If It's Meant To Be

7 February 2012

Anna was laughing at a joke Josie had made when Tommy spotted her. He paused, simply shocked by how his heart had reacted. He had never known a crush like this before. Only yesterday was he hearing her laugh at something he had said. Their impromptu date had led to his heart beating unusually fast every time they accidently touched.

He watched silently and smiled when she noticed him.

Anna surprised herself when a butterfly appeared in her stomach at the sight of him.

"I see your date went well." Josie said, noticing where Anna's eyes had drifted to and the smile that came immediately after.

"I told you, it wasn't a date. We just went to the park. As friends."

"I don't know who you're trying to convince with that lie." Josie shook her head, "I set you two up for reason and it was not so you could be just friends. Which, by the way, he definitely would not like to hear."
"Really? And why is that Ms. Know-it-all?"

"Because, sweetheart, I've never seen him look at me like that and I'm his actual friend. You on the other hand, are more of a love interest."

Anna rolled her eyes and Josie laughed, turning away.

"Where are you going?" Anna said in slight panic.

"To give you two some privacy." It was only then that Anna noticed Tommy walking towards them.

"Hey, Josie." He said and suddenly Anna felt self-conscious. Her lips felt dry and she worried whether her hair still looked the same way it did in the mirror that morning.

"Hi, Tommy. You too have a good talk." She winked and laughed when Anna gave her a warning look. Rolling her eyes at her, Josie walked away in search of a new friend to have lunch with seeing as Anna would be more than preoccupied during the half hour break.

"I was hoping we could sit together." Tommy said, shyly running a hand through his hair.

"Only if you let me touch your hair again." She said as they began walking toward the cafeteria.

"What is with you and hair?" He asked, excited to feel her touch again.

"Not just hair, white hair." He gave her an odd look and she smiled in embarrassment.

"Don't you like your hair?" Tommy asked, looking at her hair.

"I love it. I mean wash days can be tiring and sometimes it won't work with me but I love its versatility. I want it short? Throw some water on it and it shrinks. Straight? Blow dryer and straightener. Afro? Comb it out. Curls? Style it, dry it and voila! Definition." Anna's confidence slowly returned as Tommy looked at her in awe.

"Wow." He said. "Now I wish I had your hair." Anna laughed, putting a hand on his shoulder,

"I hate to break it to you but if you woke up tomorrow morning with this," she pointed at her half slicked back afro, "you wouldn't survive."

"I could. A little hair gel and a brush and I'm set." She laughed, and much to Tommy's disappointment, removed her hand as they sat down.

"Tommy, you would cut it off in a week."

"It can't be that hard." He said and began taking out his lunch.

"Do you even personally know any black girls?" She questioned, eyebrows raised.

"Yes." He said, removing a water bottle from his bag.

"Excluding me."

Tommy looked at her, smiled sheepishly as if admitting defeat.

"Ha! Are you talking to me just out of curiosity?"

Tommy was taken aback. Was that what she thought she was to him, a mere experiment?

"Of course not. I like you and not because you have darker skin than me."

They were silent as Anna took a bite of her sandwich, a small smile on her face as more butterflies flapped their wings.

"You like me." She said after a minute of Tommy worrying about his word choice.

"I thought that was clear." He said, slightly nervous.

"Well I guess friends should like each other." Josie's words were at the back of her mind. She had said it as an attempt to get him to clarify how he felt about her.

"Uh... Did you forget that we've been on three dates already? Why would you think I want to just be your friend?"

Anna was shocked by his honesty and choked on her food.

"Are you okay?" He asked, patting her back. After a moment of coughing she was distracted by the feel of his hand. He had stopped patting and was now gently rubbing her back in little circles in an attempt to calm her.

Attempt failed. The butterflies had multiplied and were performing summersaults in her stomach.

"Uhm." Anna couldn't think straight. "Uh..." She was baffled by the amount of emotion this boy was stirring up in her. "I-"

"Is something wrong?" Tommy asked, subconsciously placing a hand on hers. He was unaware of the feeling it gave her and she had no idea how much he loved the feel of her smooth skin and the warmth of her back.

Anna pulled away.

"Did I do something wrong?" Hesitantly, he added, "Did you want us to be just friends?"

They were quiet for a moment, with only the sound of their rapid heartbeats to remind them of where they were.

"No." Anna whispered just as the bell rang.

"I don't want to just be your friend." She was staring down at her hands when a cool touch made her look up. She stared into Tommy's blue grey eyes and he stared back into the abyss of darkness that were her irises.

"Then don't." Tommy stroked his thumb across her cheek and Anna turned away, an involuntary smile and warmth spreading across her chocolate skin.

"We should get going." She whispered, turning to look at him and placing a warm hand on the one still placed on her cheek.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" He asked, worried that he was being too forward.

"No, I just don't think school is the kind of place for this kind of thing." He smiled, relishing the warmth of her.

"I guess that calls for a fourth date." Tommy stood, packing away his things.

"I guess so." They shared a flirty smile, stuck in the moment of joy when you find out your crush likes you back; when they touch you with meaning and their heart races in time with yours.