"K-I-S-S-I-N-G"

Callie received her first kiss from Vinnie, a boy she had been dating for a few weeks. She was 16 years old. They had gone to see a movie and now they were sitting in his car in her driveway. It was a dark and quiet summer night, slight humidity in the air. He opened the car door for her and walked her up to the back door of the house, lingering near the gate. Both nervously anticipated this moment, palms sweaty and heart beating fast. He kissed her and she felt warm and tingly all over, something she had never experienced before...and would never experience again. It was her first kiss and though it wasn't her last, it set the bar for how a first kiss with someone should be.

Two years later, Callie locks eyes with a guy at the grocery store. He has a great smile and a fit body. She can't tell how old he is, but she has a feeling he's older than her. Eye contact and smiles leads to a date. She discovers he is seven years her senior, had been in the military, and tells her he's from Michigan. For their first date, they go see a depressing Sally Field movie. They don't watch much of it though; they are too busy kissing. She is torn. She likes Eric, but he's not the best kisser. Still, she's optimistic that she can 'teach' him to be better and give him a chance. After the movie, they anticipate a romantic dinner at Steak N' Ale. It's Valentine's Day. Too crowded and too hungry, Callie and Eric opt for the lesser romantic ambiance of IHOP. The more he talks, the more socially inappropriate he seems to her. But she tries to be open-minded. After all, she has flaws too. The meal is decent. They head to the car. Smashing Pumpkins' "1979" is playing. He starts to kiss her. Except his idea of kissing involves licking her face. Callie feels like she's a cat in need of a cleaning. Where did this 'man' learn how to kiss? Or rather, has he ever kissed anyone before her? This marked the end of her interest and intrigue with Eric. He stalked her for a few weeks, even though she avoided him at all costs. Callie cringes whenever she hears "1979," which is sad because it's not the Pumpkins' fault.

Callie wasn't even in love with Vinnie or Eric. Nor was she in love with Drew when she kissed him seven years later. What was she thinking when she dated Drew?

When she was 20, she had an unexplainable kind of love thing for her friend Ted. She vaguely remembers kissing him. She had too much alcohol the first time they kissed and her memory is hazy. She remembers they were hanging out at her house after work; her birthday was around the corner. It was the best birthday present she received that week. It was something she wanted and never thought she'd get.

Callie liked winter. It was a season that agreed with her, especially when it came to her luck with guys. It wasn't as if they flocked to her or anything, but winter seemed to give her magical luck in this department. She met Rick through a friend. Even though he was a bit younger than her, Callie found herself very attracted to him. She wasn't sure what it was about him, as he really didn't fit her usual 'type.' Rick wasn't at all bookish, but he liked helping people. And he was kind, a gentleman. They talked, flirted, and laughed alot. She knew nothing would come of their spending time together; he didn't even live in the same zip code, the same state. But Callie wanted to kiss him. She kept trying to give him hints. Guys are rarely good with the hints though, so they drank more beer and she kept thinking hopeful thoughts. Early evening turned into late evening, late evening turned into the wee hours of the morning. They were standing in his kitchen and this time it was she that didn't pick up on the hints. And then she saw the magnet suggesting a kiss and kiss, he did. A kiss that blew her out of the kitchen.

Callie meets Adam. She doesn't like him at first, thinks they have absolutely nothing in common. She almost ignored his eagerness to get to know her more. Callie didn't have any particular interest in a guy who was so much younger, he could have been her brother. But he was kind and seemed sincere, maybe even a little lonely. They exchanged letters, what you might call an old fashioned kind of 'courtship' reminiscent of a different era. Even though they were very much opposite in some ways, Callie was drawn to him. She couldn't justify her growing feelings. The stronger her feelings, the more Adam confused the hell out of her. It seemed like he liked her too, but his actions didn't always show it. The first time they met, he gave her a warm hug and bought her a cup of coffee. The second time they met, he bought her a beer. The third time they met, he was about to leave the country. She got her wish, his kiss. Too bad it felt more like a parting gift. Bittersweet.

Callie goes out with the girls for some dancing and drinks. It's not even Christmas, yet she is amused when she spots a guy across the bar...."Santa Clause." Shortly after they make eye contact, Santa approaches Callie and they flirt while his sidekick "Rudolph" checks out Callie's friend, Amy. Callie teases "Santa" for his seasonal getup, laughing and chatting him up. As the hours pass, Callie goes to pay the tab and can't find the cash that had been in her pocket. Freaking out, Callie rechecks her pocket and desperately searches the dancefloor around her. The money is gone. Seeing Callie in distress, "Santa" rescues her by generously offering to pay the $50 bill. Callie is astounded. Perhaps "Santa" does indeed keep track of those who have been naughty and nice, as Callie has just been karmically rewarded. "Santa," "Rudolph," Amy, and Callie decide to go to another bar; they don't want the night to end yet. Callie and "Santa" dance. Callie is wearing his hat, they kiss. And kiss. And kiss. She has never felt so much lust in a kiss as she felt kissing "Santa Clause" that night.

Callie still has the hat.