Mannix:Haven't you always wondered how people can feel so empty?

Moona:I thought about it plenty enough I guess.

Mannix:I just don't like the feeling of being empty...

Moona:How does it make you feel? That empty feeling I mean. It makes me feel alone.

Mannix:It makes me feel hollow. I don't even care about anything anymore. There's no happiness inside me, no anger, not even fear when I hold the pistol to my head... I'm just hollow.

Moona:What's the antidote for being hollow?

Mannix:I don't think there is one, but if I find it, I'll let you know.

~Two of Hearts~

There isn't a cure for feeling hollow according to Mannix, or at least if there is one, he hasn't found it yet. I haven't found the cure yet either because I feel just as empty as he does.

I met Mannix st the library, where he was looking up books on chronic illnesses. I had tripped over my own uncoordinated foot and fell into him. Instead of yelling at me or offering to help me up, he just stared at me and like an idiot I just stared back.

"I'm so sorry," I finally said, breaking that moment of awkward silence.

"I'm fine," he said randomly. "I meant are you fine? I mean... Are you okay?"

"I'm okay," I replied, a bit confused. "Are you all right? You seem a bit shaken up." He had looked from my eyes to the floor. He was quite shy at first.

::***::

"Kiss me Moona," Mannix says, as he stands in front of me. His bluish black hair is spiked into a mohawk and his sea green eyes are lined with thick eyeliner. His wrists are covered with white studded bracelets and his baggy blue jeans are being held up by a matching white studded belt. His slim, but muscular abdomen hides under a navy blue shirt and a pair of black shoes meant for skateboarding are tied loosely to his feet.

"Why?" I ask, as I lean against the red brick wall near the enterance to our high school.

"Because I want to see if I can feel anything," he replies.

"Like what, my tongue?" I laugh and stick my tonue out at him.

"No," he laughs. "A reaction silly."

"What kind of reaction?" I question.

"A sexual reaction," he answers with a small smile. "Just joking. I was thinking more along the lines of an emotional reaction."

"So you want me to kiss you so you can find out if you can feel some kind of an emotional reaction from yourself?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"I don't know. Nothing, I guess..."

"Okay then here it goes," he says then leans his face toward me.

"Wait!" I exclaim. "You're not going to feel anything at all unless you're really into this kiss."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's gotta be sort of romantic. Put some kind of meaning behind it or something."

"You don't really want to kiss me do you?" he asks with a frown.

"I never said that," I say. "I do too want to kiss you Mannix."

"Okay then..."

"Okay..." There's a long pause, or at least it feels long, then suddenly Mannix leans back toward me again. THis time he puts his right hand onto my back and lifts my chin with his left index finger. His eyes stare deeply into mine and for some reason, it feels like he really wants this.

His lips finally touch mine and I now feel really nervous. I realize that this is my first real kiss. Mannix pulls away and stares at me with questioning eyes.

"What?" I ask, a little frightened.

"That was different," he replies/

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You ask too many questions."

"Well, what did you feel?"

"Nothin'."

"Nothing! Nothing at all?"

"I don't know," Mannix says then begins to walk away from me.

"Mannix what the hell?" I ask, jogging after him.

"What the hell what?" he questions, stopping when I catch up to him.

"Tell me what's up," I reply. "Don't just walk away like that."

"Do you really want to know what's up?" he asks.

"Yeah," I reply and kick a stone into the street, trying not to seem too anxious now.

"All right," he says. "Then tilt your head about fifty-five degrees toward the sky and tell me what you see." I roll my eyes.

"You're such a smart ass!" I exclaim with a laugh and playfully shove him.

"No," he says. "I'm serious, look up." I stare at him with question for a moment, then finally look up toward the sky. There isn't a single cloud above me and the sky is a light, but deep shade of blue.

"What am I supposed to be seeing exactly?" I ask, my gaze still at the sky.

"This," Mannix says, then his lips meet mine again. I never thought that something so simple as a kiss on the lips could make me feel as though someone had blown a bunch of bubbles inside of my stomach. Is this what it's like to feel?

My fingertips begin to tingle as Mannix finally pulls away from me. He slowly runs his tongue over his lips, his eyes never leaving my face. He then leans toward me for a third time.

He lightly places his palms on my cheeks and kisses me more roughly than before. I put my hands on his back and before I know it, I'm being pressed against the wall of the high school, making out with my best friend.

"Oh baby, I bet that tastes good!" I hear someone shout. Mannix pulls away in embarrassment. We spend the next minute just staring at eachother. I don't think either of us even know what the hell just happened.