Chapter Six – Out and About

I can't believe my Saturday has gone from me laying on my bed, squirming and daydreaming up a storm, to me being dragged out of my house and on to a bus by the girl I was dreaming of. 'Let's go out!' she had said; Those few words are being constantly pondered and contemplated in my mind as we ride the bus together; her skater skirt draping the entire seat like an elegant covering. Once again, my dreaming comes to an abrupt close.

"A, do you want one?" she says.

"What?" I have absolutely no idea what she's talking about until she lifts her hand to reveal an earbud, the other of which is in her ear. "Sure, why not." I take the earbud and immediately recognize the song; Francis Forever, by Mitski.

"Nice taste in music, Becca." She just giggles, flashing her beautiful smile and making my heart run like I'm doing 100 miles-per-hour on the freeway. This song is one of my all-time favorites -not only because it's considered a 'gay song' by the kids at school, but because it is so damn sweet. Missing someone dearly; wanting someone to see you for the real you; I can relate. Somehow, Becca makes me feel like that too. But I can't screw it up today. I have to do something about this.

I come to the sudden realization that I have no idea where we are going.

"Becca," I start, "where are we going?"

She raises her index finger to her lips, smiling once again.

"Shhhhh. It's less fun if you know. Be patient."

For reasons unknown to me, I feel myself blush a bit. I just look down and imagine all the destination possibilities: a restaurant, a movie, another field behind a school where I can word vomit all over her about my eternal crush on her, who knows; only Becca, beautiful, delightful Becca.

I enjoy her myriad of Mother Mother, Cavetown, Panic! At the Disco, Girl in Red and more lovely music as the bus pulls into some kind of tiny bus station and Becca suddenly rises to her feet. I immediately follow her off the bus; thanking the bus driver as I exit.

I glimpse at our destination; a park with some small tables and equipment, but a massive oak tree -possibly a hundred feet tall- standing proudly in the center of it all. Its leaves, which would once be a dull grey, looks to be secreting a luscious green from their stems. The bark has a rustic, weathered look which is covered in moss and vines. It looked to be a well-loved tree; many childhood memories could have been made here.

Becca starts sprinting towards the great oak tree, grabs the base of it, and jumps; she propels her body swiftly up the tree, as if she weighed nothing at all. Damn. She's so strong.

"Come on, slow poke!" Becca calls after me. Without my command, my body starts to run to the tree, grips the tree, and I too, begin to climb the great oak. One hand after another, one foot after another, I storm up the tree; playing an elevated game of tag with the gorgeous girl above me. She climbs to the very top of the tree before she stops. I, too, climb all the way up before I reach my halt; my hands aching, but I don't mind. Not one bit.

Becca's amber bun glows in the glory of the sun's rays as she looks the surrounding park of a bird's eye view. Meanwhile I perch myself on a chair-like branch right next to her.

"I love this tree so much." She starts, "My family used to take me here on vacation when I was younger. We used to play at this park and I always would climb all the way up this tree. Skirt or not." She giggles a little, but I can tell there is pain in her eyes. It begins to make shallow pools in her lashes which cascade down her cheeks. I'm stunned. She was so happy a second ago, joyous even. What happened? So, I say just that:

"Becca," I say as I put my hand on her thigh to comfort her. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Well," She began, "girls happened."