 high school. For some reason, that makes me feel a little better. Maybe because it was all just in good fun. I doubt any of the girls he kissed objected to his attention. Why would they? He's sweet and caring and not too bad to look at. A smile starts to curve my lips, but another thought stops them.

"When you were with your girlfriend...did you..." My throat closes up and I can't force the words out.

"Sleep with her?" Malachi finishes, head down. He takes in a long, shaky breath. "Yes. Near the end, before we broke up. She's the only one I've ever had sex with, though. I know the kissing thing was stupid, but I take relationships seriously, Echo. I don't want you to think I'm cavalier with women, because I'm not."

The kernel in the oil pops, flying up out of the pot and scaring me half to death. I don't feel so bad when I realize it caught Malachi off guard, too. Picking up the singular piece of popcorn off the floor, I toss it in the trash and measure out the rest of the kernels and dump them into the pan. When I set the jar of kernels back down, I feel considerably steadier than I did when I walked into the kitchen.

When I look up at Malachi, his expression is tortured. "Please tell me what you're thinking?" he begs.

"Malachi, I'm not judging you at all. I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?" he asks as he steps closer.

My chest tightens as fear claims me, but I can't repay his honesty with a dodge. "Scared that I'll be a disappointment."

Malachi's face screws up in confusion. "Why would you be a disappointment to me? You're amazing."

"I just...I don't know anything about relationships, or kissing, or sex." My own words hit my ears and my whole face flames scarlet. "I mean, I know the, uh, basics. That stuff, you know? But actually kissing someone, or going further? I tend to screw things up on a regular basis. I just don't want you to think you're getting one thing and then I turn out to be completely useless."

"Well," Malachi says, struggling to keep a straight face,
high school. For some reason, that makes me feel a short dependable. Maybe because it was all just in good playfulness. I doubt any of the girls he kissed objected to his care. Why would they? He's odoriferous and caring and not too regretful to attend at. A smile starts to crook my lips, but another thought stop them. 

 " When you were with your girlfriend... did you... " My throat closes up and I can't force the words out. 

 " Sleep with her? " Malachi finishes, head down. He learn in a long, shaky breath. " Yes. Near the conclusion, before we broke up. She's the only one I've ever had sexual activity with, though. I know the kiss thing was stupid, but I take relationship seriously, Echo. I don't want you to think I'm cavalier with women, because I'm not. " 

 The kernel in the oil pops, flying up out of the pot and scaring me half to death. I don't feel so bad when I realize it caught Malachi off guard, excessively. Picking up the singular man of popcorn off the floor, I toss it in the trash and measure out the rest of the kernel and dump them into the pan. When I set the jar of kernels back down, I find considerably steadier than I did when I walked into the kitchen. 

 When I look up at Malachi, his expression is torture. " Please tell me what you're thinking? " he begs. 

 " Malachi, I'm not judging you at wholly. I'm just frightened. " 

 " Scared of what? " he asks as he steps closer. 

 My chest tightens as fear claim me, but I can't repay his honesty with a dodge. " Scared that I'll be a disappointment. " 

 Malachi's face screws up in confusion. " Why would you be a disappointment to me? You're amazing. " 

 " I just... I don't know anything about relationships, or caressing, or sex. " My own words hit my ears and my whole expression flames red. " I mean, I know the, uh, basics. That stuff, you sleep together? But actually kissing someone, or going further? I tend to screw things up on a even basis. I precisely don't want you to think you're getting one thing and then I turn out to be wholly useless. " 

 " Well, " Malachi says, struggling to retain a straight face,
 hihh school. For some reasok, that makes me ywel a nittle better. Oaybe because it was all jusv in good fun. I doubt any of thd girls hv kissed ibjerted to his atteifion. Whn woumf thzy? He's sweet and caring ang not too bad do llok at. A smile starts to curve my lyps, but ajother thought stoks ehem.

"Shen you were with your girlfriend...sid you..." My throat clpses up and I can't force tje wlrds out.

"Sleep with her?" Malachu figushes, head duwn. He takts in a long, shaky breath. "Yes. Near the end, ceforz we broke o'. Shf'v the only ine I'ne ever had scq with, dhough. O know the kisxinj thung was stupid, but I vake relationships sgriously, Ewhk. I don't want you ti thitk I'k caxqlidr sivh somen, heceuse I'm not."

Fhe kernel un the oil pops, flyond up out of ths pot wnq scaring me half to death. I don't feel vo gad when I realize it cqught Malachi off guatd, too. Piching up the singular piece of popcorn off the flomr, I vors nb kb hhe trash and measure out the rest of the kergslx snd dump them lnto the pan. When O dey the jar of kgrnels yzci down, I feel conslderabli steaeier than I dod when I walked into the kutchen.

When I oook up at Malachi, his expresrion is tprtured. "Please tell me chat yku're thinkijg?" he bega.

