Sunflower

3

unknown: hey its sunny

marker😼: yo

marker😼: do you wanna meet up today?

marker😼: like for the project and stuff

sun🌞: yea that sounds good

sun🌞: where should we meet

marker😼: my place ?

sun🌞: sure send the addy :D

marker😼:👌

marker😼: chat attachment

--

Oh? He's actually not that far, makes my job easier though. What project is this again? I still haven't checked my emails..

--

"knock knock bitch, I'm here." The brown door in front of me quickly opened to a disheveled looking Mark.

"Good, you're here!" He exclaims before dragging me inside and shutting the door. "This way." He gestures after himself and I promptly follow. There sure are a lot of photos everywhere.

He sits on his couch and so I do too. "So, how've you been" He asks.

"Um, well I'd say the same."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't know what you want me to say, but like as per usual?" I shrug.

"You-'", "I've been good."

"uh, nice." I respond. So this is going nowhere I see. "About the project, could you fill me in on what we're exactly doing?" I ask.

With a scratch of his head, he says, "Oh, right. We just have to do a simple book report, English class is always easy."

"Oh perfect then! What book?"

"Well, that's up to us decide. So what do you like to read usually?"

"Eh, no particular genre. What about you?" I ask.

"Same here. We could do a well known one like the Giver or some shit. Most people read that sometime in school, so it should be easy enough to do." He suggests.

"You won't find me complaining! The less work I have to do the better."

"Cool, then it's settled. I can send you the layout the teacher used in the example. As long as we follow that, we shouldn't run into any problems."

"Sure, I'll do the first half of the slides. You can do the rest, sound good?" I ask.

"Uh, yea."

"Great! Glad we had this talk. I don't want to overstay my welcome, so I'll take my leave now."

"Er- wait!" Before I can get up, Mark grabs onto the fabric of my shirt and pulls me closer to him. "Don't go yet." He asks. Not knowing how to respond, I innocently look up at him. "..."

"Oh! Sorry!" He quickly lets go of me and I notice a slight tint of red appear on his cheeks.

"You're fine! I just didn't expect it, is all." It's just like when we were in high school. Although we used to be a lot more comfortable with each other back then.

"I just, what's new with you?" He questions.

"Not much."

"Come on, give me a real answer. Going to college has to make things at least a little different." He gives a look.

"Well I mean I get out of the house more?" He doesn't answer. "Fine, things have been freeing. I can do whatever I want with no restrictions for the first time." I then grab the pillow next to me, "How's that?" I ask while throwing the pillow right in his face. My aim is impeccable.

He lightly chuckles, "Good enough I suppose."

"Good","Do you still make music?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm actually gonna major in it."

"Wait really!?"

"No jokes here."

"That's so cool! I've always been left in awe at your work. I'm glad you decided to keep going with it."

"I just couldn't see myself being happy doing anything else." He says.

"I see that in you. You truly know what you're meant to do with your life."

"What are you studying?" Mark asks.

"I don't really know. I've got some psych classes, language ones, others, and of course all the basics."

"Still haven't figured it out yet?"

"Nope. not even close." I respond.

"You know you could probably do whatever you wanted. You're weirdly good at everything you do." He says.

"Thanks", I look down at my fidgeting hands, "I'll know someday." I give a small smile.

--

My time spent with Mark continued for a while longer before I really left, and it felt so nice to catch up with him. Even his mom says she misses me, so I've definitely got to visit her soon! She makes the most delicious desserts I've ever had. I'll never taste something as decadent as her chocolate cake~

I wonder what changed? Mark is sweet as always, but it feels like he's trying to act like how things once were. Before seeing him recently, I really thought he wanted nothing to do with me. It's a little confusing, but I'm glad we can spend time together again. I just wish he'd open up to me more. I wanna be there for him, as a friend.