The Summer I Met Her (GirlxGirl)

30- Girl Crush

I trudged through the knee-length grass close behind her, struggling to keep up with Jay at the same time as my story. "So basically I smack him on the back over and over, and of course he coughs up the ribbon, but the idiot..." I nearly tripped over myself beneath the shade of the trees. Jay caught me by the arm wordlessly. "Thanks. So the idiot starts chewing faster..." I continue on without missing a beat.

I stopped talking as we reached an unfamiliar clearing. "Wait where are we..?"

Jay laughed. "I was wondering how long it would take you to notice."

"I mean yeah I'm no explorer but I know this isn't our usual way." I stared at her with a blank expression, my hands on my hips.

"You'd be right." she nodded once with a glint in her eye.

I squinted suspiciously. "...What is it? I'm not shooting cans again am I?"

She nodded toward the brush in front of us. "Just walk through and you'll see."

I hesitated, considering the possibility of spiders, but I did.

Before I was done pushing through I stopped speechless in my tracks.

Within the little clearing sat a homemade fire pit front and center, with four or five mason jars spaced out along the ground. Nearby ran a little babbling brook of water hurrying itself downstream through a muddied crook of rocks and pebbles in the ground. Coincidentally, two logs sat side by side in front of the unlit pit. Her truck was also there, parked nearby in reverse giving her actions away.

I couldn't move. "I... what is this?"

I barely registered the sound of rustling grass and her shuffling up beside me. "I know I've been a little absent. But I want you to know you mean the world to me. I thought I'd show you, not just tell you that. But I hope this makes up for it a little bit- and explains it too."

I couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. "You did not."

"Oh but I did."

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the setup.

I scoffed incredulously once the puzzle pieces clicked. "Water?" I pointed with disbelief in my voice.

She nodded once. "Yup."

"And a campfire??"

"Yes ma'am." She started to laugh a little.

"This is genius- I can't believe-!" I sighed and threw my hands in the air.

I barely recalled our conversation myself; we were seated outside, on my deck. She asked me what my ideal date looked like, and my answer was nonchalant and off the cuff with no real hint as to what we'd later become. My answer was quick and I never thought about it again. But Jaycee had.

"You remembered!!" I spun around to take it all in a second time. "This is insane! It's both of our things!!"

She smiled with a scheming gaze. "And a few more surprises."

My hand placed itself atop my chest. "I don't think my heart could take any more, honestly."

She took my hands in hers. "You'll wanna stay alive for the rest, trust me."

I bounced up and down in place. "More? Eeeeee okay I'm so excited now."

She led me to our awaiting seats as the sun pulled into the orange horizon behind us.

I laughed a little, covering my mouth with my palm through my giddiness. "I thought we were lost!" The wind puppeted strands of my hair in a disorganized dance.