Random Short Stories

Afternoon in the Park

I laugh as I watch Bryce make a fool of himself as he tries to get his team to guess what he's acting out. Ever since we started dating six months ago, I have quickly learned that he is not good at playing Charades. At all.

Bryce continues to jump around like a lunatic while his team shouts out random guesses.

I exchange glances with my teammates, and we burst into another round of laughter.

"Time!" Rachel calls out, and Bryce's shoulders slump in defeat.

"Come on guys," Bryce complains, "It was a kangaroo!"

Frank and Ryan shoot Bryce confused expressions.

"That was not a kangaroo," Ryan defends, reaching over and patting Bryce's shoulder as he sits on the grass next to him.

Bryce glares at him. "I'd like to see you do better."

I meet Bryce's gaze and can't help but giggle. I know that Ryan is never one to back down from a challenge. From the way that Bryce smirks, he knows it too.

"Fine." Ryan gets to his feet and heads to the front of the group before he proceeds to try to hop around like a kangaroo.

I have to admit that it's obvious that he is being a kangaroo. My boyfriend just can't act to save his life.

Jensyn falls backwards onto the grass, staring up at the blue sky that's almost entirely covered with clouds. She unexpectedly tugs on my hand and pulls me down to the ground with her.

"Um, hi Jensyn," I say, slightly surprised.

She just keeps looking up and smiles at me. "Aren't the clouds so pretty?"

I laugh, but I have to agree with her.

"I vote we play a different game," Bryce says grumpily, drawing my attention back to the group. Frank laughs as Ryan takes a bow in front of everyone.

Rachel eagerly leans forward and suggests, "I have a soccer ball in my car!"

Before long, almost everyone in the group agrees to play the sport, and everyone starts standing up.

I just sit and shake my head when Bryce turns his cute puppy eyes onto me. "There's no way you're getting me to play that game. You know I have no coordination for that," I say, knowing that he'll probably convince me anyway.

I can't win against him.

Bryce continues to pout. "Come on, Sariah. Please? For me?"

We have a short stare down before I groan out, "I hate you, you know that?"

He grins in victory before extending his hand down to help me stand up.

I can't help but grin back as I take his hand. My grin only grows when he doesn't let go, and wraps his other arm around my waist. I lean my head on his shoulder as Rachel jogs over to their row of cars to get her soccer ball.

"You'll have fun, Ri. I promise," Bryce assures, softly kissing the top of my head.

"Define fun?"

Bryce chuckles, releasing his hold on my hand to pull on my ponytail.

"Hey!" I protest, pulling away and lightly punching his shoulder.

He just grins again before shouting to Rachel to kick the ball to him.

I somehow manage to keep up with the game for ten minutes before I walk over to the designated sideline and plop down, exhausted.