Moonshot - Marco Pena & Elle Evans

4: "Something" new

The warm and windy atmosphere promised for a really nice summer, where we would all get to enjoy going to the beach but not suffer from the heat. It was a perfect spring day, with our exams and graduation to pass before enjoying summer break. The fact that I wanted to stay tucked in my bed this morning seemed impossible to me. Life was around me, everywhere. So many people were either walking on the pier, like us, or in the sand. The ocean was so calm, it almost seemed like a picture. It felt like home. It was home. Again. I realized that after all that sneaking around with Noah, which was fun, thrilling and exciting, we always had to hide. I wasn't home anymore. I couldn't be myself anymore because of the constant gameplay of hide and seek. Noah. He was back in Boston. I hadn't heard from him since we broke up.

For the first time, all of it felt okay again as I was walking in the sun, looking at all of these people that I didn't know but were part of my world. I could just.. be again.

Marco was walking by my right side. I could feel our arms so close to one another. Although i was the one who suggest walking together, I felt embarrassed. What was I going to say? What should I being with?  Apologise for leaving -I mean, running from- him after the contest? Telling him how confused I was? It was more than just friendship, for sure. At that moment, my heart was beating so fast and my palms began to feel sweaty. I had to say something, anything.

"Everyone seems to be already on summer break don't you think? Have we passed our exams and no one has told me?

"If that's the case, we're going to join them!"

Marco was also looking at people around us. He seemed so calm and relaxed, he was just there like he could be anywhere else, enjoying himself, walking, breathing, smiling. He smiled at me. He was so patient with me, for sure.

"Marco, I..."

I stopped walking and faced him. The words were stuck. I didn't know any of them anymore. What was I going to say? What should I say? My heart was pounding in my chest.

"I broke up with Noah."

He didn't say anything back. He had a compassionate and somewhat happy smile in his eyes. He didn't gloat, he didn't kiss me. He did nothing, but he almost looked a bit preoccupied.

"Oh... and how are you doing?"

After everything that I had put him through, he was still worried about me? How could he care so much?

"Well it's been hard, for sure. I know it was the right choice and he thinks that too so... well I just wanted you to know."

"Look Elle... I'm not expecting anything from you."

I looked at him with clear surprise that I couldn't hide. He backed down.

"Don't get me wrong. What I mean is that I don't want to rush anything. I don't want you to feel pressured. I have really enjoyed spending all that time with you... I told you the other day, I felt something during the dance contest and probably before that if I'm honest."

I felt stuck on the ground, incapable of moving or saying anything. He continued.

"Here's my idea... We stay friends, we spend time together and we see what happens. How do you feel about that?"

"So you want us to be... friends?"

"Well, not exaclty, but let's just say we're "something" until we know exactly what is this something. The worst mistake we could do would be to rush into a relationship and it just... doesn't work because it was too soon, you know? If we want a real shot, we have to be smart and not rush anything."