(027)
The twinge that emanates from the small of Maddie’s back and spreads down into her left buttcheek makes her shift and wriggle on the spot. Nervous energy begs her to stand up and move, but an introduction mid-push-up during a heatwave wasn’t exactly how she’d hoped to kick things off.
She opens her phone and swipes down to see her notifications. She finds a few messages from friends wishing her luck, but the one beside the fire icon was what she’d really been looking for.
I’ll be there in 5! I got a little lost 🙈
Ness, 11:58.
Maddie’s eyes flick to the time along the top of her screen – 12:02 – which in turn triggers that twinge again, setting her thumbs to dance a frantic rhythm in response.
Haha no problem! It happens to the best of us 😉
She hovers over send, and then over backspace, and then hits send, putting her phone face down in her lap and laying her head back against the tree to scan her periphery.
Coming across the field in her direction was Ness. Or at least it was probably Ness; Maddie daren’t turn and look in case it actually was, and then she’d have to watch her walk the whole way over. Instead what she does is pretend not to have seen her. She picks imaginary seeds off her dress, and tenses her left buttcheek over and over trying to make the feeling go away, until it finally seems natural for her to have caught sight of her in the corner of her eye.
“Hey!” Maddie beams at her, cool as anything.
“Hiiii,” Ness starts, scrunching up her face apologetically and shifting her glasses in the process, “I’m so sorry I’m late! I have no idea how I missed the turn–”
“Oh no don’t worry about it!” Maddie interjects, rocking forward to stand when Ness offers her a hand. “Oh– haha, thank you!” She takes it, hoping her own isn’t too clammy.
Ness pulls Maddie to her feet with such ease that she almost stumbles into her, to which they both share an awkward laugh. Ness is slightly taller than Maddie, with dark brown hair up in a bun and a shaved undercut underneath. Her hazel eyes are rimmed by large round glasses with beads on the arms that hang about her neck.
She looks like her photos. Maddie asserts. But also totally different.
“You look amazing by the way– I love your outfit.” Ness moves her hands in front of her, gesturing in Maddie’s direction.
“Ohh,” Maddie looks down at herself and back up, rocking on the heels of her sandals, “noo, thank you! So do you– your glasses are really…really nice– honestly.”
Nice???
Ness pushes her glasses back into place near the corner of the frame.
“Ahh they’re my old ones, I broke my others like a month ago and– well whatever, thank you…is what I’m getting at.” She laughs, shaking her head. “This place is beautiful by the way, I’ve never been here before.” She turns to look along the river and Maddie stands beside her.
“Really?? Yeah it’s super nice, especially when it’s this hot–”
“Yeah I can imagine– it’s such a good day for it.”
“Yeah it has been all summer! I almost miss the rain.” Maddie laughs, leaning her head towards Ness as she does.
“Noo! Don’t say that you’ll jinx it.” She raises her eyebrows in faux shock, the sun winking off her glasses as she turns her head. “Do you come here– okay, ignore the fact that this seems like a cheesy pick up line,” she laughs again, pushing her glasses back, “but do you come here often?” She scrunches her face up in a mock wince.
Maddie grins.
“I do actually– well, my family and I do, or used to– still do, but like once a year. It’s sort of a tradition I guess–” Maddie looks in Ness’ direction, inadvertently making eye contact and losing the thread. She feels the heat rise in her cheeks and looks away, gesturing to her right. “Should we… uh, do you want to walk?” She asks.
“Yesss that sounds like a great idea. You better lead us though, or we’ll end up living in the woods together.” Ness grins back.
“Who knows! Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad,” Maddie chuckles, turning to walk along the river with Ness in tow, “though my Nan – who I’m actually named after – did once find something pretty crazy in there–” she points at the packed bag hanging over Ness’ shoulder. “Do you want me to take anything by the way?”
“Oh no, no don’t worry, it’s not too heavy.” She smiles. “But, I am gonna need you to tell me more.”
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