Crack of dawn, awaken and rise. Soon Karlie walked into the dairy, again, only to run into a hyper Sean.
“Karls! Karls! Karls!” he yelled from behind the counter, practically jumping up and down.
“Hey Sean! Good morning.”
She was all smiles today.
Karlie continued to the storage room as Sean followed alongside, still yelping uncontrollably.
“Karlie! Karlie!”
“Yes, Sean?”
She was still walking, still smiling subtly to herself.
“Did you hear about the party tonight? The ball, or dance, sort of thing, and I’m sure you’ll be invited!”
“What? How would I be invited if I didn’t even hear about it until right now? That’s –
“Taylor’s parents are hosting it, Karls! I’m sure she’ll invite you! Oh boy, you’ve got connections now, Karls!”
“Really?” Karlie said, smiling.
Sean continued on.
“Oh my God, Karls! I’m so jealous! I’m sure there will be plenty of pretty girls there, just floating around –
“I thought you liked that other girl?” asked Karlie quizzically.
“Karlie! That was yesterday, try to follow along, will you? Jeez! Anyway…”
Karlie rolled her eyes as she and Sean walked to the front of the dairy again, preparing for their daily rounds.
“…and I wonder what food they’ll have there, Karls! You must tell me all about it tomorrow, okay? Okay. Good. I’m glad that’s –
“First off, Sean, I’m not even invited yet. Second, can I have one of your rounds? Just the one on Mason Drive.”
“Why?”
“Sean, don’t ask and just do it, please.”
“Fine, fine. Tell me about it later?”
“Of course, now gimme!” Karlie said, while playfully snatching away Taylor’s delivery.
----------------
Karlie had saved Taylor’s package for last, as usual, so she could have nothing but Taylor to look forward to during her day. The path was always marked with silence and thoughts and memories, for Karlie to soak in while walking.
She reached the gate and opened it slowly, ever so slowly, trying not to rush, trying to savor every drop of anticipation she would have before she saw Taylor again.
Taylor was already sitting on the porch, waiting for Karlie today, smiling brightly from across the courtyard.
Karlie ran, could not help it, smiling the entire way.
She stopped when she reached Taylor, awkwardly, now not knowing what to do. All she could do was smile and stand.
“Hi,” Karlie started, “I brought the milk.”
Taylor was giggling.
“I see,” she chuckled, “how are you?”
“I’m great!” replied Karlie, a little too enthusiastically, with a wide smile.
So cute, thought Taylor to herself.
“What about you?” asked Karlie.
“Same. I wanted to talk to you about something. Will you sit?” she said, pointing to a chair next to hers.
