Just The Two Of Us

20. Maze

There are no easy paths in this life. You've gotta persevere through it all, the good and the bad. Going through this corn maze had reminded you that life is about the journey. There will always be false starts and missed opportunities. Something that once seemed promising can turn out to be a dead end.

The day after Halloween, you received a call from Walter Bridge's assistant notifying you that you didn't qualify for the final three to be a part of the internship program for Lighthouse Bridge Books Co. Of course, you had hoped your piece was good enough to get your spot in the final three but unfortunately, it wasn't.

The news had bummed you out, it felt like for once you were doing something with your life. There was a purpose, a sense of direction. You knew your piece was good, no it was great. You had put your whole back into it. "How could they not deem it worthy enough?" you thought to yourself.

You had heard your name being called out from behind the walls of the maze. While you were following the voice, you kept getting caught in a few dead ends. Like your real-world problems, it was similar to this maze. You were looking at this maze as a problem that needed to be solved. Rather than just savoring the moment and looking for a solution, you were overwhelmed as to where to go and what to do. There are a lot of twists and turns but as much as it may seem daunting there was always a way out.

Following the voice had led you right to the exit.

"There you are, my gorgeous girl. I gotta put a leash on you next time." Phillip mumbled into your ear as he reached an arm around you.

"Well... wouldn't you like that." You teased him.

Phillip took a step back. "Hmph? I think YOU would like that."

When you had told Phillip the news about the internship, it was clear that his heart broke for you. He genuinely cared, what mattered to you, mattered to him. Just him being there for you was all that you needed to feel better. It was Phillip's idea to get you out and about, as a way to distract you from feeling upset. He was constantly keeping you busy in other ways and it was most definitely doing the job.

It happened every so often that you would catch yourself admiring Phillip, not just for his looks but admiring the kind of person he was. He isn't always the nicest person to the people around him, but he's always kind to you. Always treated with the utmost respect, this man-made you feel like you were on the moon.

The constant butterflies in your stomach were a sign of the fact you were falling deep for Phillip. You forgot what being in love felt like but this felt better than anything you've experienced before.

"You're doing that thing again," Phillip said placing a gentle kiss on the top of your head.

For what felt like forever you finally felt yourself blink. "I don't think I know what you're talking about." You aimed to kiss Phillip on the lips.

"UGH! There you guys are. We have been looking all over for you. Where the hell were you guys?" Lexie stomped over a stack of hay.

You could hear Phillip stifle a laugh standing clear of Lexie's path. "This isn't funny you big oaf!" Lexie stood on her tippy toes to face Phillip. You had laughed at that comment because she wasn't wrong.

"Alright! I think it's time we head on out of here? Hm? This was fun and all but if I trip over another stack of hay I'm going to lose my mind." Amelia went to place her hands on lexie's shoulders to plant her feet back on the ground.

It wasn't for very long Amelia had gone ghost on you guys. A few days after Halloween she texted the group chat apologizing for her behavior and asked to meet up that same week to give a formal apology in person. Lexie only obliged because Amelia had offered to take us out to brunch with bottomless mimosas.