Young Adult Friction

After Today

"I'm really sorry your project got shut down by the government." Jade brought him to the local playground. Both of them seated on swings meant for children aged eleven and below.

"It's alright, it was bound to happen." Charlie attempts to look on the bright side but Jade can feel his negative aura inches away. "Besides, it wouldn't have worked either way."

"Bullshit."Jade swings off and lands on her feet, stumbling a bit. Jade opened her mouth to say something inspirational yet nothing came out. "Actually you're right it wouldn't have worked." She goes back to her swing, defeated. Charlie smiles at Jade, she doesn't notice as she looks down at the ground.

"Thank you though, for helping me," Charlie says as he kicks his feet up, adding momentum to the swing. "I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"Okay now THAT parts bullshit, believe me I had fun this summer." Jade points a finger at Charlie. Despite her sarcastic and pretentious nature, Jade managed to enjoy her summer.

"Alright, I'm sorry." Charlie grins into his hand, slouching down on the swing. "Please distract me with your weird questions..."

"If it makes you any better." Jade attempts to swing violently. "So, are you a virgin?" Charlie sighs at the utter of Jade's question, which is then proceeded with a laugh.

"I'm going to be honest with you..." Jade widens her eyes and slaps her hand on her mouth.

"So you are!"

"I mean, yeah. Why, does that surprise you?"

"I don't know," Jade avoids Charlie's gaze as she looks onward to the almost sunset sky. "You just looked experienced to me." With this Charlie let out a hearty laugh, startling Jade.

"That's actually so funny, do I really look experienced?"

"It was just a hunch! A big guess." Charlie let out an okay, still amused at Jades explanation.

"So I'm guessing you're experienced yourself..." Charlie says. Jade looks at him, a flushed look wandering his face. "Is it alright if I ask weird questions?"

"Go ahead." Jade shrugged. At this point nothing weirded her out. She mentally prepared herself just in case he asked her to have sex with him. That's something everyone asks.

"Have you ever loved somebody?"

"Huh?" Huh?

"Like, have you ever had such strong feelings for someone at one point in your life?"

Jade hesitates to answer. She never anticipated someone would ask her did. Did she ever truly loved even once in her life? The answer was,

"Yes, I did in fact love someone."

"Who?"

"My first boyfriend, Louis."

"That must be nice." Charlie leaned back, holding onto the chains of the swing. "To love and be loved back."

"Trust me, it's not when you're the only one doing it..."

Charlie lets out a hand and pats jades back once again. The sun slowly set as the sky darkened. Jade grabs for Charlies hand and holds it, bring both their swings closer.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Charlie asks. "You know, Louis and all."

Jade ponders a bit, intertwining her hand with Charlie's. It was gone to a dim blue, the kind of sky Jade enjoyed. She didn't know what feeling she felt around this time of day, all she knew that during that time, she felt at peace. Holding Charlie's hands added even more to that feeling. Jade turns to her side and smiles at Charlie.

"We don't talk about him anymore."