Twenty-six Steps with Easton

six

T S S W E

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SIX

heartbeats

—

the sound of the heart as it tries to keep you alive

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WHEN THE TIME finally came for Paloma to start getting ready for her date with Easton, she had already thought of every possible situation where things could go wrong.

It wasn't right of her to assume things could go wrong, but she couldn't help it. It was in her nature to think the worst of all outcomes because god forbid, something turns out right for once in her life. She didn't let the events of her past determine her present entirely, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't spend time worrying.

After all, history had a tendency of repeating itself.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Paloma sighed as she finished tying her hair into a messy bun. She had a difficult time recognizing the person staring back at her, but now was not the time to dwell on that fact. Easton would be knocking on her door soon, and she didn't want to give the impression that she was sad.

Not today.

Giving one last look at herself in the mirror, she picked up her phone and walked out to the living room. Enzo was sleeping soundly on the couch, nose buried underneath his paws. She resisted the urge to take a picture, quietly making her way around him to avoid waking him.

Leaning against the kitchen counter, she sent a quick text to Dain, hoping that he would be able to stop by and let Enzo out for a bit while she was away. A few minutes passed as she tried to relax, but as the clock neared seven, her heart rate started to pick up.

A quiet knock resounded from the front, causing Paloma to glance up from her phone. She hurried to fetch the blanket from the couch as well as her purse before opening the door to a certain brown eyed boy.

The corners of Easton's lips quirked up at the sight of her, relief flooding through his eyes. She almost chuckled but chose to hold it in, offering him a shy smile instead. Little did he know, Paloma was just as relieved.

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THERE WAS A slight chill in the air, but Paloma didn't mind it. In fact, she welcomed it with open arms as she closed her eyes to take in the fresh smell of newly blossomed cherry trees. She let her blanket, which was loosely wrapped around her shoulders, gently fall to the ground as she basked in the fresh scents.

Content with nature, she let out a small sigh and smiled to herself. She blinked one eye open and glanced over at the boy to her side, who quickly turned to look out to the scene in front of them. She took note of the pink rising up to his ears and stifled a giggle.

"Thank you," she whispered, letting the soft breeze carry her words to the boy listening quietly beside her.

She misses the slight upturn of his lips at her words, but she hears a faint, "For what?" shortly after. Paloma turns her head to really look at him, sitting with his knees hugged tightly to his chest, ears still pink from the cold. His hair was in its usual unruly mess, but it suited him, she thought, almost as if it was a hairstyle he'd spent years perfecting. His dark brown eyes were still looking ahead, but she knew he was well aware of her stare, if the ghost of a smile playing at his lips was any indication.

"For being here with me."

Easton turned to face her almost immediately, his features softening once he caught her eyes. With dark brown irises searching her own, she felt exposed but nonetheless, she kept her gaze fixed on his, unwavering and determined. She hoped that he knew she meant it — she was thankful.

This was unlike any other date she'd been on in the past. It was quiet, but it lacked the usual awkwardness that filled the air whenever someone would go silent. Neither asked very many questions, as if they already had all the answers in their heart, and there wasn't a need to show off or impress the other person. Both were content with sharing small smiles and simply being in each other's presence, enraptured by the beauty of nature around them.

Paloma broke eye contact first, casting her eyes downward to study the colorful patterns on her blanket in an attempt to slow the rapid beating of her heart. She didn't understand why she felt so drawn to Easton, but she couldn't deny her feelings toward him. He made her feel comfortable, safe even, with his smile and presence alone. And though he didn't always say much, he had a delicate way with words and she appreciated the moments when he chose to speak his mind. She may not have known what his favorite color was or when his birthday was, but a part of her felt like she already knew him.

"Thank you, too, you know," he uttered, "for being here with me and thanking me. I hope you know it means a lot, way more than you know."

Her heart fluttered once more.

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09 june 2020

cont.