Whispers Among The Magnolias

Ten

By the time the ride with Rose to the town square was over I had pressed the floor more times than I could count. I got out of the car realizing we were sideways in the parking spot but decided not to say anything.

"Lead the way," I said as Rose locked her car and walked around hooking her arm in mine.

We walked down the cobblestone path passing the increasingly familiar stores and restaurants. Shopkeepers rearranged signs to show back-to-school sales or swept in front of their establishments many of them greeting Rose by name or introducing themselves to me.

We stopped by a small smoothie place on our way to the center of town and each got a drink to help with the intense summer rays, Rose insisting I post a boomerang of our matching cups on my story to show my friends back home Peach Heaven wasn't completely dull. I didn't need a picture to convince myself or anyone else, the town had a charm that was slowly making its way through me just in the short time I'd spent here.

We chattered on about our favorite movies and shows as we finally reached city hall, a large bricked building with white pillars on either side of the towering front door. People lined the stairs school supplies in hand as Mayor Keaton and Chase stood at the top of the stairs, shaking hands and taking supplies.

Rose waved first as Chase smiled at us and gave us a tight wave, I looked at Mayor Keaton who gave us a bright smile and waved us up. We walked to the top as Mayor Keaton opened up the large doors the main hallway on the first floor was littered with donations propping it open before turning to look at us.

"Good afternoon ladies thank you so much for volunteering your afternoon at my boring event, Rose it is a pleasure like always," He gave Rose a hug from the side and I saw her close her eyes and smile as she leaned into the hug, I raised my eyebrow at her as Mayor Keaton walked closer to me giving me a tight hug as well, I stiffened a bit surprised since this is only our second time meeting, but I leaned into the hug regardless then quickly leaned back out.

"I just keep running into you Miss Magnolia," he said pointing at me as Chase walked up to us. I braced myself for an awkward interaction. Just last night we were jumping into a lake together and everything felt so comfortable and familiar, now it's just odd that he knows he was on my mind.

"Thanks for coming guys, we really need help organizing the supplies based on the required supplies for each grade level," Chase said, I was a bit surprised by how fast he got to directing us instead of greeting but it was clear he and his Dad were overwhelmed just by themselves and that they both took this supply drive seriously.

I guess he wasn't thinking much about me.

I nodded as Rose and I walked into city hall, I looked up to see the high ceiling that gave a view of the second floor, watching as people scrambled around hard at work. On the ground floor were several cases of town memorabilia and I wanted to walk around reading the plaques and their significance but focused back to the task at hand.

I looked back down at the school supplies and started to read over the paper with the required materials for each grade and began to organize them in piles. Using a sticky note to place on the wall indicating which pile was for which grade.

Rose and I worked in silence for half an hour the materials now neatly organized before she walked over to me.

"Your stack looks so much prettier than mine," she said glancing at each end of the hallway.

"I like organizing, it's therapeutic for me," I said and Rose frowned.

"I wish, nothing stresses me out more than having to clean my room, I call it an organized mess and my mom calls it bullshit," Rose said smiling at me.