After a month, I was waiting at Isabelle’s last period class, as usual. The class was an hour from my last period, as usual. I was sitting at this bench, as usual. I had my earphones on as I read a book, as usual. Everything was so usual it all felt foreign today. I will miss doing this, because maybe, today is the last. Graduation goggles.
“Earphones on nose in a book” I knew it was her because no one else can do that here. High school hierarchy. “One of your best qualities, Mathew Schneider!” then she laughed.
“Hey Belle…
“Matt!”
“…we wont be going straight home, okay?” I said ignoring her interruption. I am going to have fun on this day whatever it takes “we are going to eat outside. I already asked your mom, no need to thank me” I smiled and so did she.
I took her to the garden, it’s the garden. Our favorite place in the world. I would stick to the familiarities today. “We will have a picnic!” I announced. The way her face lit up is enough. We sat together as I removed the contents of my basket.
“Chips and Ice cream and wafers and sandwiches and jell-o and chocolates more Ice creams”
She gasped “The perfect picnic” she planned a perfect picnic when we were young, all sweets and a lot of Ice cream. And that’s what I prepared. “What’s the occasion?”
“Is an occasion a prerequisite?” I teased.
“Stop mocking me! I never mock you!” she said while pouting and I couldn’t help but stare. I needed several seconds to compose my self. I smiled and put my tongue out, and she stared. “Let’s not do that again”
“Agreed”. I don’t really mean it
After a while the sunset passed and it was dark. We stared at the stars and she started to move “Well, the sun is set, I guess it’s time to go” We were the only ones in the garden and she was already standing up. I held her hand to stop her and pulled her down. I couldn’t resist anymore.
I kissed her.
And she kissed me back.
When she pulled the kiss off, we were both wide-eyed and stunned. And I was because she kissed me back. She was about to do something (Leave, maybe) but I stopped her “Please let me explain.” She looked at me and I stared back, after a while she relaxed, a sign that she was listening. “It’s rather simple, really. I love you, Iz.” The grave intensity of the word had an unsettling yet overpowering taste on my mouth. It was the very first time I had said that word. “I had since forever but I just didn’t know. Loosing you those few days were the worst days of my life, that’s why it took me so long to say this to you. I didn’t want to loose you forever.” She wasn’t looking at me so I held her face to me, but her eyes gazed at the stars. I continued “I love you, Isabelle. And you deserve to know that. I know it’s hard, but I want us to remain friends. Please? I needed to tell you even if you don’t love me back” She looked at me “Please, Iz?”
Then she kissed me.
And I couldn’t move.
She pulled away and I didn’t know what to do.
“I guess it’s my time to talk” She said “I love you too Matt. Since forever”
“What?” I asked. “Can you say that again, I just--”
She giggled (ACTUALLY GIGGLED!!) then cut me off “I love you Mathew Schneider. I loved you since forever”
I laughed. How could we have been so stupid? “And I love you Maria Isabelle Evans. Forever and for always”
I hugged her and she hugged me and it was the happiest moment I ever had in my entire life
