Lila Mae the Wildflower

The Cornfield

Lila Mae stepped carefully over the sharp, dried up cornstalk stumps. Soft ballet flats were not a good choice for tonight. Not only were her toes slowly freezing over one by one, but she was getting stabbed in feet by pokey plants. She just hated wearing shoes and these flats were cute and felt like they weren't even shoes at all.

But she didn't say anything. Partly because she felt too awkward, partly because she wanted to keep walking with Jacy.

Her fingertips were a little cold too, she worked them in circles over her scalp, fluffing up her hair in the process.

Was she supposed to talk? What was she even supposed to say? What was there to say? She started her period for the second time ever a couple weeks ago (finally!) and it was still at the top of her mind. Now she couldn't think past periods. Periods. Periods. Periods. Peri-

"How do you like South High," Jacy asked.

"It's alright. I'm used to it now. It's much so bigger than the middle school. I was so scared at first!"

Jacy smiled warmly at her and she felt her heart jump. Just a little bit.

"What do you think of it now?"

"It's okay. It's a high school. Everything's an ugly color and there are clocks everywhere. It kind of stresses me out. Everything revolves around time there. You don't have a chance to get lost in things."

"You like getting lost in things?" Jacy smiled and tilted their head, knocking a loose lock of hair out of their eye. An earring flashed in the weak moonlight from his left earlobe.

"Yeah. Losing myself in a moment, in something that's happening. How am I even supposed to retain anything if I can't even let myself get absorbed in it? We only ever have forty-five minutes to do anything."

"Oooo," Jacy hooted, "I like your point of view. I hadn't thought about it that way, but it makes so much sense. High school is such a rush."

"Right! There's so much crammed in, I feel like I'm not actually doing anything. Like just when I feel like I'm getting it, I have to go to another room and start learning something else."

"No, I completely understand. I hate that."

"Me too."

"North High is about the same. I wish it could be like where we would focus on three subjects one day and then switch to a different three the next day."

"That would be amazing."

"So do you have anything you enjoy there? Like, extracurriculars or something?"

"No. I go right home after school and ride my horse. Or draw. Or knit. Or read. Or watch TV with my Dad."

"Whoa, whoa, wait, your horse!?"

"Yeah." Lila Mae looked down bashfully.

"Me too! What breed?"

"Paso Fino."

"Oh nice! Gaited and fast."

"What's your's?"

"Quarter horse."

"Classic breed."

"They are, what's yours's name?"

"Rebecca?"

A giant laugh erupted out of Jacy.

"I'm sorry," he giggled into his hand, "I wasn't expected such peopley name."

Lila Mae smiled. "I named her when I was six!"

Jacy looked up, the moonlight catching in his eyes, he looked like a thought just struck him.

"LILA!!!!!"

Lila Mae jumped and spun around. Someone from the bonfire was screaming her name. She quickly pulled out her phone and checked the time.

"Oh! Geez! I have to go. I think my mom's here."

"Oh! Okay! I''l walk you back."

Lila Mae hurried over the cornstalk nubs, accidentally stabbing herself in the foot several times.

"Oh my God, your poor feet," Jacy exclaimed in shock, "Where are your real shoes!?"

"It's fine," she said tightly, weaving between the larger, more upright stumps.

"Oh my God, come here." Jacy swooped in behind her and swept her up. A small, short yelp caught in her throat as she quickly locked her arms around their neck.

Please don't drop me, please don't drop me, she thought as he carried her safely across the cornfield.

As they got closer to the bonfire, Jacy set her gently back down to her feet.

"Thank you," she said quietly and power walked back to the front yard. Jacy followed behind her.

"Will you come to the next one?"

She bit her lip and thought about it.

"It's okay, if you don't want to." Jacy shrugged and looked down. The earring was flashing again, this time a warm, orangey reflection of the fire.

"Um, maybe."

Jacy looked up from under their eyelashes and grinned, "I'll see you then, Lila Mae.