Note: Tilky Jones and Clay Goodell are my favorite Take 5s. Please don’t feel offended about me “slightly dissing” Tilky, ok? Thank you.
More Than A Feeling
“Clay! What are you doing?” I laughed. My friend Clay and I were sitting in his basement, pigging out on junk food. Clay was balancing a gummy bear on the tip of his nose.
“I’m balancing a gummy bear on my nose!” Clay managed to say.
I giggled, picked up the red gummy bear from his nose and ate it.
“Hey!” Clay protested. “Melissa! That’s not fair!”
“You snooze, you lose!” I teased.
Clay Goodell, that’s his name, and I had been friends since…well, since birth. The Goodells have been living by us ever since I was born. Clay is half a year younger than I am and well, I’m like a big sister to him. Since I’m a grade older than he is, so I usually look out for him since his older and good-looking brother Ryan was so much older.
My name is Melissa. I’m 16 years old and am in grade 11. Clay is 15 years old, and he is in grade 10. Ryan is old. He’s 19 years old, and he loves to tease me, just like the rest of their friends, Tilky, TJ and Stevie. Tilky is 18. He’s really, really good-looking, and I have a total crush on him. Stevie is 17. Man, he’s really cute, and he’s my best friend. TJ, well, he’s one of a kind. He’s only 2 months older than Clay, so he’s kind of like my little brother too.
“RYAN!” I screamed, as Clay pounced on me and started to tickle me.
Ryan walked down the stairs, and laugh at the fact that his little brother is tickling me. How rude!
“Ryan, make him stop or I’ll kick your ass!” I screamed.
Ryan laughed and picked his little brother up, which was hard, because Clay was about the same size as him.
I laughed and got up. Ryan was still holding on to Clay, as if he was a shield.
“My turn!” I laughed, as I tickled Clay’s tummy. He has an awesome laugh.
Clay laughed so hard that he fell over, dragging Ryan with him. I fell too, while tickling the two boys.
“Can we join the party?”
I looked up to see TJ and Stevie at the basement door.
“Hey Mel!” TJ cried, and joined the crowd of humans, tangled up on the floor.
“Having fun, Mel?” Stevie smiled at me.
“Tons of fun!” I groaned, feeling the pressure on top of me.
At the bottom of the pile, Clay groaned.
“I think we should get off of him.” I said, looking at Clay.
“Should we?” Ryan asked innocently.
“LISTEN TO THE WOMAN!” Clay yelled.
Ryan, TJ and I got off of Clay, and I helped him up.
“Are you ok?” I asked, looking up at Clay.
“Queasy.” Clay groaned, and fell onto the couch.
We all looked at Clay.
“I think we killed him.”
“Where’s Tilky?” Ryan asked.
“He’s not here yet.” Stevie said.
“Oh…” I said softly.
Stevie was the only one who knew about my crush on Tilky. He volunteered to ask Tilky about me. I really hope that he likes me. I mean, Tilky is so cute!
I looked at Clay. He was lying on the couch.
I smiled and rubbed his head.
While Clay was still on the couch, I went into the kitchen to grab myself a coke. Stevie followed me.
“Hey Stevie, what’s up?” I asked.
“Melissa, um, you know that Tilky situation?” He asked.
“Yeah?” I asked hopefully.
“I’m sorry to say, but Tilky doesn’t like you that way. He thinks that you’re cute and all, but he says that you’re not his type.”
My heart sank.
“I’m sorry Mel. I know how much you like him.”
I took a deep breath. Come on Mel. Breathe!
“Thanks for telling me Stevie.” I said, sniffling.
“It’s ok.” Stevie hugged me, wrapping his strong arms around my shoulders. I sobbed in his shoulder.
“Melissa?” asked a voice.
“Shh! She’s not feeling well.” Stevie said.
Clay walked towards me. “I hope you feel better soon.” He said softly. He gave me a kiss on the cheek, and walked out the kitchen. It was no biggie that he kissed my cheek. We kiss each other’s cheeks for comfort all the time.
