Later that afternoon
"Ready to go?" Philby asked.
"Yup" Willa smiled.
Philby returned the smile as he forced himself to not reach for Willa's hand. "Hey do you feel like taking a walk? Maybe around the park?"
"That sounds nice" Willa agreed. They walked for a few minutes before coming across a park bench.
Philby started getting nervous before asking, "You wanna sit down?" as he took a seat beside her. It took all the will power in Philby to not put his arm around Willa's shoulder. "Willa, can I talk to you about something?"
"Isn't it beautiful?" Willa said, ignoring Philby's question completely.
"Is what beautiful?" Philby asked.
"The houses, all the little old places where couples grow old together" Willa sighed, "I want that someday. What about you?"
"Uhh yeah actually" Philby said, "I would love that."
"Really?" Willa sounded surprised.
"Yeah, why?"
"Just surprised, that's all" Willa smiled, which made Philby smile too for reasons beyond his understanding.
"Don't I seem like the type who wants to grow old with someone I love?" Philby said, still smiling while stealing a glance at Willa.
"I think you're the type who deserves it" she smiled sweetly.
I've been making lots of plans like a
Picket fence and a rose garden
I'll just keep on dreaming
But it's cool 'cause we're just friends
"Thanks, you too" he blushed.
"So there was something you wanted to talk about?" Willa asked.
"Uh? Oh yea, umm I don't remember what it was" Philby lied as Willa's face turned to disappointment, "Sorry."
"Oh its fine, I should get on home, bye Philby" she ran off.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Philby cursed himself.
…..
Philby sat in his quiet bedroom messing around with the Keepers chat room. He was debating whether or not to spark up a conversation with Willa, who had just signed in a couple minutes before. Philby really couldn't blame Willa for running off the way she did, but he wondered if she'd had some sort of inkling of what he was going to say. Before he could contemplate anything else, Willa wrote him,
Willa: hey, sorry for running off
Philby: its ok. Don't worry about it
Willa: did you remember what you were going to say?
Philby thought she was replying rather quickly and wondered if she knew what was going on.
Philby: not really
Willa: oh
Philby stared at his screen for a good five minutes with no movement.
Willa: Philby?
Philby: why do you want to know?
Willa: Because…
Philby: …
Willa: whatever it is, it's hurting you. I can see it in your eyes when we're together…
Philby's jaw dropped. "She cares about me," he said to himself.
Philby: meet me in the park tomorrow
Willa: ok
Small talk on IM
Just one words sentences
It's cool we're just friends
Philby didn't really want to end their conversation, especially when he desperately felt like taking advantage of Willa actually chatting with him, but noticed Willa had logged off.
If I had my way
We'd talk and talk all day
Philby sighed, half wishing he'd said something, but realizing the conversation would be better in person. He couldn't wait till tomorrow.
…..
Willa logged off, half frustrated but also anxious to hear what Philby had to say.
"Just tell me Philby, I've waited long enough for you" she whispered.