When we left, Willow declared I was a poet. After how I responded to her in the diner she was speechless and we carried on as if it didn't happen.
I hadn't meant to dive in so heartfelt. It had come out all at once and it took a lot to figure out if I was being honest or not. Willow made me feel different in an exhilarating way, yet I refrained from getting too close. Waiting for it all to collapse and backfire. I was waiting for something to go wrong. That way I would just learn my lesson and remind myself shit like that didn't exist.
Although, she was making me question my original assumptions.
"Do you think today was productive for you?" She asked peering up at me as we began to walk toward the apartments. Luckily, the location of the diner was convenient.
I sighed, "Yeah, it just sucked we couldn't eat any icecream."
We walked along the crosswalk, which told me we were about twenty minutes away from Meadow Hills on foot.
"Where would you like me to tutor you next time," she said without looking at me, while trying not to brush her hand against mine.
There was a light breeze blowing and her long, pretty, dark hair moved in the wind at her waist. All I ever found myself wanting do when I saw it was run my fingers through every strand.
Further up ahead, I saw a bench and a thought came to mind. "If the weather's nice, how about the park."
"What if it's not?" A light smile graced her lips and I realized how content Willow was just walking with me. Easy to please it seemed.
I scratched the back of my neck bashfully, "My place?"
"Sure," she was looking around as if seeing the world for the second time around her. I couldn't help but question it.
"Do you not get out a lot or....?" The question hung in the air briefly before she answered.
Her head leaned up slightly to look at me, "Yeah, but it's not just that. Sometimes I forget to appreciate my surroundings sometimes and wish I did more often."
Both chocolate-colored eyes swirled and I tried not to get lost in them. Not expecting such a well thought out response, "I'm getting tree-hugger vibes from you," I joked.
A giggle left her parted lips and I couldn't help but awe at the sound.
"I'm not a tree-hugger. Think about it, have you ever really looked around and thought, wow."
When I started thinking about it, the only being I really marveled at since arriving in Virginia was her. "In terms of nature, no. But I see your point. Not many people really pay attention to it."
"Why do you think that is?" A frown formed in between her eyebrows with curiosity.
My answer took some time, "There could be many reasons. Trees don't scream, hey it's me!" I flailed my arms.
It earned a laugh from Willow and she pushed me playfully, "I'm being serious," she said while still laughing and tried to recover.
We had stopped when I did that yet continued walking. "Well, if you think about it; trees, grass, etcetera, it's all apart of everyday life. We don't notice it because it's always there. That's why there's so many organizations putting up fights to save it all. That and they're essential to life."
The apartments came to view and I noticed a taxi leave. Two people left and they were headed straight toward the entrance of Meadow Hills.
"Who are they?" I heard beside me.
Recognition flooded me when I squinted and realized they were the infamous couple, Antonio and Alyssa.
Her curly locks were pinned in a large bun revealing her distinct features. Tony's hair stayed unruly. They didn't catch sight of Willow and I.
"Alyssa... Tony!" I called in their direction. Both of them wore matching baseball tees.
The couple's heads whipped in our direction and I waved my hand to usher them to us. "Over here!"
I strided with Willow next to me trying to keep up. Tony and Alyssa also waved and began to meet us in the middle where a stop sign resided.
"I wonder why they're here," Willow uttered in puzzlement.
"Who knows with them," I remarked.
Wind blew in our direction and leaves trailed on the ground noisily. Crunches were heard right in front of me when I saw both of them had caught up to us.
"What are you two doin' here?" I asked in wonder.
"I need your help... Actually, we could use both of you for help." Tony didn't direct it toward me but I noticed his underlying tone was pissed off.
He gestured between Wilow and I which struck my interest, "For what?"
"Blake Carson, I'm sure you've heard of him, made a bet with me over a kickball match and I need two more players...." He said suggestively and hardly rushed.
Hearing his name held my attention, "What makes you think I'm going to participate in a game with Blake Carson?"
Tony smirked, "He's our competitor. And don't think I haven't heard the shit he's been mentionin' about her." His hand briefly aimed at Willow, "Long story short, you and him have serious beef, don't think he's going to stop with a bus incident."
I knew he was helping his case to convince me and play out of spite. But all it managed to do was agitate me. "This is a bad idea Antonio, he'll just provoke me the whole time."
Willow was quiet until hearing that, "Do it."
"What?" I asked incredously, "I figured you'd be the one to stop me."
"As far as he knows, he's playing an average game of kickball. It'll only provoke him if you don't give him the satisfaction of your reaction," she reasoned.
"She's right ya' know," Alyssa piped up. "Dumb ass Carson will probably be so fed up with pissin' you off he'll lose the game."
Tony rolled his eyes, talking to no one in particular, "We're wasting precious time here. And we're looking too far into this. It's a kickball game for God's sake. One I refuse to lose by the way."
I sighed in acquiescence, "Fine, but what exactly did you use as incentive for this bet?"
He remained silent.
I gestured for Alyssa to continue feeling my frustration start to grow.
She exhaled loudly after giving him a look of disapproval then gazed back at me, "He agreed for you to play belly-up with Blake for a whole minute."
My eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement, "What the actual fuck is belly-up?" I stared intently at Antonio waiting for an explanation.
Willow followed up with, "Belly-up is where a person has free reign to kiss whoever you're with while you're in the room."
I felt my temper start to rise, "You do realize he suspects I like Willow and will try to do this out of spite, right?"
Tony nodded sheepishly, "I'm sorry man. The guy pissed me off and wasn't satisfied until I mentioned you."
Willow suddenly stood in front of me, "Why would he think that?"
"When we had a verbal altercation on the bus, he may have mentioned something about you and I may have played into it by giving him an honorable fuck you," I never reached her eyes due to embarrassment.
Willow seemed slightly angry at this. "What does he see me as? Some kind of cookie he gets in exchange for taunting you?" She spluttered out infuriated at this.
"The game starts in fifteen minutes, and unless you w-"
"We're going," Willow stated stubbornly.
Shocked at this I shot her an inquisitive look. My chest swelled in pride at her boldness and it was quite the turn-on observing how riled up it got her.
"You stuck up for me. I thank you for that Ace and I also plan on winning. He won't be humiliating you or me. Besides, kissing someone like him would be-..." She grimaced. "Ew."
I smiled down at her chuckling, "Let's go." Nonchalantly, I wrapped my left arm around her as we walked. She didn't expect this and jumped at the abrupt gesture. Both brown eyes met mine sweetly. I'd never grow tired of it.
Alyssa watched in awe and smirked with a knowing look. "Thank God," Tony uttered, "We're already five short on the team."
Him and Alyssa clasped hands and walked alongside us.
It struck curiosity when he said this, "Shouldn't we change? How far away is this place anyway?"
He waved me off, "Don't worry about it ese. What you have on is fine and I have someone coming to pick us up."
"But didn't you just arrive in a taxi?"
Tony chuckled, "You ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn't answer many of them."
"Touché," and I immediately shut up.
A black Suburban with mulitple mud splatters neared the sidewalk, as it did, the window slid down. Red hair came into my line of vision. Her makeup painted face flooded into sight.
The first girl I had spoken to on the bus during my first day of school.
"Geena."