The Way We Used To Be - ON HOLD-

Later that night Harry, Mel, and Scarlett were sleeping over. Their parents had set up television and board games in the basement so the kids could all be alone aka not bothering them.
It was about 10 p.m. and they’d been playing video games all night.
Mel, who was the oldest in the group, decided they should play something a little more suited since half of them were all in their teens now. Maggie and Scar were still struggling to make it out of 12, but Mel decided they were old enough to participate.
“Spin the bottle.” Mel enunciated. Maggie and Scar both scrunched up their faces as they looked at each other.
“Ew, no.” Scarlett finally said.
“What, why not?” Aiden objected, obviously wanting to kiss Mel who he’d had a crush on since earlier that spring.
“Um, two of the players are my brothers.” Maggie explained, looking at them as if they were crazy.
“Step Brothers.” Aiden corrected and then Mel stepped in.

“You don’t have to kiss either of them; if you spin or they spin and it lands on you then we’ll just skip. Okay?”
Maggie huffed and crossed her arms.
“All in favor of playing?” Mel asked as she raised her hand—followed by Aiden, Oliver, and Harry.
“Majority rules. We’re playing.” Mel said as Scar and Maggie rolled their eyes.
They all took their seats, sitting on criss crossed legs on the basement floor with a bottle between the circle.
“I’ll go first.” Aiden volunteered, placing his hand on the empty wine bottle they’d fished out of the trash. (They washed it first of course.)
He took a deep breath and placed his hand on the bottle, spinning it quickly and watching it go. It started slowing down at Mel, but kept going just a little and eventually landed on Scar. Aiden was disappointed yeah, but a kiss was a kiss.
He shrugged and looked at Scar who was making a disgusted face. “Come on, it’s a game.” Harry said, giving Scar a push forward.
“All right, all right calm down I’m going.” She said as she leaned forward and closed her eyes. They kissed briefly and Scar pretended to gag once she’d sat back down. They all laughed.
“Okay, Scar you have to go now.” Mel said.
When Scar spun the bottle, it landed on Maggie. The both laughed uncontrollably and Mel finally cleared her throat.
“You have to do it.” She said with a shrug.
“No way, I’m not kissing her. She’s my best mate.” Scarlett said shaking her head.
“I am not really down with that either I don’t want my first kiss to be with Scarlett. Not offense.” Maggie said, looking at her best friend.
“Fine, kiss her cheek and let’s get on with it.” Oliver said, Maggie looked at him and wondered why he was in such a hurry.
“Whatever.” Scar said and leaned forward pressing her lips to Maggie’s cheek and then sitting back down. “Happy?” She said with another eye roll. She was famous for her eye rolls.
“Yeah, wonderful. Spin Maggie.” Aiden spoke up. Maggie was wondering if this was a competition for the twins.
Maggie placed her petite fingers on the bottle and sighed, spinning it quickly. She knew the only potential kiss she’d get was with Harry. He was sitting next to Mel with his knees pulled up to him and his ankles crossed. She watched the bottle teeter before finally landing on him. She felt her heart jump. This was it, her first kiss. She was so nervous. She was not prepared.
“Earth to Mags?” Harry said and he was already leaning forward.
“What? Oh yeah. Okay. Um, just let me…” She rambled as she sat up on her knees and leaned forward, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Their lips pressed against one another and she felt a mix of anxiety in her belly she’d never felt before – she thought she may throw up.
“Please for the love of all things holy, quit kissing my sister!” Oliver seemed to say out of nowhere before he grabbed Harry and pushed him back into his seat. Maggie opened her eyes and finally let her breath out. She looked at Harry who was smirking across from her.
She sat back down and looked at Scarlett who had her mouth open and brought her index finger and thumb up to sign “Okay” while nodding.
Maggie’s cheeks were bright red.
“Okay, Harry – spin.” Mel was apparently the leader.
Harry spun, the bottle landed on Oli. They both shook their heads.
“Cheek kiss, you remember.” Scar said pushing Harry.
They both groaned and Harry kissed Oliver’s cheek quickly before sitting down and wiping his mouth off.
Oliver wiped his cheek and then placed his hand on the bottle, spinning it quickly.
It landed on Mel. He looked extremely satisfied.
“Since we’re both older, maybe we should kiss in private?” Mel offered, they all looked at each other, wondering what she meant.
Oliver’s eyes widened and he nodded. They both stood up and walked towards a closet, Scar and Maggie looked at each other, realizing what was about to happen.
“Gross.” Scar said and stood up. “I am out, I’m going to bed.”
Maggie and Harry followed her, leaving Aiden there with a scowl on his face.
“Come on mate,” Harry said empathetically, helping Aiden stand and they went to the opposite side of the room where they had sleeping bags set up. Oli and Mel had already disappeared into the closet.
“I didn’t realize she was such a slag.” Scar said as she got settled in her sleeping bag.
Maggie shrugged. “She’s just more experienced…” She didn’t like being mean.
“No, she’s a slag.” Aiden said, his arms crossed as he pouted in his sleeping bag.
Harry just laughed. He didn’t have anything to say about it. He already knew about Mel’s reputation, she’d had a crush on him last year.
They all fell asleep before Mel and Oliver came and got into their sleeping bags, turning out all of the lights and settling in for bed.
Maggie woke up to Harry leaning over her. She jumped slightly before sitting up some and looking at him.
“You scared me.” She whispered, wiping her eyes to get the sleep out of them.
“I’m sorry…I just wanted to tell you something…” Harry whispered back.
“Okay…” Maggie said shyly, why did she all of the sudden feel nervous.
“That was my first kiss too.”
Maggie could not see the blush that was rising in Harry’s cheek, but he could feel it.
She smiled and bit her bottom lip.
“Was it okay?” She asked, wondering if he was disappointed.
“It was great…I was wondering if maybe you’d…” He paused and leaned just a bit closer. “If you wanted to do it again?” He finally said, barely audible.
Maggie inhaled and nodded. She did want to do it again.
He leaned in and pressed his soft lips to hers, nothing more, just a sweet kiss that lasted for about thirty seconds.
He finally pulled back and gave her a smile. “Is it okay if I sleep next to you?” He asked, tugging his sleeping bag over.
“That’s fine…” Maggie said, smiling to herself as they both settled into their bags and eventually fell asleep.
This was the day Maggie found out what a real crush felt like.

Notes