
"Hmm, I seem to remember a cookie incident that ended with flour everywhere."
"Cookies?" Ethan asked, shooting a curious glance at Aubrey.
"We made cookies a few weeks ago at his house," I explained. "But this idiot spilled the flour everywhere and then..." I trailed off, thinking about the almost kiss and then the real kiss.
Ben barked out a laugh, "You fucked?"
"No. We cleaned the mess up," Eli finished, looking somewhat pink. "Why does everything have to be about sex for you?"
"Sure you did," Ben snickered, ignoring Eli's question. "Char, did he at least preheat your oven before sticking the dough in? I know he's a little incompetent in that department."
"Yeah, man, did you frost her cookie?" Ethan added, barely containing his laughter.
"N- No," I stammered.
Delaney sniggered, "Any hands find their way into Char's cookie jar?"
"What about filling her Oreo with cream?" Ben asked, wiggling his eyebrows. "Eli loooves Oreos."
Mortified, I looked to Eli for help, but he was laughing with the rest of them. "C'mon Char, we're a batch made in heaven."
If he were a smart cookie, he'd see the embarrassment written all over my face and he'd shut them up.
"I have another one!" Ben exclaimed. "Did you two—"
"Give 'em a break," Aubrey interrupted, a slight smile on her face.
"Thank you, Aubrey," I sighed. "Um, anyway, he made a mess. My point was that he really shouldn't be trusted in the kitchen."
"Really? Is it 'cause he fu—"
I jabbed my elbow into Ben's stomach."No! He's a shitty baker. That's it. You just have a dirty mind. Go touch some grass or something."
YOU ARE READING
Because of Haven Beach
Teen Fiction"The moon's really beautiful, if you think about it," I blurted. "Yeah?" he asked, mild amusement and curiosity mingling in his voice. "Yeah," I confirmed. "It's just- there's something about the moon that's ethereal. I don't really know how to desc...
