Oscar walked, calmly past the many rooms and through the halls of the house, until he reached the front door. He stepped down, and let out a loud, huff.

The chirping of cicadas surrounded him. He went around the corner of the large stone house, and was greeted by a quaint patio decorated with wicker furniture. He sat down, breathing hard, and fidgeted with his hands. Despite a porch light glowing softly above him, he was engulfed in darkness.

Many thoughts rang in his head.

"What's wrong with me? What just happened? Why did I do that? It was just a kiss. Why do I feel so weird?"

He had questions but no answers. While sitting there, contemplating his existence and wondering if he'd ever feel okay again, Oscar heard Kim yelling his name.

"Oscar!" she exclaimed.

"I can't talk to her now. She'll think something's wrong."

Something was wrong. "I can't tell her about it. I don't know what it is."

He heard her let out an exasperated sigh.

He felt bad. "I should go to her," he contemplated, but rather than do that, Oscar stayed put, watching Kim from beside the wall.

She hung her head in defeat and started walking to the porch. No longer yelling, the only sounds were the crunching of gravel driveway under her feet.

Oscar wearily rounded the corner, and saw Kim sat on the cement platform, sniffling into her sleeve.

He quietly made his way over and sat with her. Kim let out a low gasp when she looked over to find Oscar seated next to her. She threw her arm over his shoulder and put her head against his.

"Os... I'm sorry I made you come here, I shouldn't have. I know you don't like t-" She was cut off by Oscar's arm covering her face in a warm embrace.

"No, don't apologize. I just needed some air. I'm fine." He pulled back, and looked her in the eyes.

She sniffled again. "I'm okay. Really." His soothing tone reassured her.

"Really?" He nodded.

"Okay. I'll admit it was getting a little intense in there." They both giggled.

"Yeah," he agreed, and looked down.

Oscar hated lying to Kim, but he didn't know what else to say.

There was a moment of silence, then Ethan and Michael came bursting through the iron screen door with a clank.

"Hey, you guys okay out here?" They asked playfully, in almost unison. They both had cans of Cheese Whiz, and Ethan's hair was covered in it.

Kim looked back at Oscar. "So, you wanna go back in?" she asked. "Sure," he answered.

Kim, hearing the uncertainty in his voice said, "Hey guys, give us a second," to the two cheese-covered boys.

"Ight, we'll be upstairs," they said. With that, Michael promptly attacked Ethan with another, hidden can of Cheese Whiz that he'd had stored in his back pocket. They both tumbled back inside, and closed the door, leaving Kim and Oscar alone again.

Kim sighed and continued, "Are you sure that you're okay? You're not having an anxiety attack are you? We can leave if you want," she said in such a rush that it sounded like one word.

In the calmest voice he could muster, Oscar said, "No, I'm fine. You go ahead without me. I'm gonna go to the kitchen and get something to eat."

Kim nodded in reluctant acceptance and got up. While she went up the stairs, Oscar split left from the living room, and into the kitchen.