I’m feeling three different shades of red as Byron and I arrive at the Super 8 Motel in Mirage Park. I haven’t said much to him the whole way over.
Byron: We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. Let me take you home.
Prosperity: It’s our last night together, Byron. I’m leaving tomorrow.
Byron: I know, but – are you going to tell me what happened?
Prosperity: You remember that DM that I received. The one I thought had come from your ex?
Byron: Yeah, what about it? Did you get another one?
Prosperity: Ro just told me that she sent it.
Byron: Rocio? Why?
Prosperity: She wants you, Byron. She’s wanted you for a long time. I guess she figured that I’d stop talking to you if I thought it was from your ex.
Byron: What? And she told you that?
Prosperity: I guess she felt bad about it.
Byron: Damn. I’m sorry, Peri.
Prosperity: It’s so f&*ked up. I can’t believe it. *long pause* But I’m not gonna let it ruin our night. Get the room.
My stomach drops when we walk into the room that Byron has rented for the night. It’s absolutely terrifying, the type of place where girls my age are found murdered, but I guess I shouldn’t have expected much from Mirage Park.
Prosperity: I think I would have rather settled for the closet.
Byron: I’m sorry. We can go somewhere else.
Prosperity: No…it’s okay. The room doesn’t matter. It’s all about us.
Byron: Maybe we should –
Prosperity: Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?
I intercept whatever he was about to say with my mouth on his. He responds with deep, slow kisses that light me up all over.
Byron: *pulls back* Do you have to leave tomorrow?
Prosperity: I don’t want to talk about that right now. Let’s go to bed.
We take a few steps before I turn to him…
Prosperity: Wait…do you have protection?
Byron: Yeah
Prosperity: So you just knew this was going to happen?
Byron: I was hoping, but it was always up to you.
We go to opposite sides of the bed and undress. We stand there staring for a while. We both know what should come next, but our inexperience doesn’t exactly help us get there. We both sit down on the bed.
Something is a bit off. This moment doesn’t feel as romantic as I thought it would feel. I thought I’d be ready to devour him in a sea of hot lavender pinks and sexy violets. But the pinks are mixed with muddy greens and yellows that make my stomach sink oddly. Byron places his hand close to mine, sending a slight surge of heat my way. I shake the odd color mixes off as nerves. I still want him. There’s no doubt about that.
Maybe if I don’t look directly at him…I can completely ward off the anxiety. I slide up under the cover and pull them up over my head like I used to as a child. Byron looks over, then slides under to join me. He puts his arms around me and kisses me on the forehead. I appreciate that. It’s sweet.
Then he finds my lips and parts them with his own. His kisses ignite the fire that I felt in the closet earlier. Now I’m ready, but he takes his time until I’m practically begging for more.
When it’s all over…we emerge from under the covers. Byron looks as if he’s just conquered the world, but for me…the yellows are back. He closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep, but I climb out from under the covers, finally understanding the colors that I’ve been feeling. This whole encounter felt rushed…something we felt the need to get out of the way before I left for Sulani. And there’s a lesson here, but time will be in charge of telling me what it is.
Byron stirs behind me as fatigue finally catches up with me. I hurry to click off the lights and let out a big yawn.
Prosperity: Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.
Byron begins to climb out of bed.
Byron: You okay? How long have you been up?
Prosperity: Not long.
It’s a lie. I’ve been up thinking for at least an hour, and I’m not sure why I felt the need to lie about it.
Byron: Let me take you home.
Prosperity: *drowsy* Okay
Byron gets up and puts on his underwear, but I’m back in bed…almost asleep when he turns back and faces me.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
