Impavid

The Hose

     Later that evening, after I had returned home and to my room, I heard a ding. I glanced around my room, looking for sight of phone. When my eyes landed upon it, I reached across to the nightstand to retrieve it. Luke's name appeared in big, bright letters across the screen. My finger slid to unlock my phone, clicking the small envelope that signified I had a new text. The small number one in the corner symbolized the notification, vanishing as the new message opened. It was only one word: Hi. 

     Luke had texted me several times during our tutoring days when he had a question about our schedule or the assignment due. I had never, in my months of knowing Luke, received a hi text. I responded with an identical text. He answered quickly, the bubbles symbolizing his texting appearing before I had even set my phone down. I cocked my head and laughed at the next message. 

     What's your favorite color? 

      I didn't know quite how to respond, so I kept it short and simple: Pink. Why?

      He replied that he just wanted to know more about me. He followed up with asking me about my favorite animal, food, and school subject. We fell into an easy conversation, talking about anything and everything that came to our minds. A few wink emojis were exchanged, and I found myself flirting more than I would have expected to. 

      We were still texting several hours later when I was ready for bed. 

     Luke, I typed, I'm tired.

     No! Don't sleep yet! I like talking to you!

     This earned a smile, and I agreed to stay up another half hour. The half hour soon turned into an hour, and then two. 

      Neither of us had brought up our kiss in any way, which I had mixed feelings about. Part of me was relieved, not wanting to make it a bigger deal than it was. The other half of me was super concerned that this meant it was something he had regretted, and we were just going to forget about it. I debated bringing it up but decided it was best to hold off. Things were going well between us, and I was just thankful to have him as a friend. 

     I had awoke the next morning to footsteps moving around downstairs and my father's voice calling out to my mother that he couldn't find his other shoe. I rolled over, yawning, grabbing my phone. I realized I had fallen asleep accidentally, mid-conversation with Luke. I unlocked the phone, our messages instantly popping up. I had several new messages from him.

     Carsonnnnnn. 

     Carson? Did you fall asleep?

     Carse! Wake up!

     Well, you're asleep.

     I laughed at all of these, wondering why he had wanted to talk to me so badly. I kept scrolling, reading more. My eyes wandered over each message, each message earning a smile.

     I hope you're sleeping well.

     I'm bored, Carson! Wake uppppppp.

    How are these texts not waking you up!?! Isn't your phone dinging NEXT to your EAR?

     The last message he had sent had my attention in a different way. I reread it, wondering what to reply. I had no idea what to say. My heart pounded, and I found myself smiling. 

     I wish I could give you a goodnight kiss.

***

    "Carson!"

    I turned to look over my shoulder. I kept my hand steady, gripping the rubber hose as it sprayed water onto the thirsty plants lining my driveway. Luke was moving across the street, a smile spread across his face.

    "Hey." I smiled at him before turning my attention back to the evergreens. I moved a step to the side, aiming the hose at the base of the next shrub. He moved beside me, inspecting my work.

     "You never answered my texts." He nudged me, the water spraying the driveway as my hand shifted. I moved my hand back, the water landing back where it had been.

     "I'm sorry. I fell asleep, and ever since I woke up, I've been doing house work." 

     "You missed a spot." He pointed at the bush I had just been watering.

     "You can't miss a spot when you're watering a plant!" I laughed. "I watered the base for 30 seconds, just like my dad told me!"

     "No." He shook his head firmly. "Let me show you."

     I rolled my eyes but handed him the hose anyway. He moved closer to the plant I had just finished water, crouching beside it. 

     "Here, look," he instructed. I felt as though he was being ridiculous, but I decided to humor him. I squatted down beside him, watching him aim the spray right where I had been before. "You do this," He explained, keeping the hose there. Suddenly, he turned the hose toward me, spraying me in the face briefly before turning it back to the plant's base. "Then you do some of that." 

     I squealed, falling backwards onto my butt. "Luke!" I was laughing at this point, "You sprayed me!"

     "You never answered my texts!" he retorted. 

      I heard the front door open behind us. "Carson?" I heard my mom question. Her voice was loud, panicked. 

     "I'm right here, Mom." I stood up from behind the car to make eye contact. She was wearing an old t-shirt, an apron covering most of it. An oven-mit still sat on her hand. I had assumed she'd been baking.

     She put her over-mit-covered-hand over her heart, taking in a deep breath. "I heard you scream, and when I looked outside, I didn't see you," she explained. 

     Luke stood up beside me, kinking the hose to stop the water from flowing. 

     "He," I pointed at him accusingly, "just sprayed me in the face." 

     She looked down at the hose in his hand, nodding. "You two have fun," she insisted. "I'm just being an overprotective mom. Everything's fine. I just overreacted."

     Luke and I watched her head back inside, waiting to hear the front door close before we spoke. When the loud noise echoed around us, we both started laughing. "You're going to give my mom a heart attack," I accused. He unkinked the hose and sprayed my shirt in response. 

     "You're dead." I lunged at him, grabbing the hose from him and aiming it toward his face. 

     He placed his hand over mine on the hose, us both tugging the hose in different directions, hoping to spray the other. Water flew around us, soaking us both. We both were squealing and laughing, the hose spraying straight up in the air as water droplets fell like raindrops, soaking the driveway around us. Water dripped off the edges of my hair, and his grey t-shirt grew darker as it grew wetter. 

     "Truce," I panted. 

     He kinked the hose in agreement, giving us both a chance to catch our breath. It was my turn to be daring and spontaneous, now. I leaned forward, grabbing the hose from him, allowing it to soak us both again. As the water landed on and around us, I stepped forward, pressing my lips to his.

    Lots of people kissed in the rain. It was such a cliché. 

   How many people kiss under the spray of a garden hose?