Day 1 of Forever

It was a crisp summer evening, just before the start of school. As always, Callie and I met up with the rest of our friends to spend one last night of freedom at the festival. I remember how the familiar smell of fried food and sunshine filled the air. She wore a  t-shirt from a camp we went to years ago, jean shorts, and a tight bandana that held back her shoulder-length auburn hair. I remembered because I couldn't help but think that she looked really nice that day. I remembered because I really wanted to know if it was possible that she wanted to look really nice for...me.

We were all standing in line for the ferris wheel when I felt a tug on my arm. Turning a bit, I came face to face with her. I jumped back a bit, trying to hide a violent blush on my cheeks. 

"Let's sit together," She said, still holding my arm. She seemed to avoid my eyes. A part of me told me that she was nervous, but the rational part of me shook it off.

What was there to be nervous about? We were just 2 girl friends, hanging out. Just friends, being best friends, nothing more, nothing less. 

Just friends. 

And if sometimes I found myself staring at her for too long, and my heart starts to beat too fast when she puts her arm around me, and I sometimes wish her "I love you"'s meant a bit more, then so be it.

\Soon, it was our turn. We gently rocked back and forth into the air, settling into a comfortable silence, just enjoying the view.

The ferris wheel stopped, just as we were at the top. 

"Well," She grinned, her braces glinting in the light. "More time together, I guess?"

We talked a bit, just swinging through the air. The quickly fading sky streamed through her hair.

Callie turned towards me, slightly shaking the booth. With the air that smelled so much of sunshine and her perfume, and the light framing her face in the faded hues of evening light, she looked like an angel.

I don't know what got into me. Maybe it was the ferris wheel's gentle lull, or her words, or just how much I wanted to look her in the eyes and stay there, forever, high up in the air.

All I knew was that, just then, for the first time in my life, I had to take a leap of faith towards what I knew my heart wanted.

"I-"

I opened my eyes with a start, hearing my doorbell ring. Callie. Grabbing my things, I ran, jumping down my stairs two at a time.

I reached the door and opened it, slightly out of breath. I saw her staring down at me.

"Ready?" Callie's eyes crinkled a bit as she smiled.

"Yep, love you."

"I love you, too"

Just like all those years ago.