First Kisses.

     Tears streaming down my face. I could hear me name but I didn't want to stop, I needed to get away from the ache I could feel in my chest but the voice persisted, I knew it was Chelsea but I couldn't stop not even for Chelsea.

"Sophie! Sophie please wait!"

I glanced back and saw Chelsea watching me. She was standing close to our driveway but immediately started to chase me over the grass. But I couldn't stand and wait not even for Chelsea, so I continued running. I had to get to the cherry field,  it was my noona's favorite place. Because I was sad she was going away. Going to heaven.

  "Her real home.

"Sophie, wait! Slow down!" Chelsea shouted as I turned a corner to the field that's at the park. I ran through the entrance; the large trees in full bloom made a tunnel above my head. The grass was green just like my noona's eyes and the blue sky was above. Petals in pinks and white covered the trees. Then at the far end of the field was the biggest tree of them all, my Noona's favorite it's branches hung low. It's trunk the thickest in the whole field.

 It was mine and Chelsea's favorite too.

I was out of breath. When I got below Noona's favorite tree, I sank to the ground, clutching my box, as I let the tears flow, I heard Chelsea stop beside me, but I didn't look up.

    "Soph?" Chelsea said, that's what she called me, don't cry. " She whispered.

But I couldn't help it. I didn't want my Noona to leave me even though I knew she had to. I knew when I returned home, Noona wouldn't be there, not now, not ever.

   Chelsea dropped down to sit beside me and pulled me into a hug. I curled up into her chest and cried. I loved Chelsea's hugs, she always held me soo tight. "My Noona, Chelsea, she's sick and she's leaving."

   "I know, my mummy told me when I got back from school."

 I nodded against her chest. When I couldn't cry anymore, I sat up wiping my cheeks. I looked at Chelsea, who was watching me. I tried to smile. When I did, she took hold of my hand and brought it to her chest.

 I'm sorry you're sad," Chelsea said and squeezed my hand. Her T-shirt was warm from the sun. "I never ever, ever want you to be sad. You're my Sophie, you always smile. You're always happy." 

 I sniffed and leaned my head on her shoulder. "I know. But my Noona is best friend, Chelsea, and I won't have her anymore."

   Chelsea didn't say anything at first, then said, "I'm your best friend too. And I'm not going anywhere. I promise you. Forever and always.

  My chest which had hurt so bad didn't hurt much at all anymore. I nodded my head.

"Sophie and Chelsea forever.

"Forever," she repeated 

We stayed quiet for a while until Chelsea asked, "What's that box for? What's inside?"

  Pulling back my hand, I took hold of the box as lifted it up. "My Noona has given me a new adventure. One that will last all my life" 

  Chelsea's eyebrows drew together in confusion and her long blonde hair fell over her eyes. I pushed it back and she smiled her half smile as I did. All the boys at school wanted her to smile like that at them-- they told me. But she only ever smiled at me. I told them none of them  could have her anyway, she was my best friend and I didn't even want to share.

  Chelsea pointed at the box. "I don't understand."

  Do you remember what my noona's favorite memories were? I've told you before.

 I could see Chelsea thinking hard, then suddenly her face lit up with the memory, "Kisses from your grandpa!"

  I nodded my head and pulled down a pale pink cherry petal from the branch hanging by my side. I stared at the petal. They were my Noona's favorite. She liked them because they didn't stay for long. She always told me that the best and prettiest things never stay around for long. She said that a cherry leaf was too beautiful to last all year. It was more special because it's life was short. Like the samurai-- extreme beauty, quick death. I still wasn't sure what it all meant but she said I will once I get older.

  I think she was right though, because my Noona wasn't very old, and she was going away young, at least that's what mummy said, maybe that's why she likes the cherry field so much because they were both alike.

 "My Sophie?"

 Chelsea's voice made me look up 

Am I right? Was kissing your grandpa your Noona's favorite of memories?"

  "Yes I answered, dropping the petal,  "all the kisses she got that made her heart almost burst. Noona said that his kisses were the bestest thing in the world. Because they meant he loved her so much and cared very much about her too. And he liked her for exactly who she was."

   Chelsea glared down at the box and huffed. I still don't understand, Sophie.

  I laughed as her lips pouted and her face screwed up. She had pretty lips, they were really thick with a perfect cupid's bow. I opened the box and pulled out a blank pink paper heart. I held it up in the air between me and Chelsea. "This is an empty love." I pointed to the box. Noona gave me a thousand to collect in my life." I put the heart back in the box and took her hand. "A new adventure, Chelsea, To collect a thousand love kisses before I die, from my soulmate." 

  I..... What.... Sophie? I'm confused!" She said, but I could hear the anger in her voice. Chelsea can be pretty angry when she wants to.

     I lifted my pen from my pocket. When the person I love kisses me, when it feels so special that my heart might burst-- only the extra special kisses-- I'm to write the details down on one these hearts. It's for when I'm gray and old, and I want to tell me grandbabies all about the real special kisses in my life. And the sweet person that gave them to me."

