Memory Documentation

chapter twenty one | documenting two kids in love

That is, until Cooper had to open his fat mouth.

I should have expected it. For the finale move, I had to bring Darcy down into a dip. As I lowered her slowly into the position, Cooper's voice rang out from behind us, "Now, kiss!"

Goddamn it.

To make things worse, Bryson followed him with a loud whoop of his own. "Do it! Kiss!"

My face was ready to go up in flames as the two idiots began to chant relentlessly, pairing each word with a pound to the table. "Kiss, kiss, kiss!"

My eyes were wide. So were Darcy's. We were frozen in position.

But I could do it. I could kiss her right now and let everyone know exactly what was going on here. But as I stared down at Darcy, I saw it clear as day – the panic and indecision.

Her face made the decision for me. The will from a moment ago slithered back into the shadows of my heart and I straightened, bringing Darcy with me until she stood stable on her two feet. Then I stepped back.

"Knock it off, guys!" I shouted, turning to the guys where they sat at a beat up wooden table. My chest tightened as I added, "Not going to happen. You know it's not like that."

"Yeah, yeah," Bryson said with a wave of his hand. Philip slapped both of their shoulders wordlessly.

"I-I think that's enough for today," I heard Darcy say. "We can practice again maybe this weekend."

I couldn't look at her as I sat down at the table, watching the guys pack up their homework and collect their trash. Marissa came to stand behind Philip, and my lips tightened. It wasn't hard to catch the suggestive faces Marissa gives Darcy sometimes when we're together, but today there was none of that. No sign that Darcy had told her privately what happened on our trip. Nobody seemed to know. And maybe, it was going to stay that way.

I collected my things with the rest of them, avoiding Darcy's gaze as I did. Maybe it's too early to talk about it. Or maybe, this thing between us wasn't going anywhere at all. As we headed towards the exit, the slightest brush of Darcy's hand against mine as I walked past her made me freeze.

Oh.

Marissa turned to us, using her foot to prop the door open. "You guys coming?"

"I..."

Again, there it was. The faintest touch, Darcy's shoulder against mine.

"I left some of my mom's containers at Darcy's apartment, and she asked me to grab them for her," I answered. "You all go ahead. We'll see ya in the morning."

Marissa looked between us for a beat, the quirk of a smile turning sly as she nodded and said, "All right. Keep warm, you two."

And then, we were alone. The weight was back. None of us spoke for a moment. That moment turned long, then excruciatingly awkward. To make it more awkward, I turned to her and said, "So..."

"So..." Darcy echoed. She turned to face me, too, but kept her head down. She played with a strand of her hair, just like she would if she had a braid on. A strong, sharp wind rose up suddenly, pounding into us and dousing us with air so cold it felt like a bucket of water had been thrown over us. "Oh, God! Where's my jacket?" Darcy cried, grabbing at her arms for warmth.

I whirled around and jogged over to the table where her puffer jacket had been twisted around the strands of her backpack. "Here, put it on."

"Should've worn a different outfit today," she said as she slipped on the jacket I held in position for her.