seemed unaware of my presence on our walk.
Finally, we reached the clearing. It should have seemed beautiful with the full moon’s light filling it and all of the stars above but the scenery meant nothing compared to him. I watched him walk slowly into the open and sit on the ground.
“You can come and sit too, if you’d like.” I didn’t move, didn’t even breathe. “I know you’re there, Brittany. Come here . . . please?” His voice was thick with something that sounded like fear. Fear that I would leave?
I walked over slowly, my heart pounding, my whole body trembling, until I was by his side. He didn’t look at me but held his hand up so I took it and let him pull me down beside him. He didn’t let go of my hand so I don’t pull away as we sit in the silence together. His grip on my hand grew tighter and I wondered if it’s for comfort or to sure I do not leave.
“Why did you follow me here?” Even in the silence I strained to hear him. Not knowing what to say, I hesitated and he misunderstood. “I’m not mad. I just want to know.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” It was the truth, or at least part of it.
“What made you think something was wrong?” His voice was defensive, still hiding
“You were wearing that fake smile for one and you told that girl, who was very pretty by the way, that you weren’t interested.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my voice as I said the last part.
He was looking at me with an expression somewhere between amusement and wonder as he said, “Jealous?”
“No!” I pushed at his shoulder but couldn’t keep the blush from staining my cheeks.
“Am I that easy for you to read?”
I didn’t know what to say so I stared into the eyes that captured my heart at first sight.
He looked shyly then asked, “How long have we been friends?”
“A year.”
“You know how long I’ve wanted to be more?” He wouldn’t look at me; only rub his thumb across my knuckles.
“H-how long?” small and breathy, a voice that represents the person.
“Since I met you.”
“Really?” Disbelief colored my tones. “I have, too.”
“You have?” His face lit up but couldn’t hide the underlying doubt.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why didn’t you?” I was still unsure what to say.
He looked down. “I tried. I’ve been trying all day. Giving you little hints but you never picked up on them you just got upset so I let it go.”
Finally, we reached the clearing. It should have seemed beautiful with the full moon’s light filling it and all of the stars above but the scenery meant nothing compared to him. I watched him walk slowly into the open and sit on the ground.
“You can come and sit too, if you’d like.” I didn’t move, didn’t even breathe. “I know you’re there, Brittany. Come here . . . please?” His voice was thick with something that sounded like fear. Fear that I would leave?
I walked over slowly, my heart pounding, my whole body trembling, until I was by his side. He didn’t look at me but held his hand up so I took it and let him pull me down beside him. He didn’t let go of my hand so I don’t pull away as we sit in the silence together. His grip on my hand grew tighter and I wondered if it’s for comfort or to sure I do not leave.
“Why did you follow me here?” Even in the silence I strained to hear him. Not knowing what to say, I hesitated and he misunderstood. “I’m not mad. I just want to know.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” It was the truth, or at least part of it.
“What made you think something was wrong?” His voice was defensive, still hiding
“You were wearing that fake smile for one and you told that girl, who was very pretty by the way, that you weren’t interested.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my voice as I said the last part.
He was looking at me with an expression somewhere between amusement and wonder as he said, “Jealous?”
“No!” I pushed at his shoulder but couldn’t keep the blush from staining my cheeks.
“Am I that easy for you to read?”
I didn’t know what to say so I stared into the eyes that captured my heart at first sight.
He looked shyly then asked, “How long have we been friends?”
“A year.”
“You know how long I’ve wanted to be more?” He wouldn’t look at me; only rub his thumb across my knuckles.
“H-how long?” small and breathy, a voice that represents the person.
“Since I met you.”
“Really?” Disbelief colored my tones. “I have, too.”
“You have?” His face lit up but couldn’t hide the underlying doubt.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why didn’t you?” I was still unsure what to say.
He looked down. “I tried. I’ve been trying all day. Giving you little hints but you never picked up on them you just got upset so I let it go.”
