everything I didn't say

eleven

"Where are we going?" I whine as Niall drags me further down the path.

"God, can't I take you on a walk?" He laughs, continuing to pull on my hand. 

"I don't wanna walk." I frown, feeling lazy today.

"Come on, walk and talk." He gives me one last tug that straightens me out, and I give in and stop my protesting that has gotten me nowhere.

"So, how have you been?" He smiles.

"I've been good, the same answer I gave you when you asked me that five minutes ago."

"I'm not good at starting conversations."

"Noted. Did your parents tell you happy birthday yesterday?" I ask and he nods. "My mom called me crying, it was the cutest thing."

"I don't even want to think about my mom's reaction to me turning twenty three."

"You have awhile, babe." He laughs at me and I look up to him.

"Do you have plans on settling down any time soon?" I say.

"Settling down?" He gives it an almost nasty look. Sometimes I forget boys don't think the same way girls do.

"I mean," I look ahead at the path. "I always pictured me like married at twenty three or something."

"How do you know I'm not married?"

"I think it's safe to assume you're not, unless you eloped without telling me."

"Okay, so I always thought by twenty three I'd be graduated from college with a fiance or wife, too. I'm not gonna lie."

"Do you plan on graduating this year?"

"No, I have another year after this because I switched my majors freshman year and lost a year, I could've graduated this year."

"Switched majors? What was your beginning major?"

"English."

"So that's why you're so naturally poetic." I wink at him but it fails and we both laugh.

"Why'd you switch?"

He shrugs and his face in a way contorts like he is thinking of a lie. "Personal preference." He says, that I don't believe, but I don't push it further.

"What about you?" He asks. "You're twenty three, and what do you see? Go."

"Hopefully I have a major in English. On my way to my first published book or even on a new project after already publishing one? Who knows." I shrug. "A fiance would be kind of cool, too."

"Sounds like a bright future."

"I think so."

"Do you want kids when you're older?" We step over a branch in the middle of the pathway.

"Yeah, but only one or two. I think I'd be a pretty good mom."

"I never wanted kids up until my nephew was born. He made me want one of my own someday."

"That's sweet."

 "It's something," He shrugs, looking at the ground. "Is Julie your best friend?"

"I wouldn't say she's my best friend. Just my closest friend here. My best friend is back in Arizona, her name is Jessica."

"Best friend or only friend?" He questions and I reach over and hit him in the stomach with the back of my hand, scowling.

"I'll take that as she was your only friend, then?"