Falling

T W E N T Y - O N E

"So what's the deal with you and Will?" Peyton leans back on her hands and tilts her face up to the sun, soaking it in as much as possible.

April slides her sunglasses down her nose and peers at me over them. "Yeah, you guys are totally into each other but you aren't doing anything about it."

Today we decided to enjoy our lunches outside on the lawn in the courtyard since it's a sunny day and the weather is great, which is rare for early-October.

Us girls are sitting in the grass soaking up the sun while the guys are tossing a football around several feet away from us.

I sigh. "You guys he's not into me. And I'm just not ready for a relationship."

"He's definitely into you and you're definitely into him. A blind man could see it. You're just scared. Why are you scared?" Peyton sits up to get a better look at me. I just continue to watch the boys. More like Will.

"Fine." I start. "I'm scared. You're right."

"Scared of what? There's nothing to be afraid of." April rubs my back comfortingly.

"I don't know. I'm scared of holding hands, kissing, falling for someone that could potentially not be 'the one' for me and end up breaking my heart." I keep my eyes trained on Will and I watch as he throws the football to Mason, his arm flexing as he does so.

The three of us sit in silence for a few moments before Peyton breaks it. "So, you're saying that you're just never going to date?"

I shake my head and finally turn to look at her. "I didn't say that."

"But if you don't date people and take risks, how are you going to be able to fall for the one that is 'the one'?"

I look away from her and furrow my eyebrows. "I don't know. But I don't want to waste all of my 'firsts' on someone that's going to one day walk out of my life and take all of my pieces with them."

"Katelynn, you're setting yourself up for eternal loneliness." April rubs my back again. "Besides, you don't have to give everything to someone right away. Ease into it. Go slow. But love requires risks. Remember that."

The boys have started walking back towards us so I lean back on my hands and continue to feel the warm sun on my skin. They're laughing about something when they get back to us and one by one they all drop to the ground to sit beside us.

Will picks up my can of soda from the vending machine and takes a sip. I watch him with curious eyes as he stretches his jean clad legs out beside mine clad in a corduroy skirt.

He seemed much more shy when we first met. And I tell him exactly this.

He turns his head to look at me. "What?"

"You were. And now, you're not careful about what you say or do and you have no problem just taking or using my things." I tell him.

He considers me for a moment with his beautiful brown eyes before speaking. "I'm just comfortable now."

We have a bit of a stare down for a moment before I look away and down to my legs and cross them at the ankles the other way.

"Makes sense." I nod.

The bell rings signaling the end of lunch. I stuff my phone into the front pocket of my school bag and sling the strap into my shoulder. Since Will is already up on his feet he holds out a hand to me. I accept his hand and he swiftly pulls me up to my feet, making it seem as though I weigh absolutely nothing. His hand lingers in mine for a moment longer than normal before he releases my hand to bend over and pick up my Dr. Pepper that he finished off. He crushes the can in his hands before throwing it into the trash can.