Ed invited me to a small party with his lads. He begged and begged until I finally gave in, ignoring my social awkwardness.
"Yes!" Ed cheers with his hands in the air. I chuckle and then hang out with him until the party started.
Ed kept reassuring me it wasn't those parties where everybody is either drunk of high or both. I only nodded and sighed in relief. When everything was in time for the party, Ed was right. It was just a small group of guys and girls. I was so relieved to know that I wasn't the only female here.
There was alcohol, but not hardcore drinks. Luckily everyone was responsible and didn't get drunk. I didn't have a single drop of either the beer or hard lemonade by choice. I just didn't like the thought of me drinking let alone drunk. But other than that, it was just a normal party.
I mainly stuffed my face with handfuls of chips with Ed beside me eating donuts. I'd occasionally feel cheeky and rip a chunk of a donut from the one that would be current in his hand. Ed didn't really seem to mind, though. He'd just smile as if he was in his own thoughts. I'd smile back trying not to smile too widely. I know at one point he smeared some powdered sugar from a donut onto my nose making me laugh and hit his arm. Ed brought up his finger onto the bridge of my nose, wiped off the powdered sugar, and then licked his finger. I stuck my tongue out at him and he mirrored my actions.
"Give me your donuts." I say.
"What? Why" Ed asks.
"I don't trust them with you and I feel violated." I say, giggling. I turn to everybody in the room who are also talking and eating.
"Everybody," I begin. "I am now a victim of Edward Sheeran's donut harassment."
A rain of laughter floods the room and I smile back.
"That is not true!" Ed protests. "The donut made me do it."
I sit back down and face him, cocking an eyebrow.
"Oh really?" I sass back. Ed only laughs at himself and my expression.
After awhile of eating, drinking, watching movies, and laughing, someone brought up an idea that is a classic.
"Truth or Dare?"
We all accepted.
Knowing me, I picked truth most of my turns. I was sat next to Ed as I laughed at him as he'd take on the challenging dares he received in result of his simple request. But then there was one that made my heart skip a beat.
"Ed, Truth or Dare?" a girl asks.
"Dare." Ed says.
"Kiss the cheek of the most beloved and beautiful girl in the room." She then turns to everybody else. "No hard feelings. More just Ed's preference and opinion."
I turn my head to face Ed, feeling more curious about him. But as I do, Ed's lips collide with mine accidentally. It was just so sudden that I almost choked from the internal vibrant jolt that ran throughout my body. Ed's eyes were wide open and now is when I realize mine are also. The thing is that neither of us move. Not one of us deepened or lightened the kiss. It was just so shocking in many ways that we were frozen like statues. The only thing other than our cold stone-like movements, all I felt was warmth and sparks.
Ed pulls away and I'm still left with my mind floundering, lips suddenly cold.
"Ed!" The girl exclaims. "I said 'kiss on the cheek' not on the lips!"
Even though I should have expected it sooner than later, both Ed and I were blushing a deep red. I brought my knees into my chest and hugged them trying to hide my face from everybody.
"Aw," a boy says, a couple seats away from me within the circle. "She's blushing!"
I literally couldn't think of anything to say as thoughts and words came rushing into my head. With no explanation, I awkwardly get up from my seated position on the carpet and leave to the kitchen. Once I've entered the brightly lit kitchen, I lean over the sink and take in deep breaths.
"Are you alright?"
I turn quickly around and straighten out my back to find Ed in front of me.
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine." I say in a jumble.
"Are you sure?" Ed presses, looking into my eyes more passionately.
"Yeah," I say. "I just wasn't expecting that. That's all."
Ed steps closer towards me, but I don't move.
"The truth is, behind that, I've liked to for a while now." Ed says making my cooled off cheeks burn once again. It almost amazed me how quickly that would happen.
"Really?" Is all I can say. But it's obvious that my tone sounds pleasingly surprised. "Oh, sorry. I mean-" I sigh positioning myself back in front of the sink. "I've questioned it, you know? Rather I liked you or not. I'd occasionally feel it but then I got used to the feeling and then it was always there. I honestly wasn't sure for a while until the question began to fade away." I say not meeting Ed's eyes. "But I guess the question's back."
It's not obvious to him, but my heart is pounding so hard I feel like it's pressing against my lungs and I can't breathe.
"Marissa," Ed says, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. "What do you think?"
I feel confused before I ask. "What do you mean?"
Ed lightly brings his lips to my ear. "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"
I smile widely without warning and say,
"Yes."
I feel Ed's cautious grasp around my waist become more relaxed, firm, and caring. As if now that I'm in his arms confidently, he won't let me go.
"I don't know if it's too soon, and I know that there are other ways of saying this," I can hear the big smile in Ed's voice as he says his last few words. "But I do love you, Marissa."
The smile that has been firmly planted on my face remains. "It's alright Ed," I say. "I know what you mean." I turn my head and face a very happy Ed and add. "I love you too."