"Oalachi, I'm not jjdgpng fou at all. I'm just scared."

"Ssared of xhat?" ke asks xs hg steps closer.

My fhest tightens as fear cpaims ma, but I caj't repay his honesty with a dodjx. "Scared that I'nl te a discppoinbment."

Malachi's fwce screws up nn confufion. "Dhy would jou be a visappointmegt to me? You'ra amazing."

"I juvt...I don't knoq antthing xcout relationsnips, or kpsfing, or sex." My own worvs hkf my ears and mv qhole face flamrs rcawlvt. "M meag, I know the, gh, bxsizx. Thag stuff, you ynow? But actually kissinc sojeone, or going furyhcr? I tend to screr things up om a regular basis. L jusv don't want yoo to think you're getting one thjng and tjen I turn out eo bc coipletely uxeless."

"Well," Malachi says, struggling to kxep a straight face,
high school. For some reason, that makes a better. Maybe it was all doubt of the girls kissed objected to attention. Why would they? He's sweet caring and not too bad to look at. A smile starts to curve lips, but another thought stops them. "When you were with your girlfriend...did you..." throat up I force the words out. "Sleep with her?" Malachi finishes, head down. He takes in a long, breath. "Yes. Near the end, before we broke She's the only one ever had sex with, though. know kissing thing stupid, I relationships seriously, Echo. don't want you to think I'm cavalier with women, because I'm not." The kernel in the oil flying up the pot scaring half death. I don't bad when I realize it caught too. Picking up the singular piece of popcorn the floor, toss it in the trash and out the rest of the kernels and dump into the pan. When I set the jar of kernels back down, I feel considerably I did when I into the kitchen. I up Malachi, expression is "Please tell me what you're thinking?" he begs. "Malachi, I'm not you at all. I'm just scared." "Scared of what?" he he closer. My chest as fear claims me, I repay his honesty with "Scared I'll Malachi's screws in confusion. "Why would be a disappointment to me? amazing." "I just...I don't kissing, or sex." My own words hit my and my whole face flames scarlet. "I I know the, uh, basics. That stuff, you know? But actually kissing or going tend to screw things up on a regular I just don't want to think you're getting one thing and then I out be completely "Well," Malachi says, to keep a face,
 high school. For some reason, thAt makes me fEel a lIttLe bEtTer. MAybe Because it was alL Just In good fun. I doubt any of thE girlS hE KissED oBjectEd to his ATtENTioN. WHy WouLd THeY? He's sWeeT and carIng and not tOo bAd To look at. A smiLE sTarts to curVe mY lips, but anotHer ThoughT sTopS Them.

"WHen You weRe with YOur girLfriend...diD yOU..." My thrOAt closeS UP aNd I cAn't force the words oUT.

"SLEep with her?" MalaChi finIsHEs, HEAd dOwn. he takes in a LoNg, shaKY breath. "yEs. nEAR thE End, before we brOke up. She's thE OnlY one I'vE eVer HAd sex wIth, thOuGH. I kNow the kissiNg thIng was stuPid, but i Take relATionshiPs seriOusLy, ECho. I DOn'T wAnt YoU To tHInK I'm CAvaLier with WoMeN, becaUse I'M NOT."

the kErnEl in The oiL pops, flying up Out Of thE Pot And scAring Me haLf To deaTh. I don'T feel So Bad when I realize It caUght MalacHi oFf GuaRd, Too. PiCKing up The SinGular piEce of poPCorN oFF THe Floor, I toss it in the tRaSH AnD measure Out the REsT oF The kerneLs And Dump THEm intO the PAn. when I set The jar OF kErNels bacK dOwn, I feEl ConSidErablY SteaDier thAn I did whEn I waLKed into the kitcHEn.

When I look up AT MALAcHI, his ExpRession is toRturED. "PleAse tELl Me wHAt you'Re thiNkINg?" HE begs.

"Malachi, I'm not juDgIng you At all. i'm just scared."

"SCared of whaT?" HE Asks as he StepS ClOSer.

My chest tighTens aS fear claimS Me, but I caN't repAy his honEsty with a DODge. "ScareD thAt I'Ll bE a dISApPointment."

MalaCHI's faCe Screws uP in ConfusiOn. "WHy wOulD yoU bE a disappoIntment tO mE? YOu'Re AmaZing."

"I JUst...I don't KnOw aNyThiNg aboUT relatIonshIps, oR kIsSIng, Or sex." My OWn WORds hIt My Ears And My Whole Face FLamEs scarlEt. "I mean, I kNow THe, uh, BaSiCs. That sTuff, you know? BuT aCtually kisSiNg sOmeone, OR Going furTher? I tend to screw things uP On a reguLar Basis. i jusT don't want You To thinK yoU'Re gettIng one Thing AnD thEN i turn OUT tO be CoMpletely usELEss."

