1987

"Ew, no, gross! I don't want to kiss you!" Tegan heard Sara's voice from across the playground, even amid the shrill screams and yells of the other children.

Tegan got off the swing she was on and started searching for Sara.

"Ew! Gross, no!"

Tegan saw her sister under the slide with a boy from her class, Eric. Tegan started running toward Sara- she felt the overwhelming need to protect her little Sasa.

She saw as the boy leaned forward and quickly pressed his lips against Sara's.

Sara pushed him back saying, "Ew, I said no! That's so gross!" She wiped her lips ferociously as the boy laughed and ran away.

Tegan finally reached Sara. "You alright, Sara?" she said, putting her hands on Sara's shoulders.

Sara kept wiping her lips. "Yeah, I'm fine."

A flare of anger swept through Tegan. She scowled. "Be right back, Sara." She said, her voice dark.

Tegan turned and started walking to the jungle gym, where Eric was bragging to his friends.

"Don't get in trouble, Tegan!" Sara called out to her.

"Hey, Eric!" Tegan shouted, ignoring her sister.

He turned around. "Yeah?"

"Why'd you kiss my sister?"

"Cause I wanted to! What are you gonna do about it?"

Tegan came to stand in front of Eric. His friends gathered around, eyes wide.

Tegan didn't answer, just pulled her fist back and punched Eric right in his mouth.

Eric immediately started crying, while the kids gathered around started laughing.

"Apologize to Sara!"

"No!"

Tegan raised her fist again threateningly.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry, Sara!" Eric yelled.

"Thank you." Tegan sniffed and walked away, back to where Sara was now on the bench, watching Tegan.

The rest of the kids gathered around Eric and his now bleeding mouth.

Tegan sat down on the bench next to Sara.

"Thanks, Tegan. " Sara said. "You're probably going to get in trouble, though." She said as Eric ran inside the school building.

Tegan shrugged. "Oh well. It was worth it. Did you see the way he cried?" she said excitedly.

Sara laughed. She seemed to realize something then, and frowned. "I'm sorry, Tegan."

Tegan looked at her, confused. "About what, Sasa?"

"I promised you I wouldn't kiss anyone but you." Sara looked down at her swinging feet that didn't quite touch the ground yet.

Tegan put her hand on top of Sara's. "Don't worry, Sara. Eric doesn't even count. And, I promise you I won't kiss anyone either."

Sara looked up at Tegan and grinned. "Just me, right?"

Tegan grinned back. "Just you, Sasa." She leaned forward and hugged her tightly.

They sat together in silence for a while, as the other kids ran and played and screamed on the playground.

"Uh-oh." Sara said. She pointed to the building where Tegan's teacher was coming out to the playground. "She looks mad, Tee."

Tegan just shrugged.

"Tegan Quin! In here, now!" the teacher called- more like screeched.

Tegan sighed and got off the bench. She turned to face her sister.

"I'll see you after school, Sara."

"Kay, Tee. Love you."

Tegan smiled. She leaned forward and kissed her sister's nose gently. "Love you too, Sasa." Tegan squeezed Sara's hand, and then turned and walked slowly towards the school building.

"Just you, Tegan!" Sara called after her.

Tegan turned and smiled, and Sara waved. Tegan returned the wave.

"Now, Tegan!"

Sara winced at the shrill tone of the teacher's voice.

She watched Tegan walk into the building and when she was out of sight, Sara looked back at her swinging feet, a smile on her lips, the lips she had promised to Tegan.