"Wait, Summer. Don't you have practice today?" I asked, finally catching up to her. The chilly November air hit me like a truck and I quickly buttoned up my varsity jacket.
"Huh? Oh, nah. Coach gave us the day off."
She linked her fingers behind her head as we walked. The movement caused her jersey to lift up, exposing her toned abs just a bit. I quickly looked away and suddenly didn't feel quite as cold.
"Ah... um..." Get a hold of yourself, Tabitha! "How come?"
"I dunno, I think his kid got in trouble again." Summer let out that adorable chuckle she always did. I don't think I'd ever get tired of hearing her laugh. "I swear... Jimmy is gonna get locked up one of these days."
"Heh.. yeah. Wonder what he did this time." I finally mustered up the courage to look at her again. That's when I finally realized she was still only wearing a jersey. "Wait. Summer! Where is your jacket!? It's freezing out here!"
"What? Oh... guess I left it in my locker." she said with a shrug.
"You dummy! You're gonna catch a cold!"
Honestly this girl...
"Aw it'll be fineee! I'm a big girl!"
"No. We're going back right now." I whipped around and started back the way we came. Or I would have, but suddenly I felt a hand grab my wrist.
I froze as a wave of electricity seemed to shoot straight through me from the point of contact. Summer was holding my wrist! Ahhhhh!
"Come on, Tabby! I'm fine. Besides... that'd just waste more time that we could be spending looking for your journal. Right?"
She had a point. I just was really worried she'd get sick. I didn't want anything bad to happen to my precious Summer.
I couldn't actually speak in that moment. All I could think about was her hand holding onto my wrist. I desperately wanted her to just... slide that hand down and grasp mine. Just the thought of it was making me light-headed. It's not like it'd be the first time we held hands, but it never failed to thrill me to the bone.
Unfortunately, she let go of me wrist. I sighed and looked at her. She had that stupid grin on her face like she always did. The one that made my heart leap. I tried to glare at her, but it turned into a half smile.
"Fine. Stupid. But if you catch a cold... don't come crying to me!" That's what I said, but what I was thinking was the opposite. Please come to me. I'll take care of you, Summer. I'll make you soup and nurse you back to health. Come to think of it... maybe her getting sick wouldn't be so bad after all...
No. That was stupid, Tabitha.
Although...
"Alright! Alright! Jeez..." Summer chuckled and nudged me. "Okay, Tabby. Where should we start looking?"
"Huh? For what?" I asked, blinking a few times in confusion. I had been a bit lost in my own little fantasies again.
"What do you mean 'for what'? You hit your head or something?" She poked my forehead. It made me blush for some reason and I quickly swatted her hand away. "Your journal! Remember?"
"Oh. Right." How'd I forget about that so quickly? I really was a basket case. I thought for a moment. "Maybe near the park where we always meet up? I had it out of my bag at that point, right?"
"Yeah, good point." She squinted at the distance. "Alright, come on! Let's race! I need to warm up!" She immediately started running away.
"I knew you were cold! Hey wait for me!" I reluctantly ran after her. Would I live my entire life chasing this girl?
I don't know why she always expected me to race. She was always the more athletic one. She always won. This run reminded me of a similar one when we were kids.
~It was Page 37~
One warm day in July, when the two of us were about six years old, Summer challenged me to a race.
"Come on, Tabby! Last one there has to buy the ice cream!"
"What? No fair! Why are you only saying that now!?"
We had been running for about a minute already and I was completely out of breath. How the heck was she still running so fast? I didn't even have time to admire her endurance because my chest felt like it was going to burst.
Then came the rock. It wasn't even that big of a rock, but I was so tired and my foot hit it just right. I tripped and went sprawling to the ground. I didn't even remember the fall. All I remembered was the pain as my head hit the grass.
I sat up in a complete daze and immediately began bawling. Still a big crybaby. Why was I always hitting my head when I was around this girl? I didn't even see Summer running back to me, but I heard her footsteps as she got closer. I was getting pretty good at recognizing the sound.
"T-Tabby! Are you okay?" Summer asked as she knelt in front of me. I could feel her small hands resting on my shoulders. Her surprisingly gentle touch always seemed to calm me, even at the worst of times.
"I... I hit my head..." I sniffled, trying to wipe my tears away so I could see her. "It hurts..."
"Oh. Don't worry! I know how to fix it!"
"Y-You do?"
"Uh huh... hold still."
I did as I was told, bracing myself for whatever she was about to do. I expected something like the sting of hydrogen peroxide that my mom used on my cuts and scrapes. Although I wasn't sure where she was going to get that. Did she just carry a bottle around with her? I wouldn't be surprised considering how much the two of us got hurt.
What I didn't expect was her to lean really close... and kiss my forehead!
I was completely stunned at the feel of her lips on my skin. I stopped crying immediately as my face started heating up. I probably looked like a wet tomato. I just stared up at her, wide eyed as she pulled back. I found myself wishing she never stopped.
"There. Better?" she asked with that signature grin of hers. How could she be so casual about this. She had just kissed me!
I nodded slowly, unable to speak.
"Great! Come on. Let's get that ice cream!" She held her hand out for me and I took it, still in a daze. I was so out of it that I didn't even realize she was now holding my hand. First a kiss, then hand holding? This was the greatest day of my life.
~~~
I think even back then I wasn't completely aware that I was in love with Summer. I just knew she was the most important person to me and I wanted to continue spending every day with her.
I was willing to bet if I fell this time she wouldn't kiss my forehead. Although I must admit it was tempting to try anyways. I wasn't as clumsy as I was back then, but I still wasn't fast enough to catch her. I'd never be as fast as her considering she's a total jock. Marching band practice is pretty rough at times but it doesn't really prepare you for long distance running.
I eventually made it to our usual meet up spot. Summer was already there, leaning against a tree. How did she always manage to make mundane things look cool?
"You... could've... slowed... down..." I said between gasps as I tried to catch my breath.
"Nah, girl! I gotta stay on the top of my game at all times!" she said confidently and did a really stupid looking superhero pose.
"What are you? A Power Ranger or something?"
"Hmm... yeah! Which one do you think I'd be?"
"Green."
"Woah, you didn't even hesitate!" She chuckled and leaned against the tree again. "Well at least you didn't say Pink. I'd look terrible in pink."
"Well yeah. I'm the Pink Ranger, obviously." I could feel my cheeks turning a similar shade of pink. I quickly turned away so she couldn't see.
"Hmm... yeah I guess I could see that."
"Although sometimes I feel more like Rita."
"What? Since when are you a villain? You're like... the nicest person I know!"
My chest felt unreasonably warm at those words. She really thought that highly of me? I peeked over my shoulder to look at her.
"Y-You... really think so?"
"Well... yeah." Summer scratched her head nervously. "I bet you'd climb this tree if a cat was stuck in it."
We both looked up at the tree. It did look pretty climbable. Especially now that the leaves had fallen off. I couldn't see any lost kittens up there though.
"Nah... I'd probably fall. I'd just get you to do it."
"Hey!... yeah true."
We both shared a laugh. Everything always felt so right when I was with her. I couldn't ever imagine a life without my Summer. I leaned against the tree next to her and wished this moment would last forever.