"I need to see you," her simple message popped up on my phone the next Sunday. It had only been a week since I'd last seen her, but it felt like an eternity. Sure, we had messaged each other plenty throughout the week. But, it wasn't the same as seeing her in person.
"When?" Normally, a text like that would put me on edge, instantly activating my anxiety. But, if she had been feeling anything like I had for the past 7 days, I knew what the words really meant. At least, I hoped they did.
"I was thinking...we could meet at Evergreen Flats...tomorrow morning...after school drop-off?"
I smiled to myself reading it. I couldn't help it. The ellipses meant she was nervous, insecure, which, in this case, I found endearing.
"Sounds good. See you then. :)"
I was both excited and nervous the next morning as I went through my regular routine of getting my youngest ready for school. For once, I was thankful for the traffic. Otherwise, I probably would have been speeding too much for my own good, eager to see my friend. I still somehow managed to be 5 minutes ahead of schedule, which worked out perfectly. I hated to keep anyone waiting, but especially of all her. I pulled my SUV in next to her minivan underneath the umbrella of pines. She motioned for me to roll my window down.
"Hi," I smiled, my voice softening without me meaning for it to. I felt less silly when I noticed hers do the same when she replied.
"Do you...want to come sit with me for a while?" she asked shyly.
Just when I thought she couldn't, she kept finding new ways to be more adorable.
I said "ok" and climbed out of my vehicle and into her passenger seat.
"Thanks for meeting me." Her voice and her eyes were both soft. I was especially a sucker when she did that thing with her eyes. It was hard to describe, but there was a puppy dog quality to it, hopeful, begging to be loved, in a way. It always got me, and I already felt like I could melt into a puddle just looking into those blue eyes.
"Of course," my own voice came out quieter than I had expected. The atmosphere in the van felt...cautious, on both our parts. Which wasn't surprising, really. Up until recently, we'd both not been great about sharing our feelings, friendly or otherwise.
An awkward silence lingered in the air.
"I missed you," she finally admitted, forcing herself to look at me. Her words were so quiet now I could barely discern them. She looked as if she were on the verge of tears.
"I missed you too," I practically whispered, meaning every word. A single tear escaped the corner of one of her beautiful eyes. Instinctively, I reached out to brush it away, but stopped short. She caught my wrist gently in her own small hand before I could withdraw all the way.