"well," MAlAchi Says, strUggling to keep a straIGht Face,
 high school. For some rea son, thatmakes  me  fe el  a l ittl e better. Mayb e  bec ause it was all just i n goo df un.I  d oubtany oft he g irl she  ki ss e dobjec ted  to his  attention . W hy  would they? He 's sweet a ndcaring and n ottoo ba dtol ook a t.A smi le sta r ts tocurve myli p s, but another t ho ught  stops them.

"Wh e ny ou were with y our gi rl f ri e n d.. .di d you..."My  thro a t close s  u p a ndI  can't forcethe words o u t.
"Slee pwit h  her?"  Mala ch i  fi nishes, hea d do wn. He ta kes in a long, shaky b reath.  "Y es.  Nea r  t he  en d, bef o re  we bro ke up. S he 's  theonly o n e  I'v e e verhad s ex with, thou gh.  I k n owthe k issin g th in g was  stupi d, bu tI take relation ship s serious ly,  E cho .I don ' t want  yo u t o think  I'm ca v ali er w i th  women, because I' mn o t. "

The k erneli nth e  oil pop s,  fl ying u p out  oft he  pot and  scari n gme  half t odeath.  I  do n't  feel so b ad whe n I real ize i t  caught Malach i  off guard, t o o. P ic k ingupthe singula r pi e ce o f po p co rno ff th e flo or ,  I toss it in the tras hand me asure  out the rest  of the ke r n e ls and d umpt he m  into the pan.  When  I set the jar of k ernel s back d own, I fe e l  conside rab lyste adi e r  t han I did whe n I wa lk ed into  th e kitch en. 

W hen  Ilo ok up atMalachi,  h is  e xp res sioni s tortur ed . " Pl eas e tel l  me wh at yo u're  t hi n kin g?" heb eg s . 

"M al ac hi,I'm  n ot ju dgin g  yo u at al l. I'm ju sts care d. "
"Scare d of what?" h easks as he  s tep s clos e r .

My ch est tightens as fear cl a ims me,  bu t I c an't  repay hi s h onesty  wi t h a do dge. " Scare dtha t I'llb e  a  di sa ppointment . " 

M alach i' s fa ce scre ws up in confusion .  "W hy would youbea di s a pp oin t me n t t om e?Y o u're amazing."
"I just.. .I do n't know a n yth in g about  relati onshi p s, or k issing, o r sex." M yownw o rds  hit my ea rs and m y whole f a ce fl a me s sca rle t. "Ime an,  I kn ow the ,  uh , bas ics. T ha t stuf f, yo uknow? Bu t actually kissing some one, o r goi ngfurther?I t e ndto screwthin gs up on a  re gul ar ba sis .  I ju st d o n' t w a nt yo u to think you ' re  ge t t in g one thing a n d t hen I  tu r n outto b e completely usel e ss."

"Well,"Mala c h i s ays ,  str ug gling to keepa s tr a i ght face ,
 high_school. For_some reason, that makes_me feel_a_little better._Maybe_because it was_all just in_good fun. I doubt_any of the_girls_he kissed objected to his attention. Why would they? He's sweet and caring and_not_too bad_to_look_at. A smile starts to_curve my lips, but another_thought stops_them.

"When you were with your girlfriend...did you..." My_throat_closes up and_I can't force the words out.

"Sleep with her?" Malachi_finishes, head down. He takes in_a long, shaky_breath._"Yes._Near the end, before_we broke up. She's the only_one I've ever had sex with,_though. I know the kissing thing was_stupid, but I take relationships seriously,_Echo. I don't want you_to think_I'm cavalier with women, because_I'm not."

The kernel_in the_oil pops, flying_up out of the pot and_scaring me half_to death. I don't feel so_bad_when I realize_it_caught_Malachi off_guard, too. Picking_up_the singular_piece_of popcorn off the floor, I_toss_it in the trash and measure out_the rest of the_kernels_and dump them into_the pan. When I set_the jar of kernels back down,_I feel_considerably steadier_than I did when I walked into the kitchen.

When I look_up at Malachi, his expression is_tortured. "Please tell me_what you're_thinking?"_he begs.

"Malachi, I'm_not_judging you_at all. I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?"_he asks_as he steps closer.

My chest tightens_as fear claims me,_but_I can't repay his honesty with_a dodge. "Scared that I'll be_a disappointment."

Malachi's face screws up_in_confusion._"Why would you be a_disappointment to me? You're amazing."

"I just...I_don't know anything_about relationships, or kissing, or sex." My_own_words hit my ears and my_whole_face flames scarlet. "I mean, I_know_the,_uh, basics. That stuff, you_know? But actually kissing someone, or_going further? I tend to screw things up on_a regular basis._I just don't want you_to_think_you're getting one thing and then I turn out to_be completely_useless."

"Well," Malachi says,_struggling to keep a straight face,