Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Later, Bree was upstairs packing when she heard a knock on her bedroom door. It was ajar, so when she turned, she expected to see one of the girls there. But it was Trent. "Hi," she said, timidly.

"Hi. Do you have a minute?"

"Sure." Bree checked the time. Her aunt and uncle wouldn't be there for at least another ten minutes.

He closed the door behind him and walked over to her, his hands pushed down deep in his pockets. "I just wanted to say… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause problems between you and Jason."

"No, it's not your fault. Clearly, our problems predated this trip." She rolled her eyes and he chuckled.

"Yeah, maybe so. Still, I didn't mean to stir anything up."

"Don't worry about it." She had a sweater in her hands, so she threw it on top of her suitcase. That was just about the last thing she needed to pack. So much for the big bed….

"Listen, Bree, there's something I've wanted to ask you about for a while now, but I've never really gotten the nerve. Now, with you upset, it's probably not the best time, but since I don't know when I might see you again, I'll just come out and ask, and you can tell me to go to hell if you want to."

Her eyebrows were arched, and her breath was staggered. "What is it, Trent?"

"Do you remember that night at the homecoming dance, junior year, when I came out to the parking lot to talk to you? Your date was being a jerk, and you were ready to go home."

"I remember." Should she tell him she’d thought about that moment every day and night since it happened? No, probably not.

"Well, I was going to kiss you. I didn't because Hank came out. But I was going to. I don't know if it would've been a good move or not. All I know is, in that moment, that's all I wanted to do. I was just wondering… if I would have… would you have kissed me back?"

He was standing so close to her, she could hear him breathing, practically hear his heart beating in his chest. "Yeah, I would have," she admitted. "I thought you were going to. It might've been weird, because we were such good friends. But it might've been… really great, too."

Trent nodded. "Yeah. Okay. That's good to know. I agree. It might've been weird--but great." He ran a hand through his hair, and looked at her lips. Bree tried not to move, thinking maybe he would lean down and kiss her now.

Slowly, Trent leaned in, and Bree found herself moving forward to meet him. Finally, after all of these years, she had a chance to find out what would happen if Trent Walker kissed her. His mouth was so close to hers, she could practically feel the warmth on her lips. A few more seconds, and she'd finally know what he tasted like.

"Hey, Bree! Your rides here!" Hank shouted in the hallway before banging his fist on the door.

"Son of a bitch!" Bree muttered.

Trent looked away and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll, uh, help you with your suitcase."

Unable to believe her stupid luck, Bree nodded. "Okay." She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but she couldn't let him see them. Now was no time to be starting a relationship anyway. She looked around the room one more time, and seeing that she'd packed everything, she let Trent get her bag and headed for the stairs.

The snow was falling lightly as Bree followed Trent outside. Uncle Tom's pickup truck was almost as old as Bree was, but he did his best to keep it running, because it was his baby. It sat idling out front, breathing as heavy as Bree had been just the night before when she'd hauled the suitcase up the stairs. Had that only been a few hours ago? So much had changed since then.

As Trent slowly turned and looked at her, she was reminded that just as much had stayed the same. He had almost kissed her--again. It just didn't seem like it was meant to be. She should just tell him goodbye and forget about him. Maybe Christy and Abby were right and she should find out the name of that guy that had gotten her guitar back when it was stolen….

"Howdy there, Trent," Uncle Tom said, hopping out of the cab to grab her suitcase from him. "It's nice to see you. Boy, you've gotten tall."

"It's nice to see you, too." Tom took the suitcase but gave Trent a hug. Her aunt and uncle knew him from all the times he'd been over at Bree's house when they'd visited when Bree and Trent were younger.

"Oh, my goodness! Trent Walker!" Aunt Stacy gushed as her husband stuffed Bree's suitcase in the small back section of the truck behind the front seats. There was a sideways jump seat back there, too, and Bree knew she'd be getting acquainted with it soon. It was okay, though. It wasn't that long of a ride home.

Trent hugged her aunt. "It's nice to see you, Mrs. Hitchens."

"Mrs. Hitchens! Now, you call me Aunt Stacy!" She hugged him so tight, Bree thought she might cut his air off. "How have you been? We don't see enough of you anymore."

"Good, good."

"Still studying accounting? Gonna join your dad's firm?"

"I am still studying accounting, but I'm not sure where I'll be working. Hopefully, I'll get an internship this summer, and that'll give me some direction."

"Oh, I'm sure anyone would be glad to have you." Stacy turned to Bree. "Hi there, precious girl. Give me some sugar!"

Stacy's arms were wide open, and Bree stepped into them. Her aunt had the strongest hugs. She kissed her cheek, and Bree was sure she'd have a streak of red there, but she didn't mind. "Thanks so much for coming to get me."

"Any time, girl, any time. Are any of the rest of your friends from high school inside?"

"Yes, quite a few of them. Christy and Abby…."

"Oh, I've got to get in there and see my Abby girl. It's been too long!"

Stacy and Tom went flying up the walkway like it was their own long lost children inside, and Bree turned and giggled at them. They were such good people. She'd already said her goodbyes, though, and she didn't want to go back inside.

She turned around to see Trent standing in front of her again. He was staring at the toes of his shoes but glanced up at her and smiled. "You've got lipstick… everywhere."

"Oh, gosh. Aunt Stacy… and it has to be red." She wiped at her cheek but figured she wasn't getting anywhere.

Trent stepped over, and using his thumb, he wiped it away, gentle but firm.

His touch on her face left her knees feeling weak, her spine tingling. She wanted to say something about what had almost happened. But they'd tried that song and dance once, and they hadn't gotten anywhere. It was futile.

He was looking at her so intently, though, she couldn't help but stare back. His eyes were the same color as the sky behind him, and all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him, press her lips to his, and never let him go.

"Bree…." His voice was a breathy whisper, and the distance between them was closing up again. There were years of space in those few inches, miles and miles of minutes. When his mouth was finally on hers, the intensity had her digging her hands into his shoulders, struggling to breathe as her lips melded into his.

He tasted like mint and fresh falling snow, and she didn't ever want this moment to end. Bree felt herself floating up among the clouds, back in time to years ago when she could've made him hers if only she would've taken advantage of that missed opportunity. Now, here they were together, years later, and this kiss was everything she could've ever hoped for and so much more.

The sound of the door behind her sent him away from her. The snow, falling heavier, stood sentinel between them. Bree's breath was labored, and she knew her face was flushed. Trent bit his bottom lip, and she thought maybe she should stay….

"All righty! Let's get loaded up!" Aunt Stacy said, patting her on the back. If she noticed anything about the way they were looking at each other, she didn't say anything.

"I have to go," Bree said, wishing that weren't the case. If he'd kissed her earlier, before she'd called them, perhaps he would've changed her mind.

"Yeah. Okay. I'll… talk to you soon."

She nodded. She hoped so. After a kiss like that, they couldn't deny that they were meant to be together, could they?

Trent walked past her, taking her hand for a moment, and then letting it go. Her fingertips still felt the warmth of his flesh after he'd moved on. Her lips still felt swollen from his touch, and the taste of him lingered in her mouth.

"Bree?" Uncle Tom called. "You comin'?"

"Yes. I'm coming." She took one last look behind her. Trent was standing at the door, looking over his shoulder. He gave her a small wave and then disappeared inside.