A Magical Moment Remember
By: Kathleen Riley

I always wanted my first kiss to be memorable. And I think it was. We were down 2 baskets in the Ankeny vs SEP basketball game. It was a wintery Friday night. We needed this win. I sat on the bench taking big deep breaths trying not to vomit, and I wasn’t even playing!
Jessica Cole passed the ball to Caitlin Ingle for a three-pointer. It rattled the rim and tipped in. I let out a small sigh and sucked in a big breath. Down by one! Ankeny went up for a three and,….... it rattled off the rim, hard. Meghan grabbed the ball and passed it to Caitlin looked up and passed it to Annie Penquite who sank a three. I shot to my feet and cheered! Anna tapped me reminding me it wasn’t state yet, there was no really reason to celebrate yet. The game was still going. I sat back down to see Ankeny point guard coming up the court, and Jessica right in front of her slowing her down. We are stuck in a man-to-man defense. Jessica and Caitlin switch places and people after a screen by the Ankeny point guard.
The bottom left post player tries you guessed it. Posting up, but fails miserably. With Meghan in front of her post player for the offence the shooting guard sees that she can’t pass it inside. Of course we are talking Ankeny so they always have back up. They swing the ball all the way to the other side. Seeing as Annie is holding off well with the other the guard the other post tries to make an attempt at posting up, and is let to do so. Seeing as Victoria is guarding the ball is stolen. Meaning back to Caitlin and back to offence.
I lock eyes with a boy in the crowd. Noah. I see him lock eyes and try not to scream. When I look back I see Dakota out going for a three. The buzzer rings in my ears just as the shot sinks in! “YES,” I cry. The girls line up for good game high fives and the Hawkettes. Then the announcer's voice booms “Ladies and Gentlemen the winner of the game is... THE SOUTHEAST POLK RAMS! Beating the Ankeny Hawkettes with a score of 59-54.” We all start jumping and screaming. I see Noah again and he is smiling and clapping. I look away and glance back just for a moment. I see him staring at me. He shakes his head in approval. He nods to the doors.
The rush to the locker room leaves me dazed all I can think is get to the doors! As I leave the locker room all smiles. I found Noah leaning on the door frame leading outside. He looks at me with those water-ice eyes that made my knees turn weak.
“Hey, glad you could make it.” he said.
“Mmmhmmm ,” I replied distractedly He pulls me toward the door.
“I want to show you something.” he says enthusiastically. Reluctantly I follow. I see what he wants me to see. The first snowfall, it’s amazing. “It’s beautiful,” I murmur. He pulls me close I have to look up at him cause he is taller, and he looks down at me. His grey eyes that usually hold mystery, now hold something I’ve never seen He smiles slyly ,like he knows something I don’t, and leans down. He kisses me. Right on the lips. My first thought is Finally.... When I let go I realize he picked me up, and I am dizzy. He sets me down and blushes. I smile and start to giggle. He laughs a good laugh and I get on my tippy toes and kiss him again. We get deeper into the kiss. This time our tongues touch. You would think it feels slimy, but this was a new sensation, and made my bones turn to dust.
When we pull up this time I hug him. He holds and me close and we just stand there