Heartstrings

(5) Colson

Allison watched with her head tilting to the side as Colson spread the blanket on a grassy patch between two undulating roots of the tree providing them shade. "You're oddly good at this."

"I've been to a lot of picnics." He smiles. "Haven't you done a little picnic with your family growing up?"

She stepped onto the blanketed grass and flopped down, tucking her legs primly beneath her. "No. My parents are divorced. And I'm just the baggage from their poor life choices," she quips.

Colson stares down at her neatly tucking her skirt. Her nonchalance caught him off guard. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." She waves her hand dismissively.

He lowers himself next to her and lied on his back, arms folded under his head like a cradle. "I never pegged you as someone with a rough childhood."

Allison opened her book. "It wasn't that rough. I still turned out okay."

"I can see that. You've always been a straight A student."

She snorted. "I almost failed Algebra, so don't go all 'adoring' on me."

"You did?"

"Yeah. I could write essays but I never do well with numbers."

"You don't look like someone who struggles academically." He mused.

Her eyes were now on the pages. "Well, you're looking at a faker."

He chuckles.

Silence reigned for a moment. There were birds chirping from a distance. Aside from that, there was only quiet.

He stared at her face and pretended he was looking up the branches above them. Her expression is that of someone trying to get pass that one paragraph because she was too distracted.

Allison snaps her book shut and clicked her tongue. "Are you sure you haven't heard of gossip about me?"

He raised to his elbows, arching his brows. "Like I said, I don't listen to gossips. What makes you think otherwise?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, "you might be a liar."

His gaze narrowed.

She frowned at him, merely speaking her mind. "What? You can't blame me. You were this guy who was always in detention back in high school."

"Lying was never the reason I was there," he pointed out.

"Well, pardon me. You never said a word to me. Let alone reveal to me your rebellious deeds."

"No. You never said a word to me," he countered.

She pointed a finger to herself.

"Yes, you."

"What was I going to say to you? Hi?" She splayed her hands in the air.

"Yes, hi."

She rolled her eyes.

"I meant it." He gapes. "And did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"I meant the eye-roll too."

He purses his lips. "I think I might want a little something for bailing you out back there."

"You mean, payment?"

"No."

Her lips pursed thoughtfully. "What do you have in mind, Colson Gray."

He grinned, slow and mischievous. "You'll know Allie-bear. Meet me in the hall by midnight."

"You're not going to murder me, are you? My life as a payment? But if you do that, please make sure my pupils get a better teacher."

"Can't. I heard you're the best."

She drew her eyebrows together. "I thought you don't listen to town gossip."

"It's not a gossip if my sister in-law raves about his son's favorite teacher," he replies, pushing himself completely off the ground so he's sitting upright.

She blushed a little. "Right. I'm teaching one of your nephews. Why midnight though?"

"Nice dodge." He smirked.

"Hey, I'm not dodging the conversation. I just want to understand your choice of place and time."

Colson shakes his head laughingly. "It'll be fun the lesser you know."