#or questioning

“Here,” Bren hissed in between giggles. She dragged Kalyani along, ducking into a classroom and shutting the door behind them. 

“You’re insane!” Kalyani hissed back, but she was laughing just as hard and trying to hold it back the same way. 

They got the door closed and hurried to the back of the classroom, ducking below the desks just in time as the thunder of footsteps echoed in the hallway outside as the group of angry teachers rushed passed. They covered each other’s mouths to prevent their laughter from giving them away. They smiled and snorted at each other until they were sure they were safe. Well, safer than they were before. 

“God, you’re crazy,” Kalyani said. 

“Only in the best way possible,” Bren said. 

They huddled closer when the footsteps returned, linking their arms and covering their mouths until it was quiet again. 

“Are we going to have to stay here until the end of school?” Kalyani whispered. “I’m pretty sure there’s a class in here during fifth period.” 

Bren just grinned at her and then pushed herself out from under the table. She stretched casually and then offered Kalyani a hand. “We don’t have to stay here,” she said. “That’s way too boring.” 

Kalyani grabbed her hand and pulled herself up. 

Bren was still smiling as she pulled them towards the window of the classroom. Thankfully, they were on the first floor. Being higher up wouldn’t have stopped Bren. It just meant it was safer for everyone. She cranked open the glass and had to pause a moment to jimmy the screen off. She propped it against the wall and climbed onto the ledge. She didn’t even look to see if Kalyani was following her before vaulting out of the window.

She didn’t have to look. Kalyani was pushing herself through the window next, landing too close to Bren that their shoulders knocked together.

Kalyani laughed and Bren shushed her, linking their arms so that neither of them fell over. 

“Come on,” Bren said. 

Kalyani had an idea where they were going, and her guess was only confirmed when Bren pulled them around the side of the building and behind the dumpsters. It wasn’t dirty, since the school kept the grounds surprisingly clean and well-maintained for the most part. It was an easy place to hide known by some students, and as evidence of that, there were half-finished cigarettes littered around the area. 

Kalyani and Bren ducked behind the dumpsters, out of sight and safe in a moment. 

Kalyani’s shoulders hit the brick and she was out of breath for a moment. Bren landed on top of her, grabbing her hips and just as out of breath. Kalyani looked into her eyes, suddenly aware of how close they were. 

Bren was a dirty blond, straw-haired, blue-eyed beauty. Classic and sweet. Like vanilla bean ice cream. 

Kalyani licked her lips without thinking and dropped her gaze to Bren’s mouth. 

And 

Then 

They were kissing 

Before Kalyani could stop herself. 

She didn’t even know who started kissing first, only that they were both kissing now, and neither of them were going to stop. 

Bren’s hands were resting on her hips, lightly, barely noticeable through the fabric. It was all that Kalyani could focus on. That, and the kiss. The kiss, holy god. And Bren. And nothing else. How could this ruin anything between them when it was that amazing? Kalyani didn’t know and didn’t care. They were kissing and the world didn’t matter anymore. 

Bren started laughing first, smiling against Kalyani’s lips, and that made Kalyani start laughing too. It was the only thing that made them stop as they pulled apart to catch their breath together. They couldn’t look each other in the eye, but they didn’t stop touching. 

“You’re crazy,” Kalyani said after a moment, risking a glance up and smiling at the mischief sparkling in Bren’s eyes.