Read Online Kiss by Francine Pascal - Free Book Online

life.
    â€œSpiderman is cool,” Gaia observed, gazing at the balloon reaching four stories into the sky. A net above them kept the balloons on good behavior until the parade began in the morning.
    â€œSpiderman is already up, up, and away,” Mary said somewhat breathlessly, pulling Gaia along. “We need to pick one that’s only partway blown up.”
    â€œWe do?” Gaia asked.
    Mary raised her eyebrows mischievously. “We do.”
    Gaia caught up even with her. “What exactly are you planning?”
    â€œSomething fun. You’ll see.” She glanced over at Gaia. “You scared?”
    â€œUh-uh,” Gaia replied.
    â€œHere.” Mary yanked her to a stop. “These ones are good. Shhh. Stay still a minute.”
    The ones Mary was referring to were huge ponds of half-inflated plastic, one red, the other green. Gaia couldn’t tell what they were.
    Mary looked around. “Okay, follow me. Move quickly, before anybody sees us.”
    Gaia nodded, intensely curious.
    Mary paused in thought. “Hang on. Which one? Red or green?”
    â€œI don’t care,” Gaia said.
    â€œPick!” Mary ordered.
    Gaia rolled her eyes. “They’re the same. It doesn’t matter. I don’t even know what we’re doing.”
    Mary was still glaring at her expectantly.
    â€œAll right, fine. Red,” Gaia said.
    â€œGo,” Mary hissed.
    She darted around the growing balloon to the side that was closest to the museum fence and used the fence for a boost. She transferred her weight from the fence to the balloon, clamored up the soft, loose plastic, then rolled down into the sagging middle. Gaia followed close behind. When they settled in the middle, they had to cling to the plastic to keep from rolling on top of each other.
    â€œThis is cozy,” Mary said, laughter in her voice.
    â€œI still don’t know what we’re doing,” Gaia said.
    â€œShhh. Stay still. We have to keep quiet.”
    Mary’s excitement was contagious. “Why?” Gaia asked.
    â€œâ€™Cause the last time I did this, I got arrested,” Mary explained happily.
    â€œOh,” Gaia said.
    â€œScared yet?” Mary asked.
    â€œNot yet,” Gaia replied.
    Gaia heard the rush of helium into the balloon get louder.
    â€œCool,” Mary whispered. “They’re turning it up.”
    â€œThey?”
    â€œThe inflators,” Mary said.
    â€œIs that a word?” Gaia asked.
    Mary’s giggle came out like a snort. “I think so.”
    Gaia felt the helium filling the space under them. They were rising appreciably.“Now what?” she whispered.
    â€œWe wait,” Mary said. She reached for Gaia’s hand and held it again. Gaia was so unaccustomed to physical contact (apart from punching people) that it felt weird to her. Weird, but nice, too.
    As the minutes passed, the plastic began to fill and grow around them. Soon the thin, rubbery plastic was puffing up all around them, becoming more and more taut.
    â€œWhat is this balloon, anyway?” Gaia asked.
    Mary lifted her head and looked behind her. “Judging from the green one next door, I think it’s an M&M.”
    â€œAn M&M?”
    â€œYeah, look.” Mary rolled partly onto her side and pointed at the green twin.
    â€œWe’re on a giant red M&M?” Gaia realized she was getting punchy because for some reason, this seemed hilarious.
    â€œOkay. This is where it starts to get fun.” Mary’s face was flushed with anticipation. “Hold on tight, okay? I think we’ve got a facial feature of some kind here.”
    It was thrilling. Gaia clutched the stretchy plastic in her fist as they rose under a cloud of helium, higher and higher. She was amazed nobody had seen them yet. She twisted her head and saw the buildings above. The ritzy apartment buildings on one side, the museum on the other. They were rising faster now, above the