The Ponytail Stranger

The girl on the parkbench

I walk down the sidewalk with no rush, no objective other then to get home. Feeling my mind wander to subjects I knew would send me down a rabbit hole I wouldn't be able to escape very easily. I take my headphones from around my neck and put them on my ears, I needed a distraction. I grab out my phone, and tap to my music app, my sister had made me my own music app, it was specially designed for me, and no one else had it. It was one of the only things she left behind.

"He's our friend!"

I clicked to the playlist I always listened to when I was was walking home from school, to school, or to the convenience store. I have a different playlist of songs for each thing I do, or for each mood I'm in or want to be in. I have a playlist for everything. I love to listen to my favorite songs, plus some of my own music. I glance to the side where a park stretched out, on one side there was a playground, on the other side was open fields of flowers and a bunch of benches scattered around. I was on the side with the magnificent fields of lavender, peony and tulips that had just recently bloomed. I noticed a small movement out of the corner of my eye and look back over to see a cute girl on a bench. She had long black hair pulled into a ponytail, and dark eyes cast down to a notebook she was writing in. I wanted to walk over and talk, but I wouldn't know what to say. So I wait until my next chance.

"We can't leave him to die!"

The next day, I walk by, trying to find a conversation topic that wont make me seem stupid or bad in general. But before I knew it, I was already in the shopping district, which was right around the block from my house, and just after the park. I looked at each alley, all of them empty of life, other than the occasional rat, mouse or stray cat. So I continued my tread home. Regretting not speaking to the girl with the ponytail. I would do this everyday, try and think of conversation topics, then realize I already walked halfway down the shopping street. Each time I looked at all the alleyways as I passed. I never really thought of anything but this ponytailed stranger anymore.

"We don't have a choice."

I rest my cheek against my hand and sigh, disappointed in my cowardice. At this point I can't help but notice I have a strange infatuation with this ponytailed stranger.

"It's his death, or all of ours."

"Hey..whats up Aaron? You seem...off today," Neveah asks, shes been my friend since I was four, its seems I have never really been able to hide anything from her. But not for lack of trying, of course.
"I kinda..I dont know. I guess..I can't stop thinking about this girl and.." I groan in frustration as I try to find the words to describe my issues.
The smile that stretched on her face only cemented what I already knew; she could read me like an open book, "Oh~ I see~ you have a crush!" She giggled and nudged me. I rolled my eyes.
"No Neveah..I mean..yes? I dont even know. I havent even talked to her! But I just cant get her out of my head!" I stretched my arms out in front of me and rested my head on the wooden lunch table.
"Ask her out," Neveah said bluntly. I give her a blank stare.
"Its not that simple!" I glare at her, "Look, I haven't even talked to her...not one tiny bit. Not even a hello! I can't just walk up to her and ask her out! She would think I was some kind of creep! Plus I havent really...been able to work up the courage to even talk to her anyways...so asking her out is definitely off the table right now." I flatten my face on the table and let out a series of frustrated noises.
"You, not able to work up enough courage? Dude you get in fights, like, all the time. You have plenty of courage."
"Theres a difference between courage, bravery and stupidity. Plus, its not like I choose to be in fights. "
"-and win them?" She added, raising an eyebrow.
"Not the point, just because I win doesn't mean it isn't stupid. I still get hurt for no good reason," I poked her shoulder.
"Yeah yeah whatever."
"I'm tired, I'm going home." I say as I get up.
She sat up, "Hey you cant just-" but before she had a chance to finish I was gone.

"Where is he? He shouldve been out by now."
"I think we need to leave."