Casual college kissing had come really easily to Leila ever since fall semester had started, but this? This was completely different. Her breath hitched just from Benji’s face being so close to hers, and Leila wasn’t sure if he was actually going to kiss her or if it was all just wishful thinking. Time stretched on, agonizingly slow, and the familiar temptation to rewind time, to get herself out of this situation like she had with Will, came bubbling back up. She blinked her eyes closed, so close to going backwards, to before their lips had been whisper width apart… and then warmth was spreading through her whole body as their lips connected, and Leila’s heart thudded loudly against her chest. She hadn’t known just how much she’d wanted to kiss him until that very moment – all this stupid talk of love triangles and crushes and things she’d been scared to face head on had kept her from letting herself imagine it, but even if she had, the real thing would have been so much better than any stupid daydream. 

Tentatively, Leila brought her hands up to gently rest on the tops of his shoulders, wanting to keep him close before he had the chance to panic and pull away. Other kisses she’d had recently had been sloppy: too hard, too soft, surrounded by people on a crowded dance floor…and most of all, meaningless. Kissing Benji was scary and thrilling at the same time, because it was finally dawning on her that maybe she really did like him as much more than just a friend. Leila finally broke the kiss, butterflies still fluttering in her stomach as she leaned her forehead against his, not wanting to open her eyes yet, afraid that his face wouldn’t mirror the dazed awe that she was sure was on hers. “Um… hi,” she chuckled nervously, really not sure what to say or what to do next, and fighting the familiar urge to turn back time and undo it just in case things went horribly wrong from here.