You had a lot of different chapstick flavors. From the classics to the holiday favorites (that often seemed absurd and extremely impractical), you had all of them. It wasn’t to make your lips super smooth for effortless lipstick appliance, nor was it to amaze your boyfriend with non-chapped lips. It was in fact for a game. It was for a game that you and Warren had started way back on a very memorable New Year’s Day, on the terms of a very happy accident.
You applied a thick coat of the cherry chapstick before you met Warren in the living room for a movie marathon. It was a New Year’s tradition for you two. As you sat down with the popcorn bowl in hand, he greeted you with a peck on the lips. He paused a moment, rubbing his lips together in deep thought.
“Cherry?” he wondered out loud. You couldn’t help but smile and laugh.
“Yep,” you had told him before bringing him into another cherry flavored kiss. Of course you both had enjoyed this little guessing game. It began to be a routine, and it went on year round.
“What’s today’s flavor?” Warren asked on Valentine’s Day. You smirked at him, patting the bed beside you.
“Come and see for yourself,” you said. Warren, already eager, pressed himself against you on the bed, his hands on either side of you head. He gave you a long kiss, then pulled away with a grin as he started to unbutton his dress shirt he had worn for your previous lunch date.
“Chocolate,” he muttered against your neck as you let out a hum of satisfaction. Warren had developed quite the talent for determining chapstick flavors, including the crazy ones, like banana split or birthday cake. You were looking forward to a day where you could see Warren guess incorrectly. You had hoped to stump him in March, with your Irish cream flavored chapstick, but he had gotten that one too, to your surprise. When July came around, it was almost nothing to guess the flavor for him.
You two were seated on top of your house, waiting for whatever fireworks would go off in the neighborhood. He had a protective arm around you, in fear that you would fall. He looked at you with sparkling eyes and a large cheeky grin. You couldn’t help but kissing him on the spot. Warren had erupted a deep throaty chuckle, then looked you in the eyes.
“Pink lemonade, very patriotic.” he winked, before the first firework of the night cascaded across the night sky. The same sky you found yourself looking up at on Halloween night with the clock nearing midnight. You two were laying on the roof, backs flush against the roughness of your house top. Warren was ironically enough dressed as an angel, and you a devil. It was only a matter of time before you were straddling his waist with your lips connected in a passionate kiss.
“Did I finally get you?” you asked, obviously hoping that you had stumped your boyfriend when he didn’t automatically guess the flavor on your lips. Warren bit his lip, then smiled with a shake of his head.
“Candy corn, you monster.” he mocked dramatically. You knew he hated candy corn, but that didn’t stop you from wearing it. You knew he would kiss you anyway.
On Thanksgiving, he had spent the day with your family, considering his own family problems. Your family had always accepted Warren, and they happily allowed him to join you for Thanksgiving dinner. He was seated at the table, looking at the turkey with desire. You walked beside him, placing another side dish in front of him, then kissing him on the cheek.
“A cheek kiss?” he pouted, resting his arm on the table. You rolled your eyes, but smiled anyway as you placed a gentle kiss to his lips. “Predictable,” he muttered as you started to walk away.
“What?” you turned back to him, confused.
“Pumpkin pie.” he raised his eyebrows, which caused you to very lovingly flip him off. It was these family bond celebrating holidays that you really loved to spend with Warren. Any couple could hang out and kiss and call it a connection, but you knew that you and Warren were different.
On Christmas, it was the same deal. You and Warren being together as an ‘item’ on Christmas day with your family. He fit in with everyone perfectly. After your annual gift exchange, and thanking everyone for such lovely presents, you and Warren had snuck off to your bedroom. You two were wearing the stereotypical festive elf/Santa hats, and were cuddled up in each others arms as you watched The Polar Express. It wasn’t even twenty minutes into the movie that you two shared a long kiss. Aside from the fact that it was Christmas, what made this flavor memorable was that it was Warren’s favorite. You two had many chapstick flavors, new ones almost every day, but it was the special moments that made your chapstick game fun.
“Ginger bread cookie.” Warren smiled, finally, resting his forehead against yours. “My favorite.” It was a beautiful picture perfect moment to end the year, and both of you knew it. You two looked forward to new opportunities for each of you, each other’s company and support, and many more chapstick flavors to guess.
💞
Toad's Cave 