Evanescent

Ten

We can't walk out of the door fast enough. The sky is an impossible blue for March and the grass is almost green. I hop into his car. "Music?" I ask.

"Absolutely," he figets with the controls and plugs in his phone. "Like Real People Do" by Hozier comes on. My favorite.

"How did you know?!" I laugh.

"What?" He smiles as he starts to pull out of the parking lot.

"This is my favorite song!"

"Really?" He face lights up. "You're kidding, mine too!"

After singing along for awhile, we near McDonald's and I'm ready for him to turn but he keeps driving.

"Tanner-"

"I know, I have a change of plans," he tries to keep a straight face but I look over and a little smile creeps in from the corners of his mouth. I laugh at his failed attempt to be serious. "Why are you laughing?" He asks and he's completely smiling now.

"You're funny when you try to be cool," I answer.

"Am I not cool already?"

"Well," I laugh, "you did take me to McDonald's for a first date."

He looks at me with that stupid grin. At first I'm confused, but then I realize it.

"So it was a date?" He asks.

"Was it?"

"Well I don't want to tell people our first date was at McDonald's, so let's make this our first date," he turns into a gravel and rock covered road. "Besides, you like it more."

We drive for a little longer on this random road when he says to cover my eyes. Personally, I hate trusting people to lead me right when I can't see, but I place my hands on my face.

"Okay, give me two minutes," I hear him shut the door to the car and open the trunk.

I sit in the passenger seat for a while. Why can't I trust people? I keep thinking of how easy it is for him just to run off and leave me. Or how easy for him to duct tape the doors like crazy and trap me inside. But I need to stop. This is Tanner.

Finally, I hear a muffled, "Okay, open up!" And I open the door along with my eyes.

Okay let's be honest, we all know it's a picnic. But this picnic is unimaginable. He has the perfect red and white plaid blanket laid out with ham and cheese sandwiches, strawberries and blueberries, and a watermelon already cut in some slices. There's a cheesecake with a simple strawberry in the middle, and a vintage record player playing a Mumford and Sons album. Another favorite.

"Tanner," I can't find my words," it's perfect. It's even better than I could even dream of."

He smiles and waves his arm towards his creation. "Shall we?"

"Let's feast!" I say and practically attack the plate of ham and cheese sandwiches. It tastes amazing. "Did you make all of this?" I ask between chews.

He nods his head because his mouth is full of food. Then after he swallows he adds,"Well I admit my mom helped a little."

"Where did you move here from?" I ask out of the blue.

"A small town called Bloomingburg,Ohio"

"Really? That's so far away! What brings you here to the great town of Bakersville, California?" I say motion towards the city we can't see right now.

"My dad's work," he replies," we move a lot because of it."

"How often?"

"Not that much," he shrugs. "My turn to ask. Where do you see yourself in ten years?"

"No not that question," I laugh. "Can I just live in the moment?"

"Yeah that totally sounded like an interview question," he laughs too,"Nessa, for real, I want to know."

"I have no I idea," I admit," all I know is I won't be here."

"Me either," he sighs," your turn!"

I think about it. "Can you catch this blueberry in your mouth?"

"You know it!" He props himself onto his knees. "Bring on the blueberry!" I toss a single blueberry into his mouth. Of course he catches it. "Do it again," he says," I'm going to get five in a row."

I toss two more and he catches both. He's at three and I toss the fourth, lands perfectly in his mouth. "Last one!" He yells. I throw the last one right at his chest and he looks around in confusion before he realizes I cheated."Hey! You can't do that!" He whines and grabs a handful of berries. I realize what's about to happen and grab a handful myself and run.

He chases me around the field throwing berries at me every now and then. I turn around and throw some back at him before giving up and sitting in the grass. He comes up to me a holds out his hand. "Truce?" He asks.

I put my hand out and shake his. "Truce." And we sit in that field for a little longer. Knowing we have to go back to reality soon. Knowing this doesn't last forever. Knowing our little escape is fragile.

The dreaded words come from him,"I guess we should leave," he sighs,"we've probably already missed half of fifth period."

"Yeah," I agree and he helps me up. We pack up the picnic and eat a slice of cheesecake before heading back.

The walk into the building is hard, but we do it. We squeeze hands once more and reluctantly let go and part ways just like the day before.

I walk to my locker and a little square of yellow falls out when I open it.

The One-Eyed Doe
-E

I'll look this one up later.

The rest of the day goes by fast. And it's the last period of the day. Of course I walk past Kylee and Hanna and they give me those judgey glares. But for some reason, today, they don't hurt. I don't care. I sit by Londy she attempts to hid her dandruff cup.

"Hi Londy!" I smile.

She adjusts her glasses and looks at me,"Hey Nessa," she focuses on my face for an awkward five seconds. "What happened?" She asks," your face is all pinky."

"I know, Londy," I smile," I get it now."