The Bucket List [#Wattys2018]

Chapter Six: Zip Line to my heart

         "To live is the rarest thing in the  world. Most people exist, that is all."
                             -Oscar Wilde
                                ••••••••
"Everything is blue, his pills, his hands, his jeans, and now I'm painted with the colors, pulled apart at the seams. And it's blue!!!" Amy sings along to her favorite song by Halsey, 'Colors' which I do admit is a fantastic singer, and definitely one of my favorites. I can't help but smile and sing along.

But I feel a twinge of sadness every time I hear the word blue, I shake it off though. "Oh my gosh!!!" Amy yells. "What!?" I yell back, she really shouldn't be getting distracted when she's driving.

"There's a Laser-tag place right up there!" I haven't been to laser-tag in forever, forever being twenty years. "Amy we're going zip-lining, we're not playing laser-tag."

I argue. "Why not both?" She asks, turning into the laser-tag building. I let out an exaggerated sigh before getting out. She smiles an innocent smile before saying "fight me." Okay that does it. "You know what!? I'm gonna kill you in this!" I brag. "Go ahead sister!" She yells back. We act like such teenagers still.
••••••
I run and dodge walls in the almost pitch black room. Neon stars and planets and rockets help see along with the flashing lights. My shoelaces glow, and it makes me smile. Then a memory comes to mind.

I'm trying to find him so I can take him down just like I said I would, when I'm suddenly pulled backwards. I let out a tiny yelp, but I'm calmed when I see Ice blue eyes staring into my brown eyes. "Hey sweetheart" he says into my ear. He traces my lips with his finger. I'm practically begging him to kiss me. Finally he does, I'm so lost in the kiss that it shocks me when he shoots me. My vest lights go white. He pulls back and gives me a smile. I glare at him and he takes off.

That was the last time I went to Laser-tag. I shake off the memory and concentrate on trying to find Amy. But the whole time I'm running, I still feel like those Ice blue eyes are watching me.
                               ••••••
"You know, I thought you said you were going to win." Amy jokes around. "Ha ha, whatever." I say, rolling my eyes. Amy nudges me as we head out back to the car. "Now we're going zip-lining with NO stops on the way." I tell Amy. She gives me a whatever, fine look and she starts driving again. I stare out the window. I can't get him off my mind.

You'd think after twenty years, you wouldn't even remember his name. But I loved him. Well at least I think I did. I don't believe in love anymore after him. What was it about him that won't leave me. Paul. That name still clicks with mine. Amanda and Paul. I haven't even seen him again in like 18 years.

"Are you okay?" Amy asks, her voice is dripping with worry. Do I tell her? She's my best friend, I should be able to tell her everything. "Yeah I'm fine." I reply. I reach over for the radio and blast it when my favorite singer comes on. Ingrid Michaelson. "I try to pin you down but you move like a dream. I want to find you but you drop me in the sea."

Even my favorite song doesn't shake off the old feelings. Amy shrugs it off and sings along with me.
••••••
"My gosh he's cute." Amy says, a little too loudly so that the zip-lining tour guide blushes. She wiggles her eyebrows at me. No! I say to her through my eyes. "I'm sorry about my friend." I apologize. "It's fine." He says. He is kinda cute though. And he's got a great voice. I think Amy could read my mind cause she was giving me a weird look. She should never give me that look again. She looks constipated.

I laugh and she looks over at me in confusion. "You know, Amanda's never gone zip-lining before, you might want to show her how to stand and where her hands are supposed to be." I shoot daggers at Amy. "R..right." The guide says. I read his name-tag, Evan.

Evan has dusty brown hair that almost falls over his eyes, and has nice olive skin, he has pretty brown eyes. Amy was right, he was cute. Evan comes over and gently places his hands on my waist, guiding me on where to stand. He reaches up to the bar and lightly touches my hands to show where I need to put them. My face heats up a little. Oh gosh no, I better not be blushing. Amy winks at me. I swear after this, I'm going to kill her.

Evan straps on my helmet, and his finger accidentally brushes against my lips. His face turns beet red and he stutters. "It's fine." I say. Amy is waving her hands and jumping up and down. I glare at her. Evan quickly straps everything else on and tells me to push off.

I kick off and suddenly I'm gliding through the sky. I'm just hanging on with my hands and these straps that are connected to me. I'm gliding over trees and ponds, wind rushes through my hair and I feel alive. It's like I'm flying. I look up at the birds flying above me. Is this how it feels to be a bird? "WOOHOO!!" I scream. I don't think I've ever smiled this much in my life. For once, I actually feel like I'm doing something with my life. Something fun and daring and wild. And I absolutely love it.