The night air feels cool around Franklin and Emmy. Still looking at each other. You can tell something is happening between them. They can't ignore it.
Franklin talks quietly, like he's not sure. He leans closer to Emmy.
"Can I….?" he asks.
Emmy's heart was pounding faster. She breathes faster.
"I think so," she whispers. She wasn't fully aware of what was going on, but she felt so much attracted to him. Before she can think more, Franklin kisses her lips.
The kiss starts slow and careful. Then it gets deeper as they both let themselves go. It feels like time slows down. His warm body and soft lips feel right.
They stop kissing. Both of them breathe hard. Their faces are red. "Wow," Emmy says very quietly.
Franklin smiles. His eyes still look deep into hers. "Yeah. Wow."
But the moment doesn't last. Emmy's phone rings. It stops the quiet. She moves away because it's her mom calling.
"I'm sorry," she says softly as she climbed down from the hood where they sat.
"It's my mom.
Franklin nods. He gives her space. "Take your time."
Emmy walks a few steps away and answers the phone.
"Hi, Mom. Yeah, I'm fine. The interview didn't go as planned so I am just... out for a little bit."
Her mom sounds worried. "Where are you? It's late, honey. Are you okay?"
Emmy sighs. "I'm fine, Mom. Just with a friend. I'll be home soon, I promise."
Her mom still sounding worried, but Emmy says again, "I am fine, Mom. How's Dylan. Be back soon. Love you." She ends the call and walks back to the car. Her heart still beats fast from the kiss.
When she gets back in, Franklin has moved into the car reclining the seat back so it's leaning. Soft music is playing. The feeling is more calm now. It's like they are both letting the moment just be.
"Is everything okay?" Franklin asks gently.
"Yeah," Emmy answers. She sits back in her seat. "Just my mom... checking in."
Franklin smiles softly, but his eyes look a little worried. "I understand. You're important to her."
Emmy nods and looks out the window. "I am... and sometimes it feels like too much."
Franklin moves in his seat. He keeps looking at her. "I get that. Family can be... a lot."
She smiles a little. She likes that he understands. "Yeah. But... thank you. For this. For making me forget for a little while."
Franklin reaches over and touches her hand gently. "You don't have to thank me. I just want you to be happy."
The quiet after that doesn't feel bad. It feels like they both need time to think about everything.
Emmy turns her head to look at him.
"Do you ever feel like why are things happening to me? Like... you're always at the end of bad things, whenever you try to overcome one, another one comes again ?"
Franklin looks at her thoughtfully. "Yeah, I do. Sometimes I feel like I'm just existing and there is nothing real about everything around me. But... sometimes I think that's just how life is, you know?"
She nods slowly. "Yeah, I guess so."
The feeling in the car changes again. Now it feels heavier. It's like they both feel that pull again—how much they like each other. They can't ignore it.
After a long time, Franklin leans in again. His breath feels warm on her face. Emmy doesn't move away.
He kisses her again, but this time it's deeper. It feels more urgent. They can't stop it. The kiss gets more intense. Their hands reach for each other. Their bodies move closer.
Franklin puts his hand on her waist and pulls her to him. Emmy does it without thinking. Her hands go into his hair as they kiss again. This time they both want it a lot more than before.
When they stop, they are both breathing hard. You can tell they really want each other. Franklin's eyes look darker now. You can see he wants her.
"I think... I think we should stop," Emmy whispers.
But her voice doesn't sound like she really wants to stop. Part of her does, but part of her doesn't.
Franklin waits for a second, then nods. "We don't have to hurry, Emmy. But if we keep going... I won't stop."
His words hang in the air. They mean a lot. Neither of them moves for a long time.
Finally, Emmy decides. She leans in again. Her lips find his again, and this time she really wants it. They don't talk anymore. What they do says everything. They take off clothes. Their hearts beat fast. Soon, they are close together, giving in to what they've wanted all night.
The car feels warm and private. They don't need words anymore. The soft music plays. It's like the music is for them. They forget about the world outside.
When it's over, the car is still and quiet. The only sound is them breathing hard.
They both sit quietly for a moment. Neither of them moves. They are still thinking about what just happened.
The soft music keeps playing. The world outside the car has disappeared. After the kiss, the touches, the wanting each other, all that's left is the heavy breathing in the quiet car.
Franklin leans his head back. He's still trying to breathe normally. Emmy is still close to him.
"Are you okay?" Franklin asks softly. His hand gently touches her cheek.
Emmy nods slowly. Her eyes close for a second. "Yeah," she whispers. But she's not sure how she feels. It was a lot, and it wasn't expected.
Her body feels good in a tired way. For the first time in a long time, she feels really alive—not because of her bad interview or the things that worried her at night.
Franklin turns a little and pulls her close without saying anything. He kisses her forehead gently, like it's the most natural thing to do. She sighs and leans into his warmth.
Minutes go by. Neither of them moves. It's like the car is keeping them safe from everything outside—her mom's calls, his problems, what they did wrong in the past. Just for tonight, they can forget it all.
Emmy feels how tired she is. She rests her head on his chest. His breathing goes in and out steadily and calms her. Soon, her eyes feel heavy.
"You're tired, huh?" Franklin says softly, like he's sleepy too.
Emmy smiles a little but doesn't answer. It's easier to just stay close to him and let the quiet take over.
Soon, she breathes evenly. She's asleep against him. Franklin smiles down at her and touches her hair. He starts to feel sleepy too.
The night goes on. The soft music plays. Neither of them talks again.
The car is still under the moonlight. The only movement is them sighing or moving a little as they sleep, lost in the quiet night.