Short Stories

Full Moon

Katie walked on to Cory's driveway. She stepped onto the pavement. She followed it up to the door and walked in.

"Hey, Cory. Come on. We're doing something other than sit around here tonight." Katie yelled as she passed his mother, giving her a smile.

Katie stood outside of Cory's room. "You dressed?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He walked over to the door and opened it, moving out of the way for her to step in. "Sorry about the mess. Then again why didn't you just walk in?"

"I don't know. Maybe because it's your bedroom, and you felt like going shirtless? You know how that is awkward for me." Katie looked down, and slightly blushed at the thought. "Anyway..." Katie glanced at what he was wearing: his jacket, jeans, and his tennis shoes. "We are going into the woods. Let's go." Katie grabbed his hand and led him through the house to the door.

"Where are we going and why can't we do it tomorrow?" Cory stepped outside before her.

Closing the door behind her Katie responded. "If we don't go now then we would have to wait an entire month to do this, and you'll see when we get there." Katie started walking to the side of the woods. Cory sighed.

"Dammit. Why do I have to care about you?" He followed Katie, shoving his hands into his jacket pocket.

"Because you love me!" Katie turned and smiled.

They walked for about 10 minutes in the direction of Katie's house.

"Why would we have to wait an entire month to do this?" Cory made his way to her side trying to get a good look at her face, because she seemed to be paying attention to the sky more than her surroundings.

Cory waved a hand in front of her face. "Hello? Cory to Katie?"

Katie giggled and grabbed his hand. "The night sky is just so pretty."

Cory looked around and realized how dark it was. The growing moon and stars illuminating the tops of the trees. "Oh."

They finally made it from that section of the woods to Katie's dirt driveway. Cory noticed that both of the vehicles that are normally parked beside of the house were gone.

"Hey, are you home alone or something?"

Katie stopped dead in her tracks. She looked forward into the woods then back at the house. "They all went home to Georgia to see the family."

"And you didn't want to go?"

"I feel like a failure to them. I can't face them feeling like that. So I stayed here." She faced downward.

Cory slowly grabbed her hand. Her eyes moved up to meet his. 

"Katie you are not a failure. You are an amazing person. I've told you so many times."

Katie's eyes watered. She took a deep breath, wiped her eyes, and looked at him.

"I know. I'm sorry I said anything. Can we just go?"

Cory pulled her into a hug. "Not until you give me a hug."

Katie does as she is told and put her arms around him. Cory held her for a few seconds then lets her go.

Katie nodded and led him once more. They made their way through the woods. Cory kept a hold of her hand. They walked into a clearing just big enough to catch the full moons glow.

"I wanted to show you this. I come here and watch the stars on the new moon and sit in the moonlight on full moons. Reminds me of you. I don't know why though." Katie pulled him in to the middle of the open space, then looked up at the sky again.

"I love it, Katie. Almost as much as I love you." Cory pulled her toward him, and rested his hands on her hips.

Katie giggled and put her arms on his shoulders. She moved herself from side to side. The two swayed in the blue light shining from the sky.

Cory put his forehead on hers, and blushed. Katie smiled and lightly laughed.

"Nervous about something?"

"No. No I'm not"

"Then do whatever you were going to--"

Cory leaned in and kissed her before she could finish her sentence. 

"I love you, Katie"

"I love you too, Cory."