there goes my heart - j.s

chapter five

I hang up the phone, my stomach fizzing with excitement. Joe just asked me if I wanted to go to a park in London.
I think this is a date - I'm almost positive. Which is damn exciting.
I quickly have a shower and get dressed, then change, then change again, and finally, change one more time until I'm wearing an outfit I like the most. It's an ordeal, quite honestly. But eventually, I'm happy and ready to leave.

I am feeling so fucking confident. Honestly, this is probably one of the happiest times of my life.
It's up there with meeting my best friend for the first time, in real life, not through a screen. You see, we were internet best friends. Even though we only saw each other through Skype, we were so close. Finally, the time came that I could meet her. And I did; it was amazing. I hugged her and hugged her and never wanted to let go. I cried with joy and so did she. And I was happy; happy as I am now. The kind of happy where it's hard not to smile, and you feel all bubbly and light and like you could conquer the world. That, kind of happiness; the really, really good kind.
Imogen and I are still close today. We text all the time, we're used to it because that's how our friendship started. I know she's there for me and I'm always there for her.

My mind flutters back to today.
I can't wait to see Joe. Somehow, I just feel, brighter with him.

—

As Joe opens the door, he flashes me a boyish grin.
I grin right back.

"Hey Ad, you ready to go to the park?" He asks, I look up and nod my head and I feel my cheeks lightly flush.

He envelops me in a hug, and I instantly melt into him and hug him back. I can hear his heart pounding in his chest. All of a sudden, I don't want to let go.
But I have to.
So I do, and it only hurts a little bit.

Joe says, "I'm just going to get a jacket."

"Ok" I reply softly.

He jogs downstairs and I hear him opening his wardrobe and getting something out. Caspar will no doubt be sleeping. Joe reappears again and we go out the door.

As we are walking along to the park, Joe laces his fingers into mine. I squeeze his hand and he squeezes back. It's comforting, you know, to have someone to squeeze your hand and make you feel safe.

As we arrive at the park, I pay attention to all the different chirping coming from birds in the trees. I breathe in deeply, inhaling the fresh air.
We sit down on a wooden bench, our hands still locked together. I slowly lean my head on his shoulder, and I can sense that he's smiling.

"Adeline," Joe starts.

I lift my head up and look at him, "yeah? What is it?"

"I wanna get to know you - like really get to know you."

I laugh slightly, "ok, well, what do you want to know?"

"Maybe we could start with your family."

"What about them? I mean, I'm an only child."

"Ok well, what about your parents?"

I sigh, "oh God, um, my dad left my mum when I was 7 and it's just been my mum and me since. We're pretty close, but she's fairly protective of me. She's a worrier, I guess. She went through a lot of shit."