Excerpt: Catalyst

I don’t know what it is. Maybe it's the flickering light of the hallway’s fluorescent bulbs, dimming on and off like a dying firefly. Or maybe it's just that little envelope – so important, but fragile in my hands, egging me on to embrace these last moments when anything is still possible. Whatever causes it, one moment there's space between us and the next I'm across the gap, my hands in his hair, my hips pressing against his.

Our lips touch. Once. Twice.

All the heat rushes in, replacing my fear in one great wave of feeling and tension and the overwhelming need for more.

“Christ." His breath is hot and low in my ear. "I missed you, love."

Then there is nothing. Just two almost-valedictorians making out in a hallway, all the past and passion raging between them. Around us, the bell echoes its final warning.