Milburn

Part Three-Prancing Bunnies

Tass and Elliot had lived in the same town their whole lives. They went to the same schools and grew up together. However, this was the first time Tass had ever truly noticed Elliot.

Elliot was different than everybody else. She was innocent. The way she moved was like she was made of air. She didn't look like she belonged at the party, and it's her gentle awkwardness that first intrigued Tass. 

Tass peered at Elliot as she made her way through the wave of people towards her. When Tass finally made it to her, Elliot's back was faced towards her. However, Tass's nerves and quiet wonder of the girl prevented her from attempting to grab her attention. Instead Tass waited until Elliot turned around to notice her herself. 

"Oh," Elliot nearly jumped when she realized a girl was standing closely behind her. "I'm so sorry." Elliot was probably one of the few people in town who didn't gawk and shut down at the sight of Tass. Instead, she treated the encounter as though they were two strangers who accidentally ran into each other on a sidewalk.

Tass didn't say a word. Maybe she didn't know what to say, or maybe she was scared of messing up her chances with her. Elliot awkwardly grinned at Tass expecting her to say something, and when she didn't, she continued on the conversation herself.

"I-I'm Elliot." She held out her hand with a bright smile on her face.

"Tass," she shook Elliot's hand without breaking eye contact. Tass savored the moment. She tried to take it all in, so she could try and remember it. She had never felt this way before. The butterflies in her stomach, the speechlessness, it was all new to her. As Elliot's eyes gazed into hers, she felt heard. Like Elliot understood her. Like Elliot cared about her, truly cared.

Attempting to continue on the conversation, Tass searched for something to say. She then noticed the deep red rose still clinched in her one hand. 

"Oh, here," she said as she held out the rose for Elliot.

"Oh," Elliot said with a chuckle. "Thank you." She grabbed the rose and admired it for a quick second before looking back up at Tass. 

"Ha-have you tried the maze yet?" Tass asked, hoping she would say no.

"No, I...I haven't," she answered looking over at the hedge maze that was cradled by the darkness of the night.

Oliver was still hunting for his gazelle for the night when he noticed Tass running into the hedge maze with a girl. The two pranced across the yard like two bunnies in spring, joyous and unbothered. He never noticed Tass at the parties because she was always busy entertaining different boys who admired her, but now she was getting away from the parties chaos. His pondering moment was quickly interrupted by a new group of girls coming his way.

"Hey, Oliver! You wanna come dance with us?" a girl with curled, long blond hair dressed up as a slutty red riding hood asked. She puckered her big, red lipsticked lips as he looked over. He smirked as he walked over and glided his arm across her waist. He looked back at the maze one more time before he focused on the girl's body that was thrusted against his as they danced.