I sit with Will in the courtyard after school. We’re not doing anything in particular, just sitting, watching people pass by, not saying a word. There’s just something about sitting in silence with him, it’s never uncomfortable, but it’s serene.
Our schoolmates walk by, laughing with each other, living, and loving life without a care in the world. I peek at him from the corner of my eye and see him staring down at his fingers, knotted in his lap. His cheeks have gone rosy pink and an expression of worry has come over his features. I turn away, uncomfortable and unsure how to feel about all this.
It was just so fast. We started out as friends, but now I’m always so nervous when he’s around, and he’s been acting more and more awkward lately. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was developing a crush on me. But that’s just cr—
“Hey, Maria?” Will’s voice comes out sounding young and innocent with a twinge of unease.
I look up and see his earnest eyes searching my face for something I can’t identify. My heart pounds and I have a lump in my throat, “Yes, Will?”
He looks down at his fingers again, they’re trembling. “Um, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you and…” his voice trails off and a million scenarios are bouncing around inside my head.
Is he going to tell me how he feels about me?
“And it’s just that, um,” he reaches out towards me and fixes the collar of my shirt, “your collar was crooked, haha,” he laughs nervously, his face reddening, “fixed it.” He clears his throat, “That’s all,” and turns away.
“Oh,” I’m not sure how to respond, that was kind of anticlimactic, “um, thanks.” I turn away from him and resume watching the people around us. There are couples and friends, enemies and everyone in between. They’re all here, because this is high school.
Will turns to me one more time, “I really like you, Maria,” he pauses and my cheeks burn red. “as more than a friend.”
My hear pounds and my stomach flutters, I can’t believe it.
His eyes widen at my lack of a response and he quickly directs his gaze elsewhere, “But I mean, it’s okay if you don’t, um feel the same way, I mean, it’s not that big of a deal…”
“No, Will, I do,” I can’t but smile as a shameless grin spreads across his face.
