The next afternoon, Dash gave the excuse of running. It wasn't really that much of a stretch. He was sprinting for some portion of the way to Mandy's.

On the way there, Dash realized that he had no idea where she would be. He should have asked more follow-ups. He was always mired in a lack of specificity because he didn't ask questions due to not realizing that he would need those answers in the future. Be it for homework, or planning.

He could always stake out the area with his speed if she was out biking, and just pretend to slowly "run" into her.

Fortunately, that was not needed when Dash saw her under the tree, reading a book.

The first thing he noticed was her hair. It was previously obscured under a helmet, but now he noticed distinct red locks. Mandy was still engrossed in reading when he got the idea to use his speed to sneak up behind her. Specifically, directly behind the tree, so he could maybe deliver a mild surprise.

"Hi," said Dash in not a particularly loud fashion from right beside her. The intended effect ensued.

"Dash," she screamed and stood up, her book having been thrown to the very reaches of the tree's shade on that summer afternoon.

He picked up the book and offered it to her which she promptly used to smack his shoulder thrice. "Never. Do. That. Again," though the amusement in her voice was evident by the last bludgeon.

Mandy sat down and patted to a spot beside her for him to join. "That stealthiness was impressive, I have to admit."

Mandy smiled and looked at him, "Hi."

"Hello," he replied. "What's new?"

"Oh, all the boxes are in, though most of them are unopened. Oh! I slept in a sleeping bag under the stars last night. Have to admit, can't do that in the big city. Loved that. Might have to delay moving my bed into my room, ha. Anyways, it's so quiet out here. I always use to hear traffic. I mean I tuned that out, but here there's no need. Just the pure sound of wind rustling and I feel like I can hear for miles and miles. Oh, and the moon. It's beautiful," at this point Dash was following her exaggerated gesturing at the sky.

She went on to describe the celestial body as if it came out early and the sky was already pitch black. Her hair was being highlighted by the streams of light that were breaking through the tree they were sitting under. It looked like it was on fire.

Exhausted by this, she slumped and laid against the tree. Mandy was usually self-conscious about her passionate tangents, but didn't feel quite so with Dash. It helped that he was smiling through the entire escapade. A genuine smile at that, not just a polite one. Smiling herself now thinking about it, she turned to ask, "How about you?"

"Oh," thinking for a moment. Mom was at work, so everyone was at home, just lounging and doing their own thing. "A bit quiet, my mom's coming back from work tonight, so we're all doing something then."

"Big family?"

"Just mom and dad, an older sister and a baby."

"Baby," Mandy explained. "I love babies."

"Ha," thinking that Jack-Jack would be a handful for anybody, even the enthused.

She continued, "Only child here. I think I like it for the most part, though wouldn't really know any better, would I?"

"I'm basically an only child. Violet's much older, and the baby is still a baby."

They continued like this on the pros and cons of both lifestyles, finding common ground in effectively being an only child, though Mandy made him realize how he appreciated having Violet as a big sister. Then again, their relationship improving as of late.

There was a lull in the conversation, not an awkward one — just a natural end to the topic at hand. And Dash was fully content just sitting under that tree for the rest of the afternoon with Mandy. He appreciated the natural splendor of the vast greenery before them and the shining sun above that was tempered by a light breeze that added a sway to the taller grass.

Smiling, he turned to her and noticed that she was looking at him funny. Dash assumed that Mandy felt the same way.

In fact, she did. Mandy was happy that this displacement was turning out all right. As much as she loved the energy of the city that matched her own manic disposition, this world before — the peace and quiet — was actually quite charming.

The current company also helped. It was amazing to her that she got on with the first person she met better than all her "friends" — really just people she knew — before. School was just complicated.

Anyways, she did feel happy, but immediately felt panicked when she realized Dash was looking at her looking at him. "Show me around?" Mandy blurted, haphazardly shooting up and extending her hand to him.

He grabbed it, unconsciously really, without hesitation. But it was as Mandy was pulling him along that he realized he was now holding her hand. Mandy's hand. Not his mom's or Violet's, but somebody wholly new. For the past 24 hours, Dash could hardly think about anything else other than her. He was anxiously waiting to see her again. Mandy made him feel funny. She just seemed so different. So bold, and not afraid to her pure self. He liked that confident, bubbly, imaginative, storytelling self that he found.

For her part, she was just desperate hoping to change the conversation, as such when she let go of his hand unconsciously, it was only Dash who immediately missed the feel of it, but also restarted his brain.

"Have you explored the top of the mountain yet?"

"Nope," Mandy shook her head. I really only went in a circle around the house when I biked yesterday.

"Come on then," Dash exclaimed, leading the way. He asked about city life during the trek. Mandy and her family lived in a high-rise, and was much more of a city dweller, compared to his suburban upbringing.

On the way, Mandy vividly described the first she and her parents were still out at midnight and the city streets were still bustling with lights and sound.

"It's not really a peak, it's a bit flat," Dash commented as they finally made it up. The sun was beginning to set, but Mandy didn't seem to mind as she pulled him down to join her on the ground, tired and out of breath.

Thanks for the nice comments all. Do keep chiming in.