Closer friends

As they ran out and catched their breath, they look at each other and chuckled before their laughter turned more than chuckles. Lincoln holding himself to a tree and Tulip against a lamp post.

"Pft, you should've seen your face when you saw them."

Tulip let out between her laughter, reminiscing Lincoln face that contorted as if dread rained down him. When they ran there were already people nearby, girls to he specific, and to be even more specific they looked like his mother's age. Fortunately they were sleeping. That was why Tulip didn't hear them.

Tulip was laughing so much that she doesn't think about how she couldn't sense people that were so close to them.

"Don't know what you're talking about?"

Lincoln asked in a questioning voice, avoiding Tulip expression that dart at his lie.

Just as Tulip catch her breath, she starts laughing again, her cheeks now pink and shoulders shaking. Lincoln was done laughing and wanted to move on, pushing her from behind to head back home.

They walk, talking about whatever that comes to mind. What origami's Lincoln has made, the food Tulip has cooked and what she plans to cook. Talking about food combos they find bizarre, disagreeing and agreeing.

When they finished talking about a food combo, Tulip looks up at the night sky that's filled with tiny stars that are minuscule compared to the ones at Seathe. Sometimes she would look up and wonder what made them different. Now she knows that these things can vary, but she still doesn't understand, so she isn't so interested. It was only a view. Now though she's looking at it while thinking of other things, deciding to speak of them with Lincoln.

"Was that table the one I use to sit on?"

Tulip spoke the musing that is one of her many thoughts after seeing Noah and Piper. Lincoln look at her blankly for a moment, probably going through his head what she was on about. Then realised and turns her gaze back forward.

"That's a weird thought."

"Still. Was it?"

Lincoln hums, not answering immediately. He could be thinking of what to say to her awkward question, or also thinking of the tables they use to sit on.

"Does it matter?"

It was an answer that was said like a question but more of a sentiment. Or not. Tulip wont really know only with her assumptions. Tulip looks down, kicking pebbles as she walks.

"Kinda."

"I don't think so, it could be my table you know."

Lincoln adds, kicking the pebbles Tulip kicked his way back to her, they do this as they make their way down a path and turn a corner to where their houses are located.

Tulip look at him with raised eyebrows, realising he has a point.

"I've farted a couple of times, if that makes you feel better."

Without warning Lincoln includes an uncouth details. Tulip gapes at him, genuinely parting her mouth in shock. Now that she's 13 she knows that boys do that, but Lincoln too?

"What happened to you being mature?"

"I'm human, it needs to be let out."

The words he speaks are so unserious but is said with an overly serious and controlled face and tone that Tulip doesn't know how to feel.

For the first time she has spoke of these thoughts to anyone, not even Noah, this was the conversation. Tulip doesn't hold back the airy laugh that comes out, it's ridiculous, but amazing. She imagines this is how it'd be with Noah, but she doesn't mind that it's Lincoln too.

Feeling like she should've opened up sooner, she would've had better days if she did. A lot of her days with Lincoln were moody, of course she never threw a fit and expressed those unsightly moods, but she had them anyway no matter how much she suppressed.

Tulip feels like she has been revived with this feeling she feels, a stimulating sensation that's inspiriting. A smile creeps up to her face, a grin so wide and uncontrollable. The last time she has felt this way with an individual person was with Noah when she first met him, when they were on the rooftop.

It isn't windy, it's not humid, just still. Their moving figures continue to move, the atmosphere that surrounds them feels like they are walking at a beach in the winter, Tulip doesn't know how else to describe it. Lincoln expression that is composed and stony let slip a laugh, then a smile that shows all of his teeth, mirroring Tulip wide grin.

She notices, Lincoln had dimples. Deep dimples. Along with high defined cheekbones, his black hair that is now neat different to how it was reflected on the broken window, bounces with his moving body. Broad shoulders despite being more into his studies than sports, not lacking when it comes to an attractive physique. These thoughts aren't perverted, Tulip eyes takes all of him unknowingly.

Tulip stops her steps, and Lincoln stops too.

"Can I, stay with you tonight?"

Not come over. No, she said stay with him tonight.

These words have more depth than what it sounds like. Tulip has never said anything so intimate like it to anyone, including Noah, she never thought she would need to let alone want to. Lincoln takes in these words, also knowing how profound they are.

Lincoln head that's faced forward turns to her casually, his face doesn't seem to be surprised, not reacting explosively like he usually would if it was said some other time. However his ears are red, his eyes dazed and quiver when he looked at her, registering the words she spoke. His mouth that is closed open slightly but hesitate to answer, then as if he never hesitated and doubted, he answers, his hand reaching.

"Yes."

Tugging the hem of the yellow jumper Tulip had put on when the sun started to set, Lincoln grabs more of the fabric and pulls her closer to him, slightly closing the gap between them.

"Please, stay with me tonight."