The Wrong Number

Bonus chapter i

Kenneth could not hold in any longer so he waited for her to walk forward after which he held her from behind, bringing her close to his chest.

"What are you doing?" Aspen blushed but her voice was calm and loving.

"I wanted to hold you since I met you today. Only holding your hand was not enough." He confessed making Aspen's heart beat faster as always. She couldn't understand how he was so straightforward but it was also one of his personalities she liked about him.

"Oh really?" Aspen decided to tease him and squirmed in his hold until she was facing him. "Come to think of it, you didn't kiss me today either. You sure you only want to hold me?" Aspen smirked and bit her lips seductively.

Kenneth gulped and stared down at her plump rosy lips. The first time they kissed was still imprinted in his mind. It was in front of her house, the night he took her to his special place and then dropped her home. It was a start night and the moon was shining in all it's beautiful and dazzling glory. The moonlight softly grazing on her face gave her an unreal glow, pulling him in to her beauty.

He remembered asking her if he could kiss her. And he remembered how she turned a little bit darker because of her blush. It was the most beautiful thing ever. When their lips touched, he was waiting for the sparks and fireworks to erupt like they said it would in books and movies. But it didn't come. Instead he felt warmth inside him. His whole body lighted up in burning passion, his heart almost breaking free from his cage, a painful, fluttery feeling at the pit of his stomach but he didn't want to let these feelings go. Her lips were more than he always imagined it to be. It was soft, like a China dish, and he remembered being afraid that she would break. Their first kiss was gentle like the summer breeze and the spring rain.

And he would never forget about it.

They kissed a lot more when they met in the later days and he remembered all of them. He even counted them. Because every kiss with her always felt right and good and everything nice. He couldn't get enough of it.

"You don't want to kiss me?" Aspen asked when there was no response from Kenneth. Kenneth broke out of his trance and looked at his girlfriend. She was sporting a puppy dog look and her lips looked for kissable than ever. "You don't love me?" Aspen continued teasing but this scared Kenneth.

"Of course I love you!" He almost said in desperation. He didn't want to give her a second of doubt in what he felt for her. He always wanted her to know just how special she made him feel and even though he knew she was teasing, he was scared.

Aspen sensed his desperation and turned serious, cupping his face with her hands and looking deep into his eyes. He noticed the swirls in her eyes and thought it was beautiful.

"You know I was just teasing you right?" She asked, trying to make him feel at ease.

Kenneth grinned and nodded. "I know. That's why, I'm going to show you just how much I love you. You did a bad thing trying to seduce me."

Aspen's face morphed into confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Come with me." He said, pulling her by the hand. He led her through the stoned path of the park and behind the building of a rest room.

"Why are we here a-"

Before she could finish her statement, Kenneth pushed her gently towards the wall and came in dangerously close. Aspen sucked in a breath.

"I love you so much that I want to see your face every morning when I wake up." Kenneth whispered and kissed the spot just below her ear. Aspen shivered in pleasure.

"I love you so much that I want to be able to touch you every single time of every day." He then move down to kiss the side of her neck making her hold her hands in fists and trying to calm her breathing.

"I love you so much that I can't imagine my future without you in it." He softly placed a kiss at the corner of her mouth almost making her wish that he would kiss her already.

"I love you so much that I want to change one thing about you." He finally said, making her look up at him in confusion yet with eyes glazed over.

Aspen was confused and scared. He wanted to change something of her? Did he not like her personality? Did he not like the way she laughed? Did he not like her smile? She was counting down all the possibilities. What could it be?

Kenneth laughed and finally captured her lips in his. The kiss was passionate, urgent, and filled with all of their feelings. It was different than all their other kisses before but they both knew it gave a whole different feeling.

"I can see you overthinking, babe. It's cute but don't worry. I don't want to change anything of yours except this one thing."

"And what is it?" Aspen asked, her voice breathless.

Kenneth smiled and kissed her forehead. "Your last name."

With a hammering heart Aspen let out a laugh of relief. "That is way too corny." She couldn't help but smile.

"I know. I know. Aspen doesn't like corny stuff. But I'm serious. Maybe it will be one year from now or maybe a few more years. We're still kids, I know that. But imagining a future without you feels empty. I couldn't even think of it. So maybe one day I'll be the corniest guy ever and ask you to be with me for life. You'll have to just deal with it."

Aspen couldn't even form a word. Tears invaded her vision and everything else seemed blurry after that. She could not imagine a future without him as well. It felt painful and lonely to even think about it.

She felt Kenneth's arms go around her as he held her securely. So much safety and comfort from a single hug.

"And when that day comes, maybe I'll laugh at you be being corny but I promise I'll say yes." Aspen said, her voice muffled by Kenneth's chest but he heard it because his whole chest vibrated in laughter.

This moment was pure and filled with so much love that you'd think to love someone so much was unreal. But love is not understood by people other than the ones truly in love. It's a mysterious thing and though it is felt by all, only some can truly live by it.