"Pickles, this is Austin, Austin this is Pickles." Ally leaned over and stroked the goose's head. Austin eyed her curiously. She was cute when she smiled. Echoing her thoughts, she said "Isn't he cute?" What Austin didn't realize was that she didn't mean the goose.
"Yah. He is." Austin said quietly, kneeling down next to her and petting the goose. She eyed him from the corner of her eye, biting her lip.
"I didn't mean the goose." She said quietly. His heart thundered in his chest, and his breath caught. Slowly, their hands inched toward each other. His pinkie bumped hers. Her cheeks turned scarlet.
"Austin." She muttered.
"Ally." He echoed. His hand slowly covered hers. "I think I get it now. You're shy, and sweet, but you have control issues. You have trouble having fun, but you desperately want to fit in."
She ducked her head in shame that he'd read her that easily. His hand moved from hers, and tipped up her chin. "But you want to know a secret?" Her mouth was dry, and she opened her mouth, only to find no sound would come out. Instead, she nodded.
His lips ghosted her ear "That's why I love you." She shivered, and he moved back to petting the goose. Surely he didn't mean love-love. Just friend love.
He petted the goose shakily, her warmth body, and ridiculous dress brushing against her skin. When he looked again, she was so close he jumped. He could feel her breath; smell her minty toothpaste, as she spoke.
"You're careless. You want to live while you can. Have fun. You think what the heck, and you always see a bright side. But you're afraid to die, afraid that there's nothing after." She murmured. "And that" she concluded "is why I love you."
No one watching could have told you who moved. It might have been Ally, or maybe Austin, or maybe both. Not even the two were quite sure. But somehow their lips met. They kissed for a few moments, and only stopped when a loud quack and a flashlight beam broke them apart.
