I’ve been told, by the givers, that I’ve received two kisses before the kiss that I deem my first.

Not too long ago, a guy I went to elementary school with told me that I was his girlfriend in the third grade and that we kissed. Of course I don’t believe that tomfoolery. I was smarter than that..

And recently, my first crush told me that we shared a kiss in the second grade. I’m not sure if it was a peck on the lips or cheek, but it doesn’t count, because I don’t remember this.

So when was my first REAL kiss?

I was 15. My best friend and I planned to go to the Museum of Natural History together after watching Night at the Museum. We were all too excited to see if the movie set resembled the actual museum. Of course it didn’t, but it was still a great experience. She asked me if she could bring a friend along, and I said sure. Then she asked if that friend could bring a friend, and why not? The more the merrier. So it ended up being four of us: Me, my best friend Desiree, her friend Derrick, and his friend Crystal (I think that was her name.)

So I see Derrick and he’s cute, can’t lie so I tell Desiree and she laughs and gives me that look. Lol. I mean I wasn’t planning on doing anything to or with him since I hadn’t ever done anything with anyone before. But looking wasn’t a crime, right?

The thing is, Derrick was looking at me, too. We had made some small talk, you know, while observing the exhibits and whatnot. Small talk turns into conversation. Conversation turns into jokes and laughter and flattery and all of that stuff that made my young heart beat. 

We were walking a little ahead of Desiree and Crystal, so we picked up the pace so that we could, you know, just be together and still learn about each other.

We eventually walked into a dim exhibit room, they had reptiles here, not real ones but like replicas of them. And we’re looking around, away from each other at first and then we meet up behind one of the exhibits. 

At this point we’re not really saying much to each other. We’re face to face. A little bit of space between us. My hands are in my pocket as I’m looking up at him, half smiling but not. And we’re just looking into each other’s eyes. And then we lean, he takes my hands and hold them, and we kiss.

At first it was just a kiss, not a peck, but a short he-takes-my-bottom-lip-I-take-his-top kind of kiss. It turned into a few of those and I was so overwhelmed by the fact that I just had my first kiss that I pulled away and turned my face from him.

“You know that was my first kiss right?” I said.

“Really?” asked Derrick. “Wow..wow.”

I looked at him, questionably. “What?”

“Nothing.” And he took his right hand to my chin and guided my face in the direction of his lips.

And that was my first kiss.