Querencia

Chapter Seven

"Why are we back on the roof?" Ariella asks as we settle on a blanket.

The past couple of months have been heaven; I've never felt more connected to myself, more open, and more comfortable. Ariella and I spent most days together, watching movies, going to the mall, going to the park, going on simple dates, sometimes baking with my mom, and even wood chopping contests with my dad. She fit right into the family.

We start school tomorrow and my mind is plagued with thoughts, ideas, and questions of the future. My brain has been tangled for weeks and I know I need her help to clear it up.

"We started the summer here, seems fitting to end it here." I say pulling her in between my legs so we faced the same way, towards the sunset. I wrapped my arms around her waist, resting my head on her shoulder, staring out at the sunset with a sigh.

"What's been on your mind Lee?"

"What's gonna happen?"

She turns around with furrowed brows, we're now facing each other sitting criss-cross. "What do you mean?"

I sigh "I mean what's gonna happen in the future? This summer with you has been amazing and I never want this feeling to end. But will responsibilities get in the way? Will our different status's separate us? Will our futures pull us in different directions? Hell, I don't even know what I want to be. Will we always feel this way or will it just fizzle out? Will-"

"Okay okay okay." She cuts off my fast paced rambling.

"First of all I know we'll always make time for each other, and status means nothing to me. As for the future we'll see what happens, though I seriously doubt this feeling will do anything but grow. Second of all, where is this coming from?"

"My brain" I chuckle.

She pokes my forehead "You overthink too much."

"I wish I could stop, be the go with the flow kind of girl like you. This summer was the closest I could get but with this day approaching my thoughts were hard to ignore."

"What's it like?"

"Overthinking?"

She nods curiously.

"Uh well...It feels like...cotton. Like cotton is stuffed in every crack and crevice in my head. And glue fills every air space. The thoughts go by so fast I can't get it out and I don't know what started it, and it's not like it'll end anytime soon. So most of the time I just sit there with a heavy head."

I snap my eyes from the sky where I had zoned out and back to her face, only to see her eyes filled with worry.

"That seems uncomfortable."

I chuckle. "It is." I pull her closer by her legs "But luckily I can distract myself."

She giggles before raising a perfect eyebrow "Like your hobbies."

I groan with a smile "Don't expose me like that."

"So where do you get this over-thinking habit from?"

"Um my mom, she has the talent of planning for everything, so I started always thinking ahead. At some point I couldn't stop."

She smiles "You're mom's amazing. So is your dad."

I grin to myself at the thought of my parents "Yeah I guess I lucked out in the parent department."

"Lucked out? More like won. You're close with not just one but both. Not to mention they're sweet, understanding, and above all accepting of not only who you are but also accepting of me. They treat me like family."