I screech my bike to a stop right near the swing sets. Little rocks that somehow made it out of the playground onto the cement go flying underneath my tires and skitter into all different directions. Looking frantically around to see if Ainsley made it here before me, my chest rises and falls with the overexertion of rushing here from my place.
Seeing that she hasn't arrived yet, I sigh with relief and walk my bike out of the sunlight and up against a nearby shaded picnic table, where I hop on to sit and wait for Ainsley. Casually, I look around and spot two guys about my age, shirtless and flexing on top of the hill in the middle of the park.
I snort. That is not attractive at all. What are they trying to do - pick up 5th graders at the playground or something? Raising my eyebrow, I watch them as they attempt to show off their biceps. I shake my head and divert my attention towards other, less pathetic things - such as Ainsley coming up by bike around the corner of the very hill that the wannabes are on. She spots me immediately and brings her bike to an smooth stop right near my picnic table.
"Hey!" She says, while taking a seat at the table.
"How's it going?" I ask, relaxing comfortably on the table. It's two weeks before school ends, and all I want to do is lie in the sun and close my eyes.
"Pretty good. School's almost out!" Ainsley replies, doing a little excited dance.
"Oh, you don't have to tell me twice. As soon as that last bell rings, I'm sprinting out that door," I plan aloud. "This year was not my best."
"I know, hopefully there won't be a reptition of this year," Ainsley shakes her head, frowning.
Grade 10 was a difficult year for the both of us, socially. We've both been irritable with our other friends and found it hard to stay in tune with them. I started wandering around the hallways at school looking for new friends, and it turned out that Ainsley was doing the same. We've been growing closer and closer since.
"Fingers crossed!" I say, crossing my fingers for emphasis.
Ainsley nods, understandingly. After a moment, a smirk replaces the frown on her face. Leaning in close, she crooks her thumb behind her, gesturing to the guys on the hill. "Devlin, please tell me I'm not the only one noticing Dumb and Dumber over there," she says, amused.
The mood lightens and I laugh. "I know, right? I was waiting for you to mention them!"
"Girl, how could I not? How many idiotic guys do we see daily?" She says, peripherally looking at the two guys.
"Too many, Ains. But at least they're a good comedy show," I reply.
Ainsley laughs harder. "But these two? I mean, are they having a skin party or something?"
"More like a wannabe Bodybuilder contest!" We collapse on the table, hysterically laughing.
I take a few deep breaths to compose myself, and spot the swing set again. Apparently, Ainsley was thinking the same thing, because she yells, "Race you to the swings!" and bolts for it.
Although there is absolutely no chance I'd make it there before she does, I run anyway and tag the swingset a split second after she does.
She beams at her victory for a moment, but then notices that one of the two swings is wrapped haphazardly around the top beam.
"Dammit. I can just chill out here and you can swing." Ainsley says, as generous as she always is. I love Ainsley because of her never-failing selflessness; she's always putting others before herself.
Shaking my head, I tie up my hair and grasp one of the supporting, slanted metal beams. "Not a chance. We're both swinging today." I jump as high as I can onto the beam and use that momentum to pull myself up about half a foot or so more.
"Devlin, stop! You don't need to do this," Ainsley yells from the ground.
I pause and raise my eyebrow challengingly at her. "Are you implying that I don't have the physical ability to climb a mere swingset?" I ask, faux dramatically.
Ainsley smirks and shakes her head at my manipulation. "Just be careful, Dev."
"Don't worry about it, Ains." I say, as I continue to try to shimmy up the supporting swingset beam.
I am almost at the top beam when I lose my grip and drop to the ground. Thankfully, I expected this and land safely on my feet, bending my legs deeply.
"Holy shit. Now I really have to get that swing down," I say, getting riled up. I rub my hands together and get ready to jump again.
Ainsley's looking just past my shoulder. "Dumb and Dumber are watching you."
I snort. "They're probably just jealous that they can't climb as well as I do," I say, flipping my ponytail. I jump again onto the beam and try to climb up the beam again.
Again, just as I'm about to reach the top beam, my grip gives and I unsuccessfully plummet to the ground. I let out a frustrated sigh and eye the swingset, trying to find a way to climb it and get the swing down. I really love challenges, but this one seems to have stumped me. I'm usually a good climber but the jeans I'm wearing give me little mobility and my hands are sweaty from the hot sun rays hitting me.
Meanwhile, Ainsley's eyebrows quirk up, unimpressed by something behind me. "Alert," she says, under her breath.
I hear the sound of tiny rocks being crunched by footsteps behind me and turn to look. One of the wannabe bodybuilders is walking up behind me. He reaches the swingset beam and climbs up with the agility and ease of an experienced climber. I exchange a look with Ainsley and watch dumbfoundedly as he hoists himself onto the top beam of the set and straddles the beam. He starts to pull up the chain of the wrapped-up swing.
I feel my eyes widen. "Uh...oh, my... You're doing this for us?"
He blushes and momentarily pauses in the rescuing of the swing. "It looked like you were struggling, so..." he trails off, and continues to pull the chain up and through the loop made between the swingset and the swing.
I snap my open mouth closed and manage to let out a pitiful little, "Th-thank you so much..."
Ainsley follows with, "That's so nice of you, thank you." As you can tell, Ainsley's better at recovering from shockers than I am.
As he finishes untangling the swing, he shrugs and says, "Not a problem." He hops off the swingset and walks off, giving a little salute.
I wave back limply and go to sit on the swing. Ainsley takes a seat beside me in the now-untangled swing.
I blink a few times and turn to Ainsley. Her mouth is open, as if she was just about to say something, but I beat her to it.
"I feel like such a bitch." I say, shaking my head disbelievingly.
Ainsley sucks in a breath and says, "So do I, don't worry."
I look over to the hill, where the Swingset Guy has returned and sat down. He's about 5"8, more than few inches taller than me. His hair is jet-black and slightly long and shaggy, but soft-looking. His muscle tone is well-defined, and he has an easy smile. His lack of a shirt at a children's playground induced eye-rolls just fifteen minutes ago, but he's finally pulled on a shirt. It's pink and compliments him nicely. His friend has lighter brown hair, with naturally blonde highlights. He's just as fit as the Swingset Guy and about an inch taller.
Looking back at Ainsley, I raise my eyebrows and say, "Wow. We're stupid."
As Ainsley nods in agreement, I glance back at the Swingset Guy and catch him looking in my direction as well. He lifts his hand in a wave and I wave back.
