Spring into Love

“Spring is right around the corner, huh?” my dad asked, looking out the window. The sunlight splashed his face, illuminating his features, revealing his high cheekbones, warm brown skin, and curly black hair which fell around his ears. I look just like my dad, and I’m glad I do, because it makes me all the more handsome. (wink) 

“Oh yea, and unfortunately it means that I get one less hour of sleep,” I sighed, following his gaze to the fresh white buds coloring the naked trees, sparkling from the morning dew. 

“As if you have enough time to sleep anyway,” my dad smiled, “my high school son is so busy nowadays. Pretending to study, huh? Is that what makes you stay up all night? Or is it that girl, Venessa? Hmm?” he grinned, winking. 

“Pa!” I grumbled as heat raced to my face. “I’m busy with studying, so I don’t have time for all this!” 

Wait, speaking of time….

Shoot. 

I glanced at my watch. It’s 7:40, and the bus is probably outside right now. And I’m still in my pajamas. Again. Ugh. I rushed upstairs and threw over a sweatshirt and jeans and ran downstairs. 

“Vivan, eat your breakfast before you go!” my mother shouted as I rushed for the door. 

“No time Ma! I’ll eat lunch, don’t worry!” I yelled, bolting out and drowning out her response. The last of the crowd was getting on the bus, so I still had a chance. I wasn’t too far, and if I ran fast enough, I just might be able to make it. 

100 feet.

 80 feet. 

50 feet. 

30 feet. 

20 feet. 

Suddenly, I crashed into someone else who was bolting towards the bus just as fast as me. I abruptly stopped but it was too late. She crashed into me and I caught her in my arms. She looked at me, and I could feel her knees buckling from almost falling. We just looked at each other for who knows how long; her bright blue eyes as big as the moon staring right into my dark green ones. The bus must have left during this time, because by the time she broke her gaze on me and turned to the bus, it was gone. She looked like she wanted to say something, but her mouth couldn’t form the words. No problem, because her eyes spoke it all. I broke the silence, because it was getting unbearable. 

“Did I knock you off your feet again Vene? What, is this the hundredth time? Or thousandth? I lost count,” I grinned. 

Finally, she pushed me away and grumbled. 

“You made me lose the bus ride. So you’re gonna be buying me lunch today. Congratulations.” 

I grabbed some freshly bloomed flower from the grass next to the sidewalk and bent down on one knee. 

“Yes your royal highness,” I said, offering her the flower. 

She simultaneously sighed and rolled her eyes. “Get up Viv, before someone sees you and thinks something.” 

I cocked an eyebrow. “Thinks what?” I asked innocently. 

“Ugh! Gods help me,” she grumbled while crossing her arms over her chest. 

Gods. If only she knew how cute she looked. 

“There’s the Vene I know!” I laughed. “All grumpy and cute and everything.” 

“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?” she sighed and got on the sidewalk to go to school. 

“Wait, I’m coming too!” I said, and rushed to join her on the sidewalk. 

“Can’t you find another way to walk there?” she said. 

“Then I won’t have anyone to annoy!” I cried. “Besides, no one gets annoyed as quickly as you do,” I said, bumping her shoulder. 

“Of course it has to be me,” she sighed, dragging a hand over her face. 

“You know, I just love you the way you hate me,” I said, flicking her hair playfully. “It’s really adorable.” 

“I know, but that’s the problem,” she said. “You like it if I hate you and you like it if I’m nice to you. There’s just no way to get rid of you, is there Viv?” 

“Nope.” I winked. “And seeing that we have to walk 20 minutes to get to school, looks like I’m stuck with you.” I started humming “Stuck With You” by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande just to make my point clear. 

“Great. Just the way I wanted to start my Monday morning.” Vene’s shoulders slumped and she dragged her hand over her face again; a gesture I’ve grown familiar with. She always does that when she wants to hide the way she actually feels. She actually thinks I can’t see the hints of her smile under her hands; it’s so adorable. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it fun!” I said, draping my arm over her shoulder. She sighed but didn’t push me away this time. With my other hand, I pulled the new iPod out of my pocket. 

Vene gasped and my heart danced from the look in her eyes. “You got the iPod touch! And didn’t tell me!?!” She mocked a hurt look and punched me playfully in the ribs. “Give it here.” 

“Ah, not so fast,” I grinned, lifting the iPod out of reach. “Only if it means you’ll sit with me at lunch for the rest of the month. That way I’ll always have someone fun to annoy.” I winked.  

She sighed.  “Fine. Now give it.” 

Vene tried to grab it but I swung my arms behind my back, so she was hugging me to reach it. Funny how it didn’t seem to bother her. I pulled my arms to the front so now the iPod was behind her back. She turned around in my arms laughing and took hold of it before I could move it away. I laughed, trying to get it back, and we were caught in an embrace; her back pressed against my chest and her hair in my face. We stood like that for a while, neither of us moving. 

“You can let me go now,” she said after a couple seconds. “I have the iPod.” 

Heat rushed to my cheeks and I let go and started rubbing the nape of my neck with a sheepish grin. “Sorry.” 

Vene didn’t seem to mind, she was too busy plugging in her headphones into the iPod. Before she put them in her ears, she looked at me and held up one side of the earplug. “Want one?” 

“What?” I asked. 

“Do you want to listen too?” she asked. 

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. She put in one end and handed me the other. We were standing close because we needed to share, and she handed me the iPod. “I can’t think of a song right now, you choose.” 

I nodded again and took it. I didn’t know what to play, a million songs were going through my head right now. I decided on one that would say what I was too afraid to tell her. I played “What If” by Johnny Orlando and Mackenzie Ziegler, and watched her face intently as she listened to the song. By the time it got to the chorus, the song picked up the pace and repeated: “What if I told you I like you?” She looked at me for a solid minute, searching my face. Then I saw the corners of her mouth lift into a smile that made my heart melt. She reached out and took my hand, lacing our fingers together.

 “I like you too,” she said. “More than I hate you.” 

I laughed as she stepped closer and let her head rest on my shoulder. We walked like that the rest of the way. Paradise. 

“I like you too,” I whispered, leaning my head against hers.