It was now lunchtime. I was outside the large, redbrick school, heading across the wide, green front lawn to the green park across the street which you had to get to by going across the lawn. The weather hadn't changed.
"Hey Morgan," Leo called, spotting me.
I smiled in the warm sunlight. Leo walked over to me and handed me a packet of 6 Oreos. It wasn't much but it was still food. Leo and I aren't dating we just happen to be really good friends.
"Thanks," I said; "oh and hi."
"You're welcome. I know it's not much. Hi."
"But it's still food."
"Yeah well, I figured you wanted some. You looked pretty hungry at art earlier this morning."
"Yeah, I was. I overslept so I didn't have time for breakfast, which, obviously I missed."
"Morgan, you know that-"
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yes I know I know. That's the same thing Hannah said to me this morning."
"She's right even if she is only 13."
"Yeah, well," I said, meaning it is how it is.
"You wanna go get coffee or something?"
"Yeah sure."
"I'll pay."
"Oh Leo you don't have to do that."
"Well, do you want to?" he countered.
"Well no, not really."
"I figured as much. Ok so I'll pay."
"Ok then."
By that time, we were across the street. We spotted several of our friends, lounging on the grass in the sunlight in the park. Most of them had red hair. All were females.
"Morgan, Leo, over here!" Clover called.
"We're going to get some coffee we'll be back later."
"Ok."
We began walking in the park, away from our friends and the school. The only way to get to the coffee shop from the school was through the park.
"God I luv this park," I said.
Leo smiled; "I know. As do I."
"It's so big," I commented.