How had it started? Thinking back, Morgan decided it must have happened when she met Jill. The two got along really well, Morgan remembered, perhaps her first real friend in a long time. Oh sure, Morgan got along with her siblings and cousins, and did consider them friends, but it was great to have a friend around her age who wasn't related!
Jill introduced Morgan to her gang of friends, Reece, Frankie, Karen, Boris, Hayley and Owen. They all go on great and she had a great time. And then the day came where Jill, giggling, informed Morgan that Frankie liked her. Morgan nearly sprayed her drink.
"Frankie? Like me? But... but... but she's a..."
Jill rolled her eyes.
"Yeah? So? C'mon, Frankie knows how to have a good time. You should go out with her."
"Umm, well, I don't know..."
"Gee Morgan, I thought you were cool."
"Oh she's cool," Boris spoke up. "She's just never dated anyone before. You were nervous on your first date, Jill."
Jill grinned and gave Morgan a small hug.
"Aww, is that it? Don't worry, you'll have a great time."
And that, Morgan decided as the lights dimmed, was how she ended up here. Beforehand she had decided to act as if she was just hanging out with Frankie, but every now and then the word 'date' popped into her head. The movie began.
"Oh man, isn't Jesse Trewin gorgeous?" Morgan whispered somewhere during the movie.
Frankie grinned back. Morgan sighed happily and Frankie took advantage of the situation to hold her hand. Morgan didn't know how to react at first, her heart was beating so fast and so loud she was sure Frankie could hear it. But then she started telling herself that she held her sisters and her cousins hands all the time and why should this be any different?
She grabbed a handful of popcorn with her other hand and stuffed it in her mouth.
**********
Later they were walking home. They stopped to say goodbye when they got to Morgan's street.
"See you later," Frankie smiled.
Morgan nodded.
"Yeah."
Unexpectedly, Frankie softly pressed her lips against Morgan's. Morgan's eyes widened, rather startled and then...
"Eww!" came a chorus of prepubescent boy voices.
"Morgan's kissing a girl," one added.
Frankie pulled away and looked at the four boys.
"Who are they?"
"My brother," Morgan answered with a small moan, "and my triplet cousins."
"Mmm," Frankie grunted. "Well, see you."
"Bye."
Morgan started walking home, the four boys following and gleefully chanting "Morgan kissed a gi-irl! Morgan kissed a gi-irl!" Which caused Morgan to start running. No need for the whole street to know!