Sally & Jackson

Chapter 6

Did I want to kiss her? Fuck yes, I did. Did I go through with it? Fuck no, I didn't. The ducks finally decided to grace us with their appearance.

"Look who finally arrived," I said, breaking the silence. She cleared her throat as she took her hand off mine and moved a few inches further away from me.

"Bread?" I held out my hand, and she placed it in, but not without our fingers brushing against each other and sending the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy. She looked away, and I'm sure I was blushing.

I broke the bread into tiny pieces, and the ducks moved closer and ate. I chuckled at the feeling of their beak on my palm.

"Come feed them," I called, but there was no reply. "Sally?" I turned, but she stood further away from me.

"What's the problem?" I asked.

"I don't like ducks." She mumbled. I couldn't help but laugh. "It's not funny."

"Yeah. It is," I replied. "C'mon, they're harmless."

"No thank you."

"I skipped class with you. You owe me this," I said as I beckoned her to follow me.

"Excuse me!" She gasped. "You had a choice, and you chose me."

"As always," I said under my breath.

"What say?"

"Nothing," I answered quickly. "Come on"

She groaned but followed behind me, and when the ducks approached us, she moved backwards again.

"Hold out your hand," I said, and she obeyed. I took the last slice of bread and broke it into her hand.

"If I die, I'm going to kill you." She drew deep breaths.

"How will you kill me if you're dead?"

"Just wait and see," she replied.

I stood beside her and placed my hand under her open hand and extended it forward. I felt her shiver, and as the ducks approached, she shut her eyes. The ducks began eating out her hand, and she gasped.

I watched as her eyes opened slowly with a surprised look on her face. She looked at me, and I smiled back at her.

"Who knew that they wouldn't try to attack me?" She said as we walked away from the lake.

"Where did you get that info?" I asked. "Don't say YouTube videos."

"Fine, I won't say YouTube videos," she responded.

"You're definitely riding the bicycle on our way home," she laughed.

That must've been a joke. That had to be a joke because if she cared for any of our safety, she wouldn't be thinking of giving me control of the bicycle on our way back. I can't ride to save my life.

"Jack," She snapped her fingers in my face and brought me back to reality. "You spaced out."

"Yeah..." I rubbed the back of my neck. She frowned at me as she studied my face, trying to uncover the sudden change in my body language. I had to switch it up quick or get discovered, but the look on her face already sent the message.

"You can't ride a bicycle, can you?" She asked.

"No. I cannot," I answered. "There's a bike in the garage, but I've never taken interest in it."

"What?!!" She gasped, "I'm definitely teaching you."

"Wait here," she said as she ran off. I watched her blonde hair dance in the wind as she moved further and further away. I was completely attached to her, and I know that wasn't going to change; she had shown the world, or at least a little bit of it, and now I'm head over heels for her, but is it worth it, risking my friendship with her just for a fantasy that my mind is concocting? Is it worth the risk?

She rode back to me with a huge smile on her face, and then again, I'm reminded of why I like her.

"I have arrived." She got off and tapped the seat.

"Nope," I said as I took a few steps away from the bike with my arms up.

"There's no need to panic. You might just get it right."

"Look, I've tried it before, and I've got the scars for it."

"That's another story for later." She responded. "I fed the ducks today, so you're riding the bike."

"Do I even have a choice?"

She tilted her head sideways. "No. You don't"

"Ugh..." I sighed as I walked over to her and got on the bike. The bike was either shaking or it was me. I gripped the handlebars, and she placed her hands on mine.

"I'm going to push you now." I think that's what she said because all I could hear was my heart beating in my ears, and I wondered if she could hear it too. My skin seemed to have ignited just under her touch, and I got the crazy idea that maybe, just maybe, I could do it.

"On three." She placed her other hand on my back.

"Hang on a second," I muttered. My palms were already sweaty, and my grip was getting slippery.

"Don't overthink it, as you almost always do," she replied.

"Wait...what?"

"One...two...three." She pushed me forward. "Remember to paddle!"

"You didn't think to add that before?!" I would've looked back, but I was smooth sailing and didn't want to ruin it; the rush of adrenaline was intense. All I did was steady the steering thingy and paddle.

"You got this!" She called behind me. I risked it all for just one glance at her, and there she was, running. Her hair was in the air, and she was laughing while also clapping for me. She looked and felt like poetry in that moment. The rare sight of a wild, naked soul, and it was beautiful; she was beautiful.

I lost control of the steering thingy—no surprise there—and went off course. I crashed and landed on the grass.

"Oh my gosh!" She ran towards me with a worried look on her face, but it changed to surprise when she saw me laughing at the top of my lungs.

"It was fucking amazing," I yelled. "That was a rush. Let's do it again." I sat up straight.

"Slowdown speedster," she said as she examined me for any injuries. "Do you feel pain anywhere?"

I shook my head in reply.

"Whew!" She wiped the sweat off her forehead and sat beside me. "You didn't tell me you were a natural."

"Dude...I didn't even know," I laughed, and she joined me.

"You're funny." She ruffled my hair.

"Ah!" I yelled, and she pulled away quickly.

"What is it?" There was a sense of panic in the way she spoke. The grin on my face gave me away. "Idiot," she chuckled as she pushed me.

"Handle with care," I retorted.

I looked up and noticed the setting sun casting a shade of gold and violet across the sky, and it reminded me of the first day I saw her. I didn't know how long I'd been staring at her, but she met my eyes, and my heart did the flip again. I saw the golden specks in her eyes; they were more pronounced this time. She was a creature of the sun, and all her being radiated nothing but brightness. Her eyes felt like comfort, and her arms looked like home, a place for my weary soul to rest and find peace. She's my comfort person. There was a change in the way she looked at me; I just couldn't place it, but it was different this time. Once again, I found myself asking the question: Is it worth the risk?