Ignoring the pain this remark ignited in me, a plan formed in my mind. Poppy stopped; we had reached the patch of grass between our homes.
Poppy turned to me as we stood in front of her window. And she waited, waiting for what I’d do next. Inching closer to where she stood, I placed the bag and blanket on the ground and straightened up, hands by my sides.
“So?” Poppy asked, a tinge of humor in her voice.
“So,” I replied. I couldn’t keep from smiling at the twinkle in her eyes. “Look, Poppy,” I started, and rocked on my feet, “you believe you don’t know the guy I am now.” I shrugged. “So, give me a chance. Let me show you. Let’s start a new adventure.”
I felt my cheeks heat up with embarrassment, but Poppy suddenly took hold of my hand and placed it in hers. Bemused, I stared at our hands, then Poppy shook them up and down twice. With the biggest smile on her face, her dimples deep and proud, she declared, “I’m Poppy Litchfield and you’re Rune Kristiansen. This is a handshake. My mamaw told me it’s what you do when you don’t know somebody. Now we’re friends.Bestfriends.”
Poppy looked up at me through her lashes and I laughed. I laughed as I recalled the day I met her. When we were five, and I saw her climb through her window, blue dress covered in mud and a big white bow in her hair.
Poppy moved to take back her hand, but I held on tightly. “Go out with me tonight.”
Poppy stilled.
“On a date,” I continued awkwardly. “A real date.”
Poppy shook her head in disbelief. “We never really went on a date before, Rune. We always just …were.”
“Then we’ll start now. I’ll pick you up at six. Be ready.”
I turned and headed for my window, assuming that her answer was yes. Truth was, no way was I giving her a chance to say no. I was going to do this for her.
I was going to do my damnedest to make her happy.
I’d win her back.
I’d win her back as the Rune I was now.
There was no choice.
This was us.
This was our new adventure.
One that would make her feel alive.
Poppy
“You’re going on a date?” Savannah asked, as she and Ida lay on my bed. They watched my reflection in my mirror. Watched as I looped my infinity earrings through my ears. Watched as I applied a final layer of mascara.
“Yeah, a date,” I replied.
Ida and Savannah glanced at each other with wide eyes. Ida turned back to look at me. “WithRune?Rune Kristiansen?”
This time, I turned to face them. The shock on their faces was unsettling. “Yes, with Rune. Why are y’all so surprised?”
Savannah sat up, hands braced on the mattress. “Because the Rune Kristiansen that everyone’s been talking about wouldn’t go ondates. The Rune who smokes and drinks at the field. The one that doesn’t speak¸ the one that scowls instead of smiles. The bad boy that returned a different person from Norway.ThatRune.”
I stared at Savannah and picked out the concern on her face. My stomach rolled, listening to what people had obviously been saying about Rune.
“Yeah, but all the girls like him,” Ida butted in, flashing me a smile. “People were jealous of you when you were with him before he left. They’re gonna freakin’ die now!”
As those words slipped from her lips, I saw Ida slowly lose her smile. She glanced down, then looked back up. “Does he know?”
Savannah was now wearing the same sad look. So sad that I had to turn away. I couldn’t bear that expression on their faces.
“Poppy?” said Savannah.