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Pulling up the truck, I’m not going to give her time to think. I undo my seat belt and then hers.
“Come on, let’s go, and try to be quiet, will you? No tantrums.”
“Who says I’m even getting out of the truck? Bold of you to assume you can tell me what to do.” She is hanging on to this toughness for as long as she can.
“No problem. You can stay here by yourself in the dark. I mean, there shouldn’t be any danger, really.”
“You won’t let me walk home on my own but now you bring me out into the forest in the dark and are prepared to leave me by myself? Xavier will kill you when he finds out!” Her voice is elevating, and I can see she is annoyed at me.
“I’m pretty damn scared of your brother, so you better come with me then.” Jumping out, I know she will follow as I start to walk a few steps from the truck. I hear the click of the door opening and then slamming. In an instant, she is right beside me.
“So mad at you right now. You should be thankful you’re leaving town in a few days, so you won’t have to put up with me making you pay for your little stunt tonight.”
“Mmhmm.” I just agree and keep walking.
The noises of the night start to quieten Nat down as she takes them in instead of ranting at me. I can hear her breathing but that’s about it. I feel her closeness to me, though. It’s like an invisible energy sparking between us.
Taking two steps around the big old rock, I hear Nat gasp and know that she is in awe of the sight before her.
“Jordan,” she whispers.
“Magical, isn’t it?” We’re both just standing still and taking in the beautiful view in front of us.
A pond surrounded by some smaller foliage on the edge, reeds softly flapping in the very gentle breeze creating the rustling noise. The moonlight shimmering on the water through the gap in the tree canopy above us. But it’s the glow of the fireflies all around that takes our breath away.
“How did you know this was here?” She is mesmerized and can only manage a whisper now.
“My grandfather brought me up here one night when I was around ten years old. It was after I had been begging my parents to let me play football and they flat-out refused because I was too young and it’s such a violent game—a few alternatives of chess or science club were offered. I was devastated so he took me for a drive to cheer me up and we ended up here. Then for the next five years, we would come for drives up here every so often. That was until he passed away. He got hit by a stray piece of lumber on his work site and they couldn’t do anything for him. I’ve still been coming here whenever I need to clear my head and find some peace.”
Turning, I look straight at her. “The way you were wound so tight tonight, I thought it might help you. And to be honest, there is a lot going on in my head too, so hopefully it will help us both.” Taking off my jacket, I lay it on a small grass clearing beside the pond.
“Come, sit down.” I reach out for her hand.
Hesitating, but only for a moment, she reaches out to me.
Although my jacket is big, it still means we are pretty close, both trying to fit on it. Trying not to be obvious, Nat has placed her backside right on the edge to keep her distance from me.
“Hang on a minute, I’ll be back. Just grabbing something from the truck.” I jump up and jog back to the driver’s side, opening the door and grabbing the blanket that’s behind my seat.
I can hear her calling out for me quietly. I know she’ll hate being there on her own, but I’m already on my way back.
“Here, let’s use this instead, so you don’t have to worry about getting Jordan germs from being too close to me.”
“Thank you.” She’s wriggling her butt onto the blanket now. “And it’s not like that at all and you know it.” She casts her focus out at the twinkling lights in front of us.
“Then how is it, Nat? You’ve been avoiding me for months. Xavier is my best friend, but I thought we were friends too. Why won’t you talk to me?” I want her to look at me, but I know she won’t.
A few seconds pass and I’m about to continue when she whispers, “Because you kissed me.” My chest tightens and I hope we’re finally going to talk about that night.
“And?”
Again, she hesitates, then shocking the hell out of me, she turns to look me straight in the eye. “And I liked it way too much.” She draws her knees up to her body, wrapping her arms around them like a safety net.
Her lips roll over the top of one another, now wet and glistening in the moonlight. Just perfect. I know she’s waiting for my response in words, but I can’t help it, that’s the last thing from my mind. I’m fighting with the right thing to do. All I want is to kiss her again, hard and meaningful, so she will more than like it.
“That’s a problem because…?” I don’t seem to be able to put many words together.
“You’re Xavier’s best friend and you are about to leave. Your life will never be the same.” She turns her head to look back out into the forest and away from the intensity of the moment.
