On My Way • Why Don't We | ✓

forty

August 5, 2017 ; Los Angelos, California
Evelyn

The rough cement grazes the palm of my hand. I recoil, grimacing, and rub the raw flesh against my jean short. The receding sun leaves the rock wall an orange tint as I shade my eyes from the blazing colors before me.

Silently, I pull myself atop and kick my legs over the edge. The sun bows down toward the horizon. Other than a slight wind, the landscape is still as I wait for sunset.

Tomorrow, our flights leave, returning Nova and I back to Portland and River back to Minnesota. I'd wanted to sit outside at sundown since the day we'd first arrived, so I decided to sneak out the back. Surprisingly, everyone was too busy to notice, leaving me alone while the sun paints endless color through the sky.

"You found my favorite place." A quiet voice echoes from behind me.

I turn around, facing Daniel's grin. I can't help but smile as he takes a step closer.

"I didn't mean to interrupt your peace."

"No," I respond quietly, motioning for him to sit, "C'mon."

He easily climbs up, taking the spot beside me. We settle into a short moment of silence.

"This is your favorite spot?" I ask.

"Yeah." Daniel nods, staring out at the horizon as well. "It's my escape."

I laugh quietly at his grin.

"What?" He nudges me with his shoulder.

I shrug. "I don't know. It's your favorite place, and what are the odds that I would find it too?"

"Enough, I guess."

We sit in silence, watching as the sun dips closer to the horizon, causing different colors to explode throughout the sky.

"I miss you. I don't think you realize how much," I tell him quietly.

Daniel nudges me, pointing at the sun, which is halfway below the horizon. I lean against Daniel as we sit in silence, watching the vibrant colors fade.

"I know, Ev, I know." Daniel's shoulder brushes mine.

"No, you—"

"Yes, Ev." Daniel turns to me, his eyes scanning my face. "I miss you. I miss all the times we used to climb through the hedge to your house, drink lemonade at the kitchen table, or race to the car after school. I miss all the times we used to make cookies at ten at night or sort through your collection of books.

"But, I don't just miss all that. I miss your terrible jokes. The way you will collapse into fits of random laughter until you complain your stomach hurts. All the times you would hide out in the library, always in the philosophy section because no one would look for you there. The times you would pack my lunch because I was sick or tired or lazy, or every time you chose a movie you know I'd like, even when I know you wanted to watch something else.

It wasn't just the memories; it was you."

"Daniel—"

"Ev, I've been meaning to tell you something," Daniel whispers hesitantly.

"Okay." I look up, but something unreadable passes his face.

The sun sinks further into the horizon. Only a quarter of the star that keeps the Earth moving is visible. A part of me wants to reach out and stop it from turning, from changing night into day, but there's nothing that can stop it.

Daniel is silent for the next few minutes. He doesn't say a word as the sun sinks lower and lower, until only a sliver peeks out from the skyline. It falls lower as every second passes.

Just as I think that Daniel has forgotten what he wanted to say, he breaks the silence again.

"Ev, I . . . You might hate me."

"Hey, spit it out, weirdo," I say jokingly, nudging him. "Unless you tell me you're like an alien or something, I doubt I could hate you."

He looks at me for a long moment before turning away. The sun has finally sunk below the horizon.

"Hey, you know you can tell me anything." I reach out, placing my hand on his forearm.

Daniel turns toward me, giving me a nervous look. His eyes flicker toward the ground before flickering back up to me.

"I like you," he whispers quickly, his words jumbling tightly together.

My heart pounds as he continues looking at me. I search for words, trying to breathe normally. He blinks three times quickly.

"Daniel, I—"

"No." He pulls his arm from my grasp. "Forget it. It was stupid. It is stupid."

He jumps off the wall quickly, scrambling away from me.

"Daniel!" I shout after him, jumping down after him.

Instead, he's running back toward the house alone, ignoring my calls. I start following him, but something makes me turn back and look at the scenery, but all I see is the moon, rising against the darkening sky.