Running From Love

Love Story

"I'm still confused." Julia said for what seemed like the millionth time. She's been new in town for a month and has yet to understand the Boulder run concept.

"Okay. Let me try explaining this again." Sarah said with a bit of irritation in her voice. "So, right now, we're living on the right side of Balderdash (pronounced: BoulderDash). Every year, the steel gates rise so we can run across. If we don't run in time, we get crushed by the boulders at the top of the hill."

"How do they get to the top of the hill? And how do they get there each year?" Julia challenged.

"Here, I've got this one." Henry, Sarah's boyfriend, offered, seeing that this had stumped her. "All the boulders rush down the down the hill and into this huge trench at the bottom. They go underground where this river carries them up-stream, to the top of the mountain."

"How do they stay there all year?"

"I got this." Sarah said. "There's a trapdoor in the middle of the run-field. Our boulder boy, Jeremy, goes underground to that trapdoor and waits for the perfect moment to open the door and grab the perfect rock that weighs just enough to be put on the boulder button--."

"Boulder button?"

"I know. Stupid, right?" Henry responded.

"Focus! So that it can weigh it down. That button being pressed down at exactly 5:00pm will cause the walls to go back down for a whole entire year. More or less."

"Got it?" Sarah and Henry asked in unison.

Julia crosses her arms and sulked, seeing she had lost the battle. "Yeah I got it."

As Julia walked away, Sarah held her hands up for a double high five.

"Oh yeah!" Sarah said as their hands connected. Henry kept holding her hands and, in a semi-circular motion, brought her hands down, kissing her on the cheek in the process.

"I love you, Sarah."

"I know. And with all my heart I really, really, really, really like you." She responded with a smile.

"Ugh, Sarah. Why can't you just tell me?"

"Because I already told you - I don't think a person can really mean love until they're, like, eighteen. And guess what? It's my eighteenth birthday today at exactly 5:00pm."

"Well, I know that. Hey! How about we go out, so we can capture the moment."

"Of course. That's a great idea. Plus, have ever kissed before?"

"Ye--"

"On the lips?"

"No."

"So it'll be our first kiss, too. Perfect!"

"So in an hour then?"

"Alright. See you then?"

"See you then." They parted ways.

~•~

"Why are you combing your hair?" Eric asked.

"Henry's taking me on a date for my birthday." Sarah sighed dreamily.

"What? But it's your eighteenth birthday! I, your loving brother, was going to make you a cake!"

"Yeah, but this is my boyfriend. And today, I'm going to tell him."

"Tell him what?"

"HOLY CRANE FEATHERS, IT'S 4:15! I've gotta go!" Sarah rushed out the the tent, dropping her phone in the action.