Childhood Memories

11

Hunter

The morning air is muggy and sticky, it clings to my skin and creates a weird feeling.

I relax on the dock on the lake, enjoying to just be away. To be able to let go of everything that has confused me.

"Hunter?" A girly voice calls out from behind me.

I turn around to Mae, she wears yoga pants and an off shoulder dry fit shirt. She has her hair up in a ponytail and when she comes closer to me I'm able to see her sleepy eyes.

"Hey, I didn't know you come here!" She smiles despite her tiredness.

"Yeah, I come here sometimes to just get away, the trail here is pretty far away from everything so it's nice." I explain.

"I totally agree, usually I go to Stovall right next to our place but I wanted to switch it up today for some reason."

I laugh, "that's weird."

"Yeah," she chuckles, "do you mind if I sit?"

I shake my head, "not at all."

She sets herself right next to me, our shoulders just slightly touching. We sit in silence for awhile, just admiring the lake and it beauty.

Though then I begin to think about everything, how she's always sad and her past fills up her entire story.

"Carson is Cooper in your story, isn't he?" I blurt out.

She sucks in some air in her lungs, I already know this hurts her.

"Yeah he is."

"Why didn't you ever tell me about him?"

"I didn't want to burden you with my really pathetic problem."

"Mae it's so not pathetic. Someone you loved a lot left you for someone else. It takes strength to keep it in like that."

She sniffs, "yeah it is. I've lived with it my entire life basically and it hurts. It hurts to know I don't mean anything to him."

"Do you still like him?" I wonder.

"No, but it hurts because I lost my best friend basically." She replies.

An idea pops in my head, "Mae, let me take you out on a date. Just so I can help you."

"What? A date?" She looks at me with wide eyes.

"Trust me, it'll be great." I send her an encouraging smile.

She hesitates but then returns my grin, "okay then. When?"

"Um, this Friday? Six?"

"I'll be ready."