  I jumped to my feet, excitement running through me. "It's what Noona wanted from me, so I have to start soon! I want to do this for her." 

  Chelsea jumped to her feet too. Just then a gust of wind blew cherry petals right past where we stood, and I smiled but Chelsea wasn't smiling, in fact she looked downright mad.

  "You're going to kiss a boy, for your box? A special one? One that you love?" She asked.

  I stared at Chelsea, alarmed! Nooo I said, it mustn't be a boy, "I and Chelsea made a pact when we six years old to get married to each other regardless that we were both girls but we loved ourselves dearly" 

 Chelsea took a step closer, shaking her head, I don't want you kissing a boy or anyone else for your box! I won't let it happen!"

  But-- I tried to speak, but Chelsea took hold of my hand. 

 "You're my best friend" she said, pulling on my hand. I don't want you to kiss boys!"

  I also didn't want to kiss boys, but I thought to myself how will I go on the adventure that my Noona sent me on.

  I stepped closer to my best friend, and Chelsea's eyes fixed on mine.

  "Sophie, My Sophie" she said, her voice deeper-- hard and strong 

  I opened my mouth to shout back at her to tell her this was an adventure I just had to start. But as I did, Chelsea leaned forward and suddenly pressed her lips to mine.

  I froze, I couldn't move a muscle as I felt her lips against my lips. They were warm. She tasted like pancakes and syrup. The wind blew long hair over my cheeks, it started to tickle my nose.

   Chelsea pulled back but her face stayed near mine. I tried to breathe, but my chest felt funny, kind of light and fluffy. And my heart was beating so fast almost as though it will burst out. 

  "Chelsea," I whispered. I lifted my hand to press my fingers to my lips. Chelsea blinked and blinked again as she watched me. I pushed my hand and pressed my fingers against her lips 

  "You kissed me," I whispered, shocked. Chelsea lifted her hand to hold mine. She lowered our joined hands by her side.

   "I'll give you a thousand kisses, My Sophie. All of them. No one will kiss you ever, but me."

   My eyes widened but my heart didn't slow down. "That would be forever, Chelsea. To never be kissed by anyone else means we have to be together forever, and ever and ever!"

  Chelsea nodded her head, then she smiled, Chelsea didn't smile a lot. But she normally half smiled or smirked. She was real beautiful when she did. "I know because we are forever always, remember?"

  I nodded my head slowly, then tipped it to the side. "You'll give me all my kisses, enough to fill this box?" I asked.

  Chelsea Gabe me another small smile. "All of them. We'll fill up the whole box, and more. We'll collect way more than a thousand.

  I gasped, I suddenly remembered the box. I pulled out a blank heart and sat down to write. Chelsea kneeled before me and placed her hand on mine stopping me from writing.

  I looked up confused, she swallowed tucked her long hair behind her ears and asked, Sophie... When I kiseed you... Did.... Your heart almost burst? Was it special, you said only extra special kisses go into the box. "Her cheeks turned bright red as she blushed real hard.

  Without thinking, I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around my best friend's neck. I pressed my cheek to her heart and I listened to her heart.

  It was beating just as fast as mine.

   "It did, Chelsea, it was extra special. I felt Chelsea smile again, then I pulled back, I crossed my legs and placed the paper heart on the box. Chelsea sta cross-legged too.

   "What will you write?" She asked I tapped the pen to my lips as I thought, I sat up straight and leaned forward as I pressed the pen to the paper.

      Kiss 💋 1

                    On the Cherry 🍒 field 

                       With my Chelsea

                    My heart almost burst.

  When I finished writing, I put the heart in the box and closed it. I looked up at Chelsea, who had been watching me all along and proudly announced, "There my very first love-kiss!" 

  Chelsea nodded her head but her eyes dropped to my lips.

 "Sophie?"

  "Yes?" I whispered, Chelsea reached for my hand. She started tracing patterns on the back with her fingertip.

  Can I....can I kiss you again?"

I swallowed feeling butterflies in my stomach. You want to kiss me again.... already?"

    

 Chelsea nodded her head. "I've always wanted to kiss you. And well you're mine now and I liked it. I liked kissing you. You tasted like sugar."

   "I ate a cookie at lunch, butter pecan. Noona's favorite," I explained.

  Chelsea took a deep breath and leaned towards me. "I want to do it again."

    "Okay,"

  And Chelsea kissed me.

  She kissed me and kissed me and kissed me.

  By the end of the day I had five more love-kisses in my box. When I got home, mummy told me that noona had gone to heaven. I ran to my bedroom as quickly as I could. I hurried to fall asleep. Just like she promised, I saw her in my dreams, so I told her all about the six love-kisses from my Chelsea.

   My Noona smiled big and placed a kiss on my cheek.

  I knew this would be the  best adventure of my life.