Heat speared through me at the thought of kissing her at every opportunity. Poppy flushed at the intensity on my face. Just as I turned again, she called, “And Rune?”
I smirked and answered, “Ja?”
“Where’s your favorite place to go here in Georgia?” I couldn’t quite make out the expression on her face, but something was going on in that head of hers. She was planning something, I just knew it.
“The blossom grove, when it’s spring,” I replied, feeling my face soften just at the thought.
“And when it’s not spring?” she probed.
I shrugged. “The beach probably. Why?”
“No reason,” she trilled, then headed in the opposite direction.
“See you at lunch,” I shouted.
“I gotta practice my cello,” she shouted back.
Standing still, I told her, “Then I’ll be watching.”
Poppy’s face brightened and she repeated, gently, “Then you’ll be watching.”
We stood, on opposite sides of the hallway, just staring. Poppy mouthed, “For infinity.”
And I mouthed back, “Forever always.”
* * *
The week passed in a blur.
I’d never cared about time before—whether it went fast or slow. Now I did. Now I wanted a minute to last an hour, an hour to last a day. But, despite my silent pleas to whoever the hell was up there, time was rushing by too fast. Everything was moving too damn fast.
At school, the collective interest at me and Poppy being back together settled down after a few days. Most people still didn’t get it, but I paid that no mind. In our little town, I knew that people talked. Most of the gossip was about how and why we got back together.
I didn’t give a damn about that either.
The doorbell rang as I lay on my bed, and I rolled to stand, grabbing my jacket off my chair. Poppy was taking me out.
Shewastakingmeout.
This morning when I left her bed, she told me to be ready for ten. She wouldn’t tell me why, or what we were doing, but I did as she asked.
She knew I would.
As I walked out of my door and down the hallway, I heard the sound of Poppy’s voice. “Hey, little man, how’re you doing?”
“Good,” Alton replied shyly.
Rounding the corner, I stopped when I saw Poppy crouching down to meet Alton’s eyes. Alton’s long hair was shielding his face. I watched as he nervously pushed his hair from his face with his hand … just like I did. Poppy’s words from last week came crashing into my mind…
He has long hair because he wants to be like you. He imitates your habits, your idiosyncrasies, because he wants to be like you. He wants you to notice him. He adores you…
I watched my baby brother rock shyly on his feet. I couldn’t help curling my lip in amusement. He too was quiet, like me. Didn’t really speak unless he was spoken to first.
“What are you up to today?” Poppy asked him.
“Nothing,” Alton replied sullenly.
Poppy’s smile faded. Alton asked, “Are you going out with Rune again?”