And then he kissed her.

Or tried to. Zoe should have seen it coming from the lull in his fingers moving through her hair. It was a bad proposition from the beginning—the angle was all wrong, Robert had to double over to face Zoe's face—and he ended up just bumping his chin against her nose.

His breath smelled overly sweet, like caramel. She pushed him away and sat up off of his lap.

Zoe

Robert—

They were facing each other for only a second before Robert dove at her again. This time his lips touched hers, and she was so surprised that he would attempt it a second time that she squeaked like a mouse.

Then she pushed him off. She pushed him so roughly that he tumbled off of the couch. She stood up, and he just sat there on the floor, facing the TV. Even in the weird glow of the screen, Zoe could see his face was bright red.

Robert

I'm sorry....

Zoe

It's okay, Robert. I just—you know. You're like my little brother.

Robert had no response to this, except to look down at the floor.

Zoe

I'm sorry ... that was a horrible thing to say. That's not how I think of you. I'm just messed up right now. You know? You're my best friend. I can't make out with my best friend.

Robert

It's okay. I'm sorry too.

Zoe

Okay. No hard feelings?

Robert

Okay.

He didn't sit up or look at her as he talked. He just stared at the floor, a thin, blank sillhoute against the TV. Neither of them said anything. Zoe sat back down on the couch gingerly. But after waiting for Robert to move for a full minute, she stood back up.

Zoe

Um. I think I'm going to go back home now....

Robert

Okay.

Zoe slowly put on her sweatshirt. Even though she felt suffocatingly awkward in his house now, part of her wanted to stay, to make sure that Robert was alright. But she could see that he didn't want her to be there.

Zoe

I mean—you're probably right. About my mom calling the cops if I'm not there in the morning.

Her shoes squeaked softly across the hardwood floor towards the foyer. At the front door, she stood there and looked back at the darkened room with the light from the TV. She stood there for a while, staring at the color of the light. Was he still sitting there?

Screaming voices

Can I play with madness?
He said you're blind! Too blind to see!

Robert had turned on VH1. The heavy metal song throbbed with the light from the TV. Zoe figured he was okay—or at least, okay enough for her to leave. She opened the door and walked out to the night.