In Color. {l.r.h.}

them

As soon as the words escaped her lips, she wanted to swallow them all back up. She wanted to hide. He hadn't said anything in a while, and she could practically feel him staring at her. "I'm... I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that. I'm blind! I'm just..."

Luke composed himself, mustering up all of his courage, and reached out to grab her hand. She looked up at him. "I do," he said gently. "I do and I do and I'm the only nineteen year old in the whole world who does."

She smiled faintly. "I don't really have the privilege of believing. But my friend Kat always says... Well, she always used to say that when you see them, even if it's just a glance, you'll know. Your heart will know. And I was wondering if it's true."

His eyes were set on her, admiring every single inch of her face and loving it more with each second. "It is."

Halli forced her face to remain expressionless, though the corners of her lips couldn't help but hinting at a smile. "Maybe I should've looked harder while I could."

"That was deep." And that was stupid, he told himself immediately after.

Halli smirked. "It's what I do, babe."

"Okay, I see how it is."

"Oh come on, that was funny."

"I see why you sit here alone. You're mean."

"That was borderline too real."

He paused for a moment, before quietly saying, "Really? I'm sorry."

"Wow from sarcasm to miscommunication in mere seconds. You are a wonder."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. You... You make me nervous."

"Yes, all 5'3 of me is an absolute killer." She made him nervous? Him? He clearly wasn't aware of how little social interactions she had, especially with someone who made her feel like she was walking on air. She was petrified. But she'd never admit to it.

"I don't get out much," Luke said lightheartedly, though he knew underneath that it was true.

She chuckled. "You have no idea."

It was quiet for a moment. The whole park seemed to have come to a standstill, except for the occasional child's giggle or dog's bark. Halli hated silence. Luke savored it.

"So how's your 'not-very-good' band?" her voice cut through the hushed atmosphere.

Luke smiled. "They're great, really. We're actually rehearsing tonight, and I have some originals I'm planning on showing them."

"How long have you guys been together?"

Luke bit his lip, squirming uncomfortably. "3 years."

Halli's eyes widened. "Whoa."

"Yeah. Whoa," he mumbled.

She could feel the weight of his words falling to the ground and quickly tried to lighten up the subject. "So what do you want out of this whole 'band' thing?"

He smiled softly to himself. "I want to look out into a crowd of people with flashlights waving and hear them singing lyrics I wrote. I want my music to be therapy to people. I want to help ease the darkness."

Chill bumps crept up the sides of Halli's arms, causing her to shiver. "Whoa," she whispered. "All I ever wanted to be was an elevator operator."

Luke cocked his head to the side. "What?"

"You know, the one who stands in the elevator and pushes the buttons for people."

"Yeah, I know what it is. It's just... That's not what I expected."

She grinned. "I wanted to live on the ground floor of a big apartment building and watch all the different people climb on and off the elevators. And then I'd go home and pain every inch of the ugly wallpaper. I'd paint oceans and sunsets and... You. If I could see you. I never wanted to be spectacular, but I never wanted to be... Me."

Luke stroked the top of her hand with his thumb. "I think this whole 'you' thing you've got going is pretty great." Halli smiled. He had to share that smile. Had to show people this sunshine he'd discovered, and before he could think, the words were coming out of his mouth.

"Do you want to meet my band?"