Runaway

Flowers lay on my seat.

They're pretty. Pink carnations, my favorite flower. Avery's are red anemones, I don't know why, I think there are other much prettier flowers.

"Do you like them? You keep staring at them, not saying anything. Also, I planned a picnic for us at the park nearby, we can chill there." He starts up the car, pulls up directions and starts driving.

"Oh, yeah, I love them. Thank you, Avery." I bury my face into them, revel in the aromatic smell. Something sharp pricks my chin, it's a card tucked inside the bouquet of flowers. I glance at Avery, then back at the card.

I want to hold your hand, laugh with you, walk next to you, snuggle on the couch, look into your eyes, talk about everything, & kiss your face every damn day. I close the card, snort at the cheesy message.

   "What're you laughing at?" He slows down to park, I hand him the card, still giggling to myself. His eyes glaze over the text. "I- Must've forgotten to take out the card attached. Damn, that's so cliché." He covers his bright pink face, which makes me laugh more.

We set the blanket down and sit, I keep the carnations lying on my lap.

   "Do you want to go for a walk or eat first? I realized I didn't even ask you if you were okay with a picnic date, ah—not a date, or—uh, fuck." Avery's so embarrassed, can't help but laugh at him.

   "It's alright Avery, I guess this is a date, technically. Unless you'd like it to be called something else?" A smile appears on his face.

   "Well, then, it's a date. Look over there, it's a dog." I look in the direction he's pointing, it's a big brown dog, a long white streak of fur runs down its neck and belly. "Brown Border Collie, the ones that herd sheep and stuff. Heard they make great family dogs, I considered getting one."

   "Why don't you? Also, you know the weirdest shit, Avery." Avery's a know-it-all, places top of the class each year, and knows the answer to any random question you throw at him.

   "It might be too much work for me to take care of it alone, and you know how my old man is with animals." Avery's dad is a germaphobe, thinks dogs and animals in general are dirty. He's a "proper" man, if you can call it that. "I'll risk a lecture with him, though, if you'll help me take care of it?"

   "You're kidding, right? I mean, I could, but I'll have to leave the house a lot... Don't know if Dad would be okay with that." I fiddle with the plastic wrapped around the carnations, look up to see the brown and white dog running at us. Behind it, a girl around our age, is chasing the dog.

   "Cooper! Gosh darn it, come back here! Mom's gonna get me in so much trouble if you run away!" The dog charges straight into Avery's chest, covering his face with doggie licks. The girl catches up, pulling the dog away from Avery. "Ah, I'm so sorry! Cooper's a little temperamental, I don't know why. Again, sorry to bother you and your girlfriend!" She runs off, lecturing Cooper.

   "Girlfriend, hey? Doesn't sound too bad, we'd make a great couple, you know." He leans toward me, "What do you think? Interested in dating me now?"

I give him a kiss on the cheek. "Maybe."