“Wait, do you wanna come in and hang out with us?”

Her hand was still lightly grasping my elbow and I stared at it. I didn’t mind the contact. I really didn’t. In fact, it was…comforting. Is that weird? I met this girl five minutes ago and I’m already comfortable with her?

I guess I stared too long because she took it away. But even when it left, I still felt it. To this day I still feel it. Now come on, THAT has to be weird right?

“Uh, I really don’t want to intrude and-”

“You’re not intruding! I swear! I’m sorry about Madison, she can be kind of bossy…well no. That’s being nice. I’m going to be honest, she can be a bitch.”

I smiled at that. I’ve always liked honesty. That’s one of the main things I look for in friends. If they’re not going to be honest with me, then I don’t want them around. I’d looked away towards my bike, thinking that Glen and Clay were probably wondering where I was. I didn’t want to leave though.

When I returned my gaze to her I saw she had a smile of her own. Her eyes twinkled and her nose crinkled just at the bridge. It was probably the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.

“I’d really love to, but my brothers are probably wondering where I am. I’m sorry.”

Her smile fell. It hurt to see that.

“But hey, maybe some other time. Y’know…if you still want to that is.”

Yeah, I was shy. I was comfortable with her, but I was shy. How does that work?

Her smile came back full force after I said that.

“Yeah! That’d be great! Here I’ll give you my number. I’d say come over but, this is Madison’s house so I’m not really at liberty to invite whoever over.”

She, for some reason, had eye liner in her back pocket. I hadn’t really noticed before, but she definitely was wearing make-up. I never really understood the appeal of the stuff back then. It just seemed like way too much effort. Plus, I’d just end up sweating it off anyway.

She took my hand and wrote the seven numbers I’d soon have committed so well to memory that sometimes I’d mistake them for my own.

“There ya go! Give me a call later ok?”

“Sure. Talk to you later Ashley.”

We both turned to our respective locations and walked. I’d just grabbed my handle bar when she called back out to me.

“Wait! I don’t even know your name.”

I hopped on my bike and rode around the cul-de-sac, making sure I passed her on my way out.

“Spencer.”

And I rode off, being sure to not smudge the number on my hand.