Because of Haven Beach

21 | chelioproclitic

chelioproclitic (adj.)

being attracted to a person's lips or mouth

* * *

AFTER school, Eli made good on his promise and drove me to his house. We usually hung out at Delaney's, so it was my first time going to his house.

I was weirdly excited to see it—especially his room. Would it be sports-themed or have no theme at all? Would it be messy or super organized? I wasn't sure and wanted to know every little detail about him.

He gave me a brief tour of his house, starting with the living room. Unsurprisingly, his room was decorated with sports posters and trophies. And, as his mom hinted at Thanksgiving, it was messy. No, messy wasn't even the correct word to use. With all the clothes and food wrappers on the carpeted floor, it was more like a pigsty.

I didn't say anything because I knew for a fact that Ethan's room was in a similar state. It must have been a teenage boy thing.

We concluded the tour in his kitchen.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Eli asked as he pulled out a package of chocolate Oreos.

"No thanks."

"Oreo?" He held out a cookie.

I took it and started to put it in my mouth.

"No, not yet."

"What?" I said as I chewed the Oreo.

"You forgot the jelly," he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He grabbed a jar of raspberry jelly out of the fridge and set it on the counter.

"You actually do that? I thought you were kidding."

He furrowed his eyebrows, adorably scrunching his nose in the process. "Why would I kid about Oreos and jelly? It's the best thing ever."

"Okay. Suit yourself." I started to put another cookie into my mouth, but he swatted my hand. "What?"

"I said I was going to get you hooked on it... Well, it's time." With a lopsided grin on his face, he offered me an Oreo coated in jelly.

"No. That's disgusting."

"Try it."

"No."

He took a step toward me. "Try it or I'll make you."

"No," I said, trying and failing to keep a straight face. As soon as my lips curled into a smile, he grabbed my chin and dangled the cookie in my face.

"C'mon, Charlotte." He traced my lips with his finger, trying to pry them open. "Open sesame."

I wiggled out of his grip. "Ugh, fine." I snatched the Oreo from his hand and unceremoniously plopped it into my mouth.

"Do you like it?"

I started laughing at the insanely hopeful look on his face.

"What?" he asked, grin broadening.

"Don't look at me like that," I mumbled. "It's hard to focus with you staring."

"Fine." he dramatically crossed his arms and turned his back to me. "You better be done chewing by the time I turn around."

I thoughtfully chewed the cookie, paying attention to the texture and flavor. The combination didn't taste as bad as I thought it would. It actually tasted similar to a chocolate raspberry candy.