“Melissa, are you ok?” Stevie asked me.
“I’ll be fine.” I said. I slowly walked out the kitchen with Stevie close behind me. When I went back into the basement, Tilky was already.
“I feel really stupid.” I whispered to Stevie.
“Don’t do that. Still be friends with him.” He whispered back.
“Hey Melissa.” Tilky said to me.
I looked at him. He’s totally gorgeous. “Hey Tilky.” I said.
Tilky looked at Stevie, his eyebrows raised. “Hey Stevie.”
“Hey Tilk.” Stevie answered, staring into Tilky’s eyes, as if they’re sending each other a mental message.
“What are you two doing?” I asked them.
They jumped.
“Nothing.” Stevie replied.
I gave Stevie a puzzled look. He’s up to something, and I’m gonna find out what.
“Melissa!” TJ bounced into the room. “Wanna come watch me kick Clay’s butt in Mario Kart?”
I laughed. “Sure!”
“Hey!” Clay yelled from downstairs. “That wasn’t really nice!”
“Sorry honey.” I called down to Clay.
“Hey!” TJ gave me a pout. “I thought I was the honey.”
“You’re one too.” I said.
TJ grinned at me.
“But I’M the REAL honey.” Stevie said, draping an arm around my shoulders.
“No you’re not!” Clay and TJ cried.
Tilky laughed. My heart melted. It hurts so much; just to think that the guy you like doesn’t like you back that way. It’s so not fair. Tilky is so cute!
Stevie looked at my sad face, and said, “Come on, Mel, let’s go downstairs, and watch ME kick TJ and Clay’s butt.”
I followed Stevie downstairs. TJ and Clay were already there, setting up their controllers and stuff.
Clay handed me the 4th controller. “Do you want to play?” he asked.
“No thanks. You know me, I love to watch.” I replied.
“Can I play?” someone asked from behind me. It was Tilky.
He sat on one side of me while Stevie sat on the other side.
My palms began to sweat…and I started to fidget.
Stevie glanced at me. “Mel, are you ok?”
I nodded, and glanced at Tilky, who was looking at the screen.
Stevie nodded. “Which character should I use?” he asked me.
I pointed to Yoshi, and that’s what Stevie picked.
I looked at the other characters on the screen. Clay was Wario, TJ was Luigi, Stevie was Yoshi, and Tilky was…PRINCESS TOADSTOOL!
“Why did you pick Princess Toadstool?” TJ asked Tilky.
“It is to remember and admire, all the beautiful princesses there are in the world. Especially the princess that is in this room.”
My heart skipped a beat. Stevie’s controller dropped. He stared at Tilky in shock.
I coughed. “Excuse me.” I walked into the bathroom, my hands gripping the counter.
“Melissa? Can I come in?”
I opened the door, and saw Tilky.
“Look Melissa, can we talk?” he asked.
I sat down at the edge of the tub.
“I know that you like me. It was kind of obvious, since Stevie asked me about you.”
I didn’t say anything.
“I like you, Melissa. Would you go out with me?”
I looked at him in shock. He likes me!
I smiled slightly. “Yes.”
Tilky grinned and hugged me. He’s about a head taller than I am, so my head rested against his shoulder.
I looked up at him and smiled. He was smiling down at me. Then, he tilt his head downwards, and kissed me, I kissed him back. When we parted, he hugged me tighter. He took my face in his hands and kissed me again, this time; he opened his mouth slightly, deepening the kiss. His hands gently rested on my hips.
Sigh. I never knew that my first kiss with Tilky would be in the bathroom!
When Tilky and I came out, TJ and Clay was still playing the game, but Stevie was sitting on the couch, his head rested in his hands.
“Stevie?” I said softly.
He looked up at me.
I leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.” I said, as Tilky’s arm went around my waist.
Tilky and I went upstairs. Ryan was sitting on the floor, talking to his girlfriend, Camilla on the phone. He raised his eyebrows at us when he saw us holding hands.
Tilky kissed my cheek, and Ryan smiled.
