𝐷𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐸𝑦𝑒𝑠

37

I hold my breath as I catch a glimpse of him walking down the street, his hands in his pockets and the monkey on his shoulder.

Oh my God, this is it.

I start sweating as he gets closer and closer, my mind immediately wandering towards the millions of doubts I've cooked up over the past couple of months.

Puck immediately scrambles down his leg and takes off towards the playground.

"Hi, Tiara."
He greets, waving awkwardly.

I open my mouth but nothing comes out.

This is a very nostalgic moment.

This park, this very bench.

The start of our relationship. Our friendship.

I almost cry.

Oh my God, I've got to get myself together.

"It's been a while. How are you?"
He greets politely, sitting down on the bench.

Our bench.

I can't help but smile a little as I think back to our second encounter.

God, it feels like that happened years ago.

"Um. Hi, thanks for agreeing to meet up with me. I um. I found a stick on the way here."
I clear my throat, holding up a rose.

He raises an eyebrow, taking it.

"Ah. The prettiest stick one could find in this world full of thorns."
He mutters, holding it up to his nose and inhaling.

My hands feel clammy.

"It was very thoughtful of you. I can't lie, I'm a little nervous."
He reads my mind, admiring the rose.

I sit down next to him slowly, trying to get my jumbled thoughts together.

"Me too."
I whisper.

Silence.

"I think I know what's going on here."
He smiles a little.

I bite my lip.

"You want to apologize. You don't have to, I know already. Really. Are you going to cry? Please don't cry, Tiara I know you feel bad."
He assures me.

My eyes are indeed tearing up.

"I have to say it. It'll just drive me way past the normal level of insanity if I just keep on saying it in my head."
I whisper.

"You've always been past the normal level of insanity."
He teases.

"I...I miss you so much."
I laugh nervously, blinking my eyes a couple times.

He sighs.

"I know, lovie."
He soothes.

I try not to break down.

I miss being his lovie more than anything else.

"I feel horrible. Like absolute trash."
I groan.

"We've all been there. It's cool."
He shrugs.

"I miss you so much. I was so nervous on the way over here, I threw up in that trash can over there."
I blab, pointing to the other side of the park.

He raises an eyebrow.

"Really? But you never throw up."
He reminds me.