Love Hesitates

She saw him across the crowded party basement. Her heart swelled with euphoria. Her eyes sparkled. She was overly exuberant, but her friends thought she'd caught the party fever. They had no idea of her secret passion for the boy lurking in the corner.

What her friends didn't know was that she'd sort of accidentally turned him down once, two years ago, and this was her chance to make it better.

"I'm gonna get some punch!" she screamed over the music. At the punch bowl, she timed her approach. Not getting a drink, she backed right into him.

"Oh, excuse me!"

"Sure." He barely met her eyes.

She wasn't letting him off that easy. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

She didn't let him pass. "Listen. I uh, I'm sorry."

His eyes met hers in astonishment and confusion.

"For before. Like, way before. I was mean. I didn't mean to.." suddenly, shame colored her cheeks. Why had she embarrassed herself? She glanced up to find out if he remembered, or cared. She could see understanding dawn across his face. "I was scared."