Bubble gum and cigarette smoke

The smoke around us is loaded with the scent of popcorn from the fair. The ferris wheel sparkles brightly in the evening dusk. Children are laughing all around us. However, it’s like someone hit the pause button on reality. The only thing in my mind is the taste of her lips – bubble gum and cigarette smoke.

The spring fair is one of the happenings in town. Huge rides, gaming and food booths as well as cute animals – you name it, they got it. Since Thea came all the way from Norway, it will be her first fair. We have been planning this for weeks and checked all the information sites to plan ahead. When the opening weekend finally came along, we agreed on hurrying home after college just to get ready and meet back at the entrance.

“You look gorgeous,” Thea states as I walked towards her. I realize that I actually do, yeah. I put my brown hair into a ponytail to emphasize my oval head shape, my green-brown eyes build the centerpiece of a smokey eye nebula, my black jumpsuit became my new favorite thing to wear, after we acquired it together a few weeks back at the mall.

“You don’t look that bad yourse…,” I stop mid-sentence as I can see some spark dropping to the ground as I’m moving closer.

“You smoke?!”

“Well, I acquire some from my mum from time to time.” She winks at me and I’m too stunned to speak. Stealing from her mom? Smoking in front of the fair in a red leather jacket, black Doc Martens, skinny high-waist jeans like a vigilante version of James Dean? That’s not the Thea I know, and I’m not that comfortable around this gang leader style, yet.

“See, that’s why I didn’t tell you, yet. Didn’t want to ruin the image of the perfect little girl from Norway. But I’m comfortable around you and want to be my true self. In every aspect.”

“Okay, thanks for letting me in, Thea. I…,” I try to find the words, but I like the danger-filled gray aura that surrounds her right now like the smoke she is exhaling, “I’d really like to get to know the true you.” I smile and hope to seem genuine and honest despite my nervousness.

“The true me, oh well. You are in for something, I tell you. Are you sure?”

“Yes. I really like you, so of course I want to…”

I cannot finish my sentence, as Thea steps closer to me, her body now touching mine, and presses a finger on my lips. I can smell the cigarette smoke crawling up my nose, and it is mixed with Thea’s well-known floral perfume.

“This is the real me, Emmy.”

I have always wondered what my first kiss would be like.

Now I finally know.