Short Stories

Midnight Stroll

Sometimes people just needed some time away from all the noise and the bullshit of the world. That's exactly what you told yourself as you threw on a sweatshirt, pocketed your phone and walked out the front door of your house leaving the feuding voices of your parents behind.

The cool summer air was a refreshing feeling against your burning eyes. Your pace was quick as you subconsciously walked towards your favorite childhood spot. The park behind your elementary school was only a five minute walk and it had been your hang out spot for years with your friends. It was deserted this late at night as you made your way to the swings. Planting yourself in the worn rubber seat, you pushed off against the sand and tilted your head back to see the dark blue sky littered with stars.

The sound of footsteps on gravel made you look down and be on your guard right away. A tall figure was walking towards you. He looked familiar but you couldn't place where you had seen him. His gaze was on the floor and he didn't notice you until he had sat down in the swing seat beside you and finally looked up.

"Wh -. Who are you?" His deep voice held a rough edge to it making him sound upset.

"Me? Who are you?"

"I'm Luke. Your turn."

You told him your name hesitantly unsure if it was safe to be talking to a random stranger this late at night when no one knew where you had gone.

"I've seen you before." Luke spoke your thoughts as he squinted in thought, "Weren't you in my math class?"

That's when it clicked, "Math with Miller?"

Luke nodded his head with a small smile as you both finally realized where you had seen each other before.

"So what beings you here so late?" Luke asked quietly after a few minutes of silence.

You shrugged as the wind picked up around you, "Just needed some air. You?"

"Same." The lie fell easily from both you and Luke but the sadness in both of your voices was too much to ignore.

"It's my parents." You finally admitted.

Luke listened as you let go of everything that was bothering you. It was much easier to talk to someone who you had only just met rather than the people who had been your friends for years.

As time passed Luke opened up about what was bothering him as well and after an hour the both of you were still swinging gently on the swings as your hands was holding Luke's. This boy who had just been a passing face seen in the halls of your school was your new source of comfort.

It was well past one in the morning and you and Luke had walked around your neighborhood twice before he finally dropped you off at your doorstep.

"So..." Luke stood with his hands in his jean pockets as he looked at the ground, "Would you like to...maybe hang out again?"

You stopped yourself from nodding too eagerly and promised to meet Luke at the same place and same time the next night.

Luke stepped forward and left a lingering kiss on your cheek before he turned and walked away. You couldn't wait to see him again.