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It was a breezy fall day in october, and marching practice had just ended. I stepped onto the sidewalk just outside the band hall and felt the gentle gusts of cool wind on my skin. The practices to come would be more challenging as we progressed on our show, but the thrill of preforming made it all worth it.
"Hey bella!" Hanna says as she jogs to catch up with me, her clarinet case slung over her shoulder, covered in sweat but still as breathtaking as she was from the day i first met her.
I wave to her as she catches her breath beside me. "How was practice?" I ask as we begin walking toward the stands.
"It was super hot today, but I'm excited for the game on friday" she replies, looking around as everyone starts to head home.
I nod as we climb up the steps to the stands, heading towards the highest bench. This is what we usually did, i'd wait for hanna after practice, we would wait in the stands for our parents to arrive while talking about anything and everything. It all felt so natural with her. How could it not?
We've known each other since 8th grade, and we'd been inseparable since then. She was beautiful, kind, funny and we could tell each other anything. If anyone knew her as well as i do, anyone would fall for her.
"Man, I'm beat" I hear hanna sigh next to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. We make our way through the stands and sit down on the cold bench, hannas sitting so close our knees brush and i can hear her soft breathing.
"The sunset is beautiful tonight" she murmurs softly under her breath, so quiet i can barely hear it.
"yeah.." i agree softly, shifting my gaze from the beautiful girl sitting next to me to the sky in front of us. From where we're sitting in the stands, we have a clear view of the entire football field and the sky looks almost like a watercolor painting, delicately painted with brilliant hues of yellows, oranges, pinks and blues.
I feel her hand brush mine, and i can feel my cheeks heating up. My head is a swirl of thoughts as I glance at her, only to find her smiling at the sunset. I would be content if I got to spend the rest of my life just looking at her, even if she would never reciprocate my feelings for her.
Hanna notices me staring and glances at me before taking my hand in hers. I'm sure I'm blushing like an idiot at this point, and i notice the rosy flush on her cheeks too. Does she like me back? No, thats impossible! Hanna is way out of my league and, worst of all, she's into guys. I push those thoughts out of my head and try to focus on the present moment.
Hanna's looking at me in a way that makes me get butterflies in my stomach, and she's smiling so wide the corners of her eyes crinkle. but i'm sure she doesn't like me that way. right?
The sun is getting lower on the horizon and the remaining sunlight strikes hanna in a way that makes her practically glow. My breath hitches as hanna leans in slowly. we're so close I can feel her quiet breathing against my lips, wait, is she about to kiss me?
To my surprise, I was right. But only partially. I close the distance between us and press a soft chaste kiss to her soft rosy lips. I instinctively move away from her and I feel my face burning. Did I go too far? What if she hates me now? I open my mouth to apologize, but hanna never fails to surprise me, because before I can get any words out she starts to... laugh? why is she laughing?
"Pfft..! You should see the look on your face, you look so serious!" she giggles and my jaw drops. How can she be so unserious in a situation like this?
"I-.. What..?" i'm at a loss of words, what am I supposed to even say at a time like this??
She squeezes my hand, the gesture is comforting. "I've liked you from the day we met, you silly goose. I'm surprised you've taken this long to notice honestly. I've been dropping super obvious hints since 9th grade"
"wait- what? seriously?" I'm in disbelief, hannas liked me back this whole time?
"yeah dude. I've been madly in love with you for like, years" she replies with a smile. my traitorous heart is pounding so so hard, it feels almost like it'll beat out my chest. "so... do you like me back or not?" she asks tilting her head slightly.
"is that even a question? I obviously do you fatass." i say, and i can feel the corners of my lips turn up into a smile too. this moment feels like a dream, and i wish i could live in this moment forever. just me and hanna together.
"does that mean we're dating now?" hanna asks me, returning her gaze to the sun that has almost completely disappeared underneath the horizon now.
"if you want to" i reply after a beat, turning my head away to look at the football field below us. the world is so peaceful and quiet in moments like these.
"okay retard. we're girlfriends now!" she exclaims happily followed by a giggle, and I can't help but laugh along with her.