I drag my feet across the classroom towards my desk. I haven’t been in a great mood today, but what makes it worse is what happened last period. I can hardly move my legs, they feel like jelly.
I drop myself into my seat and throw my face into my hands. I wish I could let out a squeal but I don’t think my classmates would appreciate that.
My best friend Ivan sits right next to me and as soon as I walked in I’m sure he knew something was up. He nudges my arm and, reluctantly, I turn to face him.
He gives me a smile, but his eyebrows are raised in question.
“You good, Mizi?”
I shake my head, scared my voice might fail me. I look up to the front and see that the teacher still hasn’t arrived, so there’s still time before class. I gesture for Ivan to lean closer, and I whisper, “Sua asked me on a date.”
His eyes widen in surprise, and he opens his mouth, surely to say his congratulations, but I hold up my hand to silence him.
“This isn’t good news.”
I feel my cheeks heat up just thinking about it.
“Uh oh, what happened?”
I bite my lip nervously, and wrap my hair around my finger- a nervous habit.
“Well, I kind of stared at her in shock..and then ran away..”
My eyes find the floor, and I can hear Ivan burst into laughter, making my face flush even more. I kick him in the shin and turn to face the front of the room in my embarrassment.
“Don’t laugh you idiot!”
He gasps for breath, laying his head on his desk to keep from laughing harder. I knew I shouldn’t have told him.
“I’m sorry- it’s just-,” he pauses to catch his breath, “well now what are you gonna do?”
I groan, dragging a hand down my face.
“That’s the problem, Ivan. I don’t know! I was hoping you could help me..”
He wipes his eye, turning back towards me with a smirk.
“Well you should’ve said so sooner. I’m an expert~”
I roll my eyes and open my textbook for class.
“She’s probably never going to speak to me again. I totally ruined it..”
Ivan knows I’ve liked her for a long time. I tell him everything practically. But to be fair, he tells me every single detail about him and Till’s relationship.
I’ve been wanting to ask her out since middle school, but I’ve been too scared to ruin our friendship. So when she asked me if we could go on a picnic date this Friday after school, I was so taken back that I panicked and froze! Then I ran.. and now…
Ivan puts a hand on my shoulder, his face more serious now. “Sorry, sorry, trust me, that girl likes you. Just tell her the truth,” he shrugs and opens his own textbook, “tell her you like her and would love to, you’re just nervous cause you’ve never been on a date.”
I glance over at him.
“Are you sure? It’s that simple?”
He nods, looking to the front of the room as the teacher enters.
“Trust me, that girl is head over heels for you.”
~
Our lockers are right next to each other. We always meet after our last class to grab our things together. Today will be no different.
I have to keep repeating these things to myself as I stand at my locker, pretending to gather my things. I fear that if I just stand there waiting, she will think I’m going to want to talk about it, which I do but I don’t want her thinking it’s bad news.
Maybe I’m stressing too much.
I let out a sigh and rest my head against one of my locker shelves.
I totally ruined it.
“Mizi?”
I jump up, smacking my forehead against the shelf.
“Ow- Sua!”
I slam my locker shut, smiling excitedly at my friend.
She looks a bit awkward, her face tinted pink.
“Look, Sua.. about earlier..”
She instantly looks away, fiddling with her bag strap in her fingers.
“It’s okay Mizi, I get it. You don’t like me like that, it’s okay, forget-“
“No! That’s not it. I just- I got nervous that’s all. I’ve never been on a date, and I just worried if it went bad, I’d lose you..but I really like you Sua! I would love to go out with you!”
She looks surprised for a moment, but then she smiles softly and the pink of her cheeks deepens.
“Really? Oh Mizi, I’m so relieved to hear that. I was so worried I ruined things between us..”
We laugh and I pull her in to a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow after school then!”
~
Friday is here. School drags by, feeling slower than it ever has.
My heart is pounding in my chest, I can hardly contain my excitement.
When I arrive in my last class, I can hardly sit still. Ivan smirks at me, a knowing look on his face.
“She wasn’t mad! We’re going out after school!” I tell him excitedly.
He only shakes his head in response and says, “I told you.”
As soon as the bell rings, ending class, I leap from my seat and hurry to my locker. I feel like I left all of my nerves behind, all I can feel is excitement for what’s to come.
We decided not to meet at our lockers today so we could go right home and get ready, then just meet later.
I hurried home then, I knew I had to dress my best. Though, having never been on a date I don’t have a clue what to actually wear.
I suddenly felt my nerves all coming back as I stared at my closet.
Crap.
No, it’s okay. I’ll figure it out.
I settled on a pink sundress with a little black bow, and a black sweater to match.
That will do.
I checked the time and saw it was just about time to meet Sua at the park. She told me she would take care of all of the snacks, so I didn’t have to pack anything. I felt butterflies in my stomach as I rushed out the door.
I arrived at the park, sun beating down on my face, and a gentle wind blowing through my hair.
It was the perfect day for a picnic. And even better that I was spending it with Sua.
I saw her setting up the blanket near the lake, and so I made my way over to her. She looked so beautiful, a white bow in her black hair, and a flowing white blouse paired with blue jean shorts.
She looked up when she heard me coming, a smile instantly present on her face.
“Mizi!”
I waved excitedly, settling beside her on the blanket.
“Hi Sua! It’s so pretty out here today, good choice!”
She nodded, looking up at the clear blue sky.
“Thank you, I’m just glad the weather worked out. I was nervous it would rain suddenly or something.”
She began unloading the snacks and drinks, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Little sandwiches, chocolate chip muffins, grapes, cucumbers, crackers and cheese, and sweet tea to drink!
“Sua..you prepared all this for me? You’re the sweetest!”
I pulled her in to a hug, then we got eating.
It was delicious, and I was so happy to finally share a moment like this with her.
We laughed, we talked, we watched as ducks waddled past us. It was so much fun.
“Ugh, I can’t wait for summer. Not only will there be no school, but I just can’t wait for the warm weather to stay.”
We were lying on the blanket, looking up at the sky as we chatted.
Sua giggled. “Me too, we should totally go to the new waterpark that opened up last year! We didn’t get to go then, remember?”
“Yes!”
We sat in silence for a moment, before Sua sat up and looked down at me, smiling softly.
“Mizi..”
I searched her glittering eyes as she searched my own. She was so beautiful, her face was one I could look at for the rest of my life.
She leaned closer to me, hesitating as if she wanted to do something but was unsure.
I tilted my head, curiously watching her.
“Mizi, can I kiss you?”
My heart seemed to shudder. The butterflies in my stomach flapped around like crazy.
I was sure my face turned pink.
But even so, I nodded, not breaking eye contact as she leaned closer still.
Her lips met mine, soft and gentle and sweet. It was so loving, and so delicate, I held my breath in fear I would breathe too harshly and mess it up.
But kissing her was the most wonderful thing I had ever been able to do. I almost couldn’t believe it was happening, but then she was pulling away and I knew it was.
We looked into each other’s eyes again, and that was when I knew that this was right. This was exactly where I was supposed to be, and who I was supposed to be with.