the last of our lives

Chapter 4: Row boating

When we arrive at the mall there are street performers everywhere, playing saxophone, guitar, even an entire band set up playing a catchy song. People walk by talking in groups, some on a bike, some talking on their phones.

We sit on the edge of the fountain, taking in the tourists and locals. The air is filled with a kind of sweet perfumed scent from the nearby flowering trees and the city's bustle gives it a kind of feel of opportunity. The sky is blue with a few puffy clouds all around and the sun streams down, hot in the late spring/early summer air.

Suddenly, Moriah gets up from the edge of the fountain and walks a few feet to in front where the bands playing. Then she begins to dance to the catchy song playing, tapping her feet to the fast rhythm and gets really into it, swaying her arms and hips! She gestures at us to come join her and we get up and go over to where she is! I really get into it and have fun. The band is smiling and getting more into their music, glad that it's making somebody dance. Quinn and Kaelyn get up and start dancing to. Kaelyn of course, looks the most comfortable, but only second to Moriah.

A few people watching us begin to clap and tap their feet and soon enough we have about ten people dancing to the song!

People whoop and cheer as the band begins another songs and the music fills the air as we dance over the cobbled ground near the fountain. It's in this moment that I feel really happy. I mean, I'm with my friends in New York City, dancing in the sunny streets! It's like something from a movie.

Pretty soon almost everyone is dancing to the song. It really is something and it's all because Moriah decided to dance and we joined her.

Finally once we're all tired and sitting down, we decide to go to the lake.

The lake is much calmer, with only ten people there or so. We walk over to the boat house where we can rent some rowboats. I see Avery's group there as well.

"Hello Oakleigh!" He says as I catch up to his group. "Planning to rowboat too?"

"Yup. Kaelyn's mom is going to rent some for us." I smile. I'm actually really excited to rowboat. It sounds so awesome. With the blue skies and the lake and the trees all around.

"Do you want to row the rowboat together?" Avery asks me. My heart skips. The day just got 10000 times better.

"Sure. I'll have to check in with my chaperone to make sure it's okay but I think it'll be fine. Also with Moriah because she's my roommate but I think she'll be okay with it." I say happily. 

I double back to where my group is. "Hey my friend in the other group and I want to rowboat together. Is that okay?" I say to both Moriah and Kaelyn's mom.

"Sure." They both say. 

"Have fun! Be safe!" Moriah winks at me. 

I roll my eyes. "Haha. See you afterward."

Avery's chaperone rents the rowboat for us and we bring it over to the lake and get in it. Avery pushes off with his paddle and pretty soon we're rowing across the lake. Once we've gotten to the middle we stop. Letting the boat drift a little. 

"Thanks for doing this with me." I say to Avery. 

"Yeah no problem. It's really nice out here." He gestures towards the lake and trees. 

"Totally." I sigh and lean back on my side of the boat. Looking up at the sky and letting the sun fall onto my face, not directly as to hurt my eyes, but just to the side to feel warm. 

A minute passes in quiet. Not an awkward quiet. Just a kind of nice and peaceful quiet. Just being together and enjoying the lake. 

After a bit Avery goes "What did you do before this?"