An ordinary day in October, right after school lets out ….

3:12 p.m.: Text I receive from my girlfriend: Hey, need a ride home?

Reason why I hesitate to respond: A 16-year-old boy getting a ride home from his girlfriend? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

How I feel after thinking this: Sexist.

3:14 p.m.: Text I send to my girlfriend: Sure! :)

Fact I have been worrying about for the last few days: My girlfriend and I have been dating for two weeks and we still haven’t kissed.

Fact that bothers me even more: I’ve never kissed a girl.

Who my girlfriend is in my phone contacts: Crystal <3

How I feel about this fact: Cheesy.

A phenomenon that fascinates me: She’s still dating me.

Number of minutes my girlfriend is late picking me up: Five.

Amount by which my feelings should be hurt: None.

Amount by which my feelings are hurt: Not none.

3:20 p.m.: We drive out of the high school parking lot.

3:21 p.m.: I try to initiate conversation.

3:22 p.m.: Conversation falters.

Question that persists: Why is she dating me?

3:22 p.m.: I take my girlfriend’s hand.

My reason for doing this: I feel awkward and have to assert myself somehow.

Why I immediately regret this decision: Now she has only one hand to drive with. Not safe!

Reason I don’t take my hand back: Geez, this is awkward enough as it is.

3:27 p.m.: We arrive at my house, still holding hands.

3:29 p.m.: I realize I’m still sitting in my girlfriend’s car.

How my girlfriend looks when she smiles at me in this moment: Absolutely beautiful.

Action I realize I should take: Kiss her.

Questions that immediately come up: What if she doesn’t want to be kissed? How the heck do I do this smoothly? How do you kiss a girl? What do I do with my hands?

3:31 p.m.: I awkwardly remove my seat belt while continuing our conversation to cover up my awkwardness. I don’t want to make this awkward.

How I feel in this moment: So, so awkward.

3:33 p.m.: Action I want to take: Kiss her.

3:37 p.m.: Action I still haven’t taken: Kissed her.

3:40 p.m.: DARNIT.

3:41 p.m.: Question my girlfriend asks: “Are you okay?”

3:41 p.m.: My immediate response: “Yeah, of course!”

What I am really thinking: What do I do what DO I DO!

3:42 p.m.: What I do: Lean in closer.

3:42 p.m.: What my girlfriend does: Leans in closer.

What I think I will do: Kiss her.

What I do: Kiss her.

Thoughts that immediately go through my mind: Am I doing this right? Is she closing her eyes too? Is this what lips are supposed to feel like? Am I breathing too heavy? Did I brush my teeth today?

My thoughts a minute later: Wow, this feels good! I must be doing it right! I did it! I’m the best kisser ever!

My glee in this moment: Immeasurable.

3:48 p.m.: I get out of the car and walk toward my house.

3:48 p.m.: My girlfriend’s face when I turn and wave good-bye: Smiling.

3:49 p.m.: My own face when I walk into my house: Smiling.