The woods were dark and foreboding as McKenna walked the path. She had no idea which way to go, no idea where Dane would be. She was always on the beach when he appeared.

Appeared. McKenna chuckled to herself. Kelly was right about that. Maybe she should go back to the beach. But if she did, her mother might see her. She was better off just strolling the woods, no matter how dark they were.

“What are you doing out here alone?"

She spun around. Her heart picked up speed and now pounded in her chest. "Dane?"

"It's me."

She felt her face flame and was suddenly glad the woods were dark. She paused, not sure how to answer him. Then she decided to throw caution to the wind and dive in, headfirst. "Well,” she cleared her throat. “I'm looking for you."

He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes studying her. "Why?"

She didn’t know how to answer that, so she shrugged.

"What can I do for you?" He raised his eyebrows. "You've been telling me to leave you alone. I tried to be friendly, McKenna. I tried not to scare you. But you're so afraid of your parents that I don’t think I’m the problem."

"I'm sorry, Dane," she whispered.

"What changed your mind?"

"My friend. She said it might help if I talked to you."

"Help with what?"

McKenna hesitated, unsure of what to say. She pressed her lips together, trying to think, trying to form the words in her mind that would make sense. Before she could think of anything, she opened her mouth and said, “She said it might help me understand the feelings I’m having about you.”

“You have feelings for me.” It was more of a statement.

“This was a bad idea,” she mumbled. She started to walk away from him.

“McKenna, wait.” Dane reached out and grasped her arm.

She spun around and gave him an icy stare. “Let me go.”

“Please, wait. Give me a minute. I’m sorry, but this is all so sudden.” He held onto her arm. Gently, he lifted her chin. His eyes sought hers in the dimness of the forest. "McKenna," his voice was husky. "May I kiss you?"

"No," she whispered. “I have to leave. Please let go.”

Dane shook his head. “You had a reason to search for me. What is it?”

“I don’t know. I’m confused right now.”

“Please, may I kiss you?”

“No,” she said again, her voice trembling. Then she said, "Yes," her throat tight with apprehension.

He leaned forward, his lips brushing hers, soft and gentle, sweet like apples. Her lips softened with the touch of his. Her knees weakened, and she swayed on her feet. She leaned against him, and he wrapped his arms tighter around her.

“Dane,” she whispered against his mouth. “I can’t stand any longer.”

“I’ll hold you.”

A yearning kindled inside her. A sense of longing she didn’t understand. She only knew she didn’t want it to end, but she stepped back, her face flushed.

"We leave tomorrow," she blurted out. She suddenly felt like crying but didn’t know why. She really did want him to go away. Didn’t she?

***

As always, the ride home seemed faster than the ride there. McKenna and Kelly sat in the back of the SUV. McKenna had been especially quiet when she returned from the woods. Her eyes were distant. Her mouth turned down in a frown. She hadn't spoken unless someone spoke to her first. She wasn't ready to share.

Kelly studied her from the corner of her eye as they rode in silence. Finally, she felt she had to say something. "Kenny," she spoke softly so that McKenna's parents would not hear her. "How did it go? With Dane, I mean. Did you find him? Were you able to talk to him?"

McKenna nodded but still said nothing.

"Well? How did it go? Did you find out anything?"

This time McKenna shook her head no.

"No? Well, aren't you going to tell me what happened out there?” She demanded.

McKenna turned sideways on her seat and faced Kelly. "Kel," she said, her mouth curving into a smile. "He kissed me."

Kelly's eyes grew wide, her whisper loud in the confines of the car. "He kissed you?"

McKenna nodded her face flushing, making her freckles stand out brighter.

"He kissed you," Kelly repeated as she fell back against the seat. "How-?"

"Um, with his lips?" Mckenna giggled.

Kelly forced a smile. "So, how was it?" she asked.

"It was...nice."

"Nice?" Kelly echoed loudly.

McKenna winced. "Hush!"

"Oops. Sorry." Kelly's face turned red. "But that's all you have to say. Nice?"

"Don’t have anything to compare it with?" she said as a question.

"I guess not. How did it happen? You have to give me all the gory details." She gave McKenna an evil grin and wiggled her eyebrows.

McKenna shrugged. "It just happened. He has very soft lips, and he's so gentle. He put his hands on my face like this," She cupped Kelly's face in her hands. "Then he moved in real slow, like this." She moved closer to Kelly's face.

Kelly's eyes were wide with anticipation. "And then?" she asked.

"And then," McKenna whispered, "he did this." She puckered up her lips and made loud kissing noises, her head turning from side to side.

Kelly smacked her on the arm. "Very funny," she said.

"I thought so," McKenna gave a short laugh. "But truthfully, Kel, I don’t know what I’m feeling now."

"You've never been kissed before," Kelly reminded her. "Do you think you'll see him again?"

McKenna tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. But I think I want to."

"You think you want to?"

"I'm so confused. I don't know how to answer that. I guess when we go back to the campgrounds next weekend, I'll find out for sure."

© Copyright 2026 k.l.warzala. All rights reserved.