“Where do you wanna go for our first date?” Tilky whispered in my ear.
“I dunno. Wherever you wanna go.” I smiled up at him.
“Wanna go hang out with my friends then?”
Hang out with his friends? For a first date?
I shrugged. “Ok.”
“Great. Tonight, 7:30, my place. See you there honey.” He said, kissing me softly and walking out the door.
Ok…So what just happened there? Is Tilky really that shallow?
I walked to the stairs. “Stevie?” I called.
“What?” Stevie answered.
“Could you come up here please?”
“Sure.” I could hear his footsteps coming up the stairs. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Could I talk to you?” I asked.
“What about?”
I took Stevie’s hand and walked into Clay’s room. I sat down on the bed, picked up one of his teddy bears, and placed it on my lap.
Stevie sat beside me.
“I wanna thank you so much for doing this.” I said, his hands in my hands. “You’re like a big brother, and I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Stevie said, and hugged me.
I dunno why, but I always feel safe in his arms. That’s probably because I’ve been hugged by him so many times…same with Clay.
“Melissa? Are you ok?” asked a voice. There you go. It’s Clay.
“I’m fine.” I smiled at his cute face. “I’m just really happy.”
“Could I get a hug too?” Clay asked timidly.
“Of course, honey!” I cried, as he flew into my arms. Clay is such a cute kid. I love him to bits.
I looked at my watch. “Oh gosh, I have to go now. Talk to you two later, ok?”
“Ok. Bye Mel.” Clay and Stevie replied.
When I got to the door, I called. “Bye Ryan! Bye TJ!”
“Bye MEL!” they yelled back.
I went next door to my own house and walked upstairs into my room.
Quickly, I took a shower and got dressed, put my makeup on, and did my hair.
When I was done, I looked at myself in the mirror, and nearly gasped. The person looking back at me wasn’t me! It was this totally beautiful girl. Her hair was neatly curled in waves on my shoulders. Her face was smooth and her cheeks were rosy. She was wearing a pair of black flared jeans and a light blue tank top… Her eyes were dark green, instead of dark brown.
The girl was me, I know, but it doesn’t really look like me. My eyes are really dark brown, not dark green. I used colored contacts to make my plain eyes more attractive. For some reason, I felt prettier.
I slipped on my heels and walked out the door, tripping over the first step down the stairs. My heels were 3 inch, and I know they’re not that tall, but they’re not me. I’m the sneaker type of girl. Not heels.
I struggled to Tilky’s house and rang the doorbell. A girl opened the door.
“Hello. May I help you?” she asked.
“I’m Melissa. I’m—“
“Hey Melissa.” Tilky said. “Come on in.” he said.
I walked into the room.
“Hey everyone. This is my friend Melissa.”
Friend? That’s it? I’m just a friend to him?
“Hey Melissa.” Said a girl with long blond hair. “I’m Ashley.”
“Hi.” I said timidly.
“Nice jeans.” Said another girl. “Oh. I’m Annabelle.”
For the next 3 hours, Tilky ignored me. No, I’m serious! I tried to make eye contact with him, but he never even looked at me. I was crushed. Tilky was the guy I’ve had a thing for, and now he’s ignoring me? A tear trickled down my cheek. I wiped it with the back of my hand and walked out of the house, leaving the rowdy crowd behind.
I quickly walked onto the dark street towards my house, and I stopped when I heard footsteps behind me.
“Go away.” I said, and started walking again.
“Melissa.” A voice whispered.
I turned around and saw Stevie. Tears began to form in my eyes. I turned away. “What do you want?” I asked.
“Why are you crying?” Stevie asked.
“Nothing. No reason.” I began walking again.
Stevie grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him.
“Tell me.” He whispered, looking down at me.
I took a deep breath and told him. After all, Stevie was my best friend, and I could never keep anything away from him.
Stevie hugged me as tears fell from my face. I’ve never felt so close to anyone before. Stevie held me as I cried. Right there on the sidewalk, the stars forming, and a soft breeze brushed through my hair, for the first time ever, he kissed me.
