I’m about to experience my first kiss…
In a dark closet during 7 Minutes in Heaven.
It’s not the ideal setup, that’s for sure.
But the kiss will be with my long-time crush, David…
David sits across from me in the pitch-black closet.
I wait for him to make the first move.
David
I can’t see you at all.
He turns on his phone flashlight and points it at the wall.
With the small bit of light, I can see that he’s smiling.
My heart races with nerves.
I pucker my lips, both excited and extremely anxious…
Before the world goes black.
Bryce
Emily? Can you hear me?
To find everyone at the party staring at me.
I’m laying sprawled on my back in the den.
I sit up slowly, looking at my best friend, Bryce.
Bryce
Are you okay, Emily?
Emily
Yeah. But what happened?
Bryce emits a nervous cough and shifts his eyes to David.
David stands a few feet away with his hands in his pockets.
David
You, um…you fainted?
David and I were about to kiss…
My heart was beating so fast I thought it would fly out of my chest…
And that’s all I remember.
Yup, I definitely fainted.
I stand up and try to act nonchalant.
Bryce
Are you sure you’re okay, Em?
Emily
I just need a drink of water.
Wordlessly communicating that he should come with me.
Bryce
Nothing to see here!
Bryce takes my cue and tugs me away from the other party goers…
Who burst into laughter the second they think we’re out of earshot.
I cover my face with my hands.
Bryce and I are alone in the kitchen.
Emily
Ugh, how embarrassing!
Emily
I completely blew it!
Emily
Wait a minute…how did I get OUT of the closet?
Bryce
David carried you out.
Bryce
Like a knight in shining armor.
Emily
I was THAT CLOSE to him and I don’t even remember it?
Emily
I’m never going to get another shot with him.
My eyes shoot daggers at him.
Since Bryce is just as gorgeous as David.
We’ve been friends for so long that I barely notice anymore…
Except just now I AM noticing it.
Bryce
What? I thought you appreciated having such an honest best friend.
Emily
Not right now I don’t.
Bryce
I’ll get you some water.
He fills a glass from the faucet, hands it to me…
And then tries to lead me back to the party.
Emily
Are you crazy? I am NOT going back in there.
Bryce
Fine, then. Do you want to sit in there instead?
He points through to the living room in the front of the house.
Emily
Yeah, I think I'll stay in there for a while.
Emily
I’d like to be alone for a little bit, Bryce…
Emily
Before I decide what to do.
Bryce
I’ll be in the den if you need me.
I go into the living room and sit with my head in my hands.
I’ll never be able to show my face anywhere ever again.
I might as well just leave.
I remove my hands and start to get up…
When David enters the room.
David
I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.
Oh, no. There it is again, the racing heartbeat.
I sit back down on the couch.
He walks to the couch and sits down beside me.
David
So why did you faint?
David
To get out of kissing me, right?
Emily
Fainting was the only exit strategy I could think of.
Emily
At least I didn’t try something worse.
Emily
Or sneezing right in your face!
David
Well, maybe now with the pressure off…
David
We could try again?
I focus on continuing to breathe so I don’t pass out again…
Thankful to be sitting on a soft, comfortable couch…
Instead of on the floor in a dark closet.
David scoots closer to me and leans in…
David sighs and looks at me.
David
Give me two minutes.
David follows Gwen into the other room.
I sit there, mortified, for the second time tonight.
What does Gwen want with David?
David and I were JUST about to kiss!
I wait for a couple of minutes before deciding that enough is enough.
Gwen had her chance with David.
And walk back into the party.
All heads turn to look at me.
At that moment, David and Gwen burst out of the closet laughing.
His arm is around her waist.
Before I can react, Bryce rushes to me.
Bryce
Let’s get out of here.
He puts his arm around my shoulders…
And leads me outside to his car.
We get in, but he doesn’t turn the car on.
Bryce
Gwen dragged him into the closet.
Bryce
It wasn’t even part of the game.
Emily
Looks like they’re back together.
Emily
David is just another crush I’ll have to get over.
I get lost in thought for a moment.
Emily
Remember when I had a crush on you?
Emily
Oh, yeah. I thought you were SO hot.
Emily
I mean, you still are, of course.
Emily
Why are you looking at me like that?
Bryce’s face is doing something I’ve never seen before.
Bryce
I didn’t know you ever felt that way, Em.
Emily
I thought you knew…
Emily
And just wanted to be friends!
Emily
Alexandra said she told you about my crush on you.
Bryce
The same Alexandra I ended up dating for a month?
Bryce
Yeah, she told me you didn’t like me like that.
Emily
Alexandra obviously lied to you…
Emily
She told me YOU didn’t like ME like that.
Bryce turns toward me, his face serious.
Bryce
Emily, I’ve liked you since the moment I laid eyes on you.
Bryce
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved being your best friend.
Bryce
But underneath that?
Bryce
My feelings for you haven’t gone away.
My head is swirling with this new information.
And now that he’s looking at me…
As if something big is about to happen.
Bryce
So I have a question for you, Em.
Bryce
Can I be your first kiss?
Full of excitement at the possibilities ahead.
I know that THIS is heaven.
