73 Memories

The Twenty-Second Memory

Two weeks later, you and I were sitting outside of school, eating lunch. I'll admit, I was surprised you hung around after I told you everything. Somehow, you found it in your heart to understand why I kept it from you, too.

After I finished eating the cupcake you so graciously bought me, you asked me if I wanted to take a walk around the school. "Sure," I replied, "I don't see why not." I smiled at you and you grinned back, but it didn't seem as wide. I remember thinking about how worried you looked, but I didn't ask because I knew you'd tell me if you wanted to.

Eventually, you stopped walking. When I noticed, I walked backward until I was next to you. "Why'd you stop?"

You rubbed your arm nervously and looked like an innocent child. "Could you, like, close your eyes?"

I felt my eyebrows turn down in confusion. "Why?"

"I'll lead you, but I just have a surprise."

I nodded and closed my eyes, and I remember not having a single clue what the surprise was.

I felt you grab each of my arms and push me forward a little so I would start walking. I took the hint, and with every step, you kept me steady and then, I felt you try to turn me. When I complied, I counted the rest of the steps until you told me to stop. Thirty-five. "Okay, just wait here," you mumbled next to my ear. I nodded and kept my eyes closed.

I could hear you shuffling around things, and I immediately got scared. Was this when I would die? That was my only thought until you said, "Okay. You can open your eyes."

I sucked in a deep breath, all of a sudden not sure if I wanted to, even though before I was dying to know what you were doing, now I was scared to find out. But I hesitantly peeled my eyes open.
When I saw what it was, I stifled a squeal and settled for a gasp.

In front of me, was you, standing in front of the school with a bag of noodles in your hand. That was the first thing I noticed. But then I took in what was surrounding you.

On the side of the school, you had a huge banner hanging. I don't know how you did it, but you did.

The banner looked like it had spaghetti and meatballs in a bowl, and in thick black ink, the side of the bowl said:

WHAT'S THE PASTABILITY YOU'D GO TO PROM WITH ME?

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as I walked towards you. When I was right in front of you, I said, "The pastability is... like... one hundred percent."

I heard the thunk of the bag full of noodles hitting the ground, and then you were kissing me.