Stars

'You're quiet tonight' he broke the silence between us. His deep voice was a sudden yet welcomed interruption from my thoughts.

I stayed silent still hoping he would say something more and kept slowly swinging. After the rain ended at 8pm he had tapped lightly on the window of my room, my house being a single story usually aided him in his evil plans, not as evil as irritating, only to get me out of the house. Being friends for years we had gotten close few months back after he moved in the same street as me.

There was sound around us, not noise that is what I will call it. The distinct bark of the dog few houses away from the park, the crickets chipper in the distance somewhere hidden in the grass, the winds whisper as it got disturbed from its path and hit us and the creaking sound of both our swings moving. His voice had been the most exciting one of all. Our conversation, in which he mostly talked, had lead us to the park and on the swings. I heard him stop splashing his feet in the puddle underneath the swing. It was a scary feeling being so aware of him. It had been a month since I first developed a tiny crush on him, but knowing it’s useless to pursue I didn't say anything. I turned to look at him. He stared right back with an eyebrow raised waiting for my reply. The signs of rain still adorn his hair few drops shinned as the yellow street light fell on them. His deep brown eyes seemed to appear light as well. Filled with concern and freshness, I turned away, smiling and started swinging faster, few seconds later turned towards him, my lips stretched in a grin and with a laugh I taunted 'try and keep up'

The concern from his eyes disappeared and amusement took its place, he grinned right back at me and the swinging match began.

The rush I felt, as we both swung higher testing the limitations of the poor swings, high lightened all my senses. The itch on my raw palms and the nauseating feeling I got as I went higher was ignored because I only concentrated on his laugh. It felt childish, me initiating the competition that he was clearly winning and I always being a sour loser kept shouting cheater at him.

Eventually he jumped of the swing showing off as he landed perfectly on his feet. I knew it was hopeless to even think of trying to jump so I slowed down as he stood waiting tapping his feet, the cocky grin never wavering.

'That was interesting' he said as I walked towards him rubbing my palms together trying to dull the throbbing ache.

'You have long legs' I blurted out.

He laughed 'long legs?'

'Why you won' I answered blushing a little. Even though I wasn't looking at him I had heard mischief in his voice.

'I did not know it was a competition. I would have tried harder' he said puffing his chest out making me laugh.

Silence took over again. I wanted to be comfortable in it but tonight I was addicted to his voice. I wanted us to talk about anything and everything. More than that I wanted his hand to close the distance and hold mine. Feeling a change in the air around us it was almost static. Each step made my heart beat accelerate, like the rain had washed every doubt away. It had cleared up my feelings. I felt an unwanted pull towards him and it made me think if he felt it too, if he wanted to hold my hand as well. I am not a believer in fate or that things happen suddenly but this night felt cosmic, a collision of two very different people. I took a deep breath through my nose so I could calm down by the wet earthy smell.

'There are no stars out tonight.' I said trying to keep in step with him.

'Why do you want to see the stars up there when we have them down here within reach' he replied bending his head to the side looking at me.

'Within reach?' I repeated, 'a star can burn your hands' I laughed.

He bent down to pluck a wild flower shaking his head in amusement 'Look around. See the stars'

I stopped and slowly spun in a circle. Now that we were away from the street light I could see the fireflies all around us.

*GASPS*

I had been so absorbed in him I failed to notice the little buzzing lights. Still enchanted by the hundred lights around us I felt him step next to me taking my hand in his. There was an initial shock at how casually he had acted but there was comfort too as if in a world of wrongs a right action had taken place. I felt the tear and rawness of his hand with the firmness. I looked up at him to find him smiling right back at me. A firefly chose the moment to come and sit on my nose for a second before flying off. 'A sign of their blessing, I'll take it' he said with a small laugh making me grin.

'Stars' I whispered captivated by his eyes that reflected only me back.

'Stars' he replied tucking the flower in his other hand behind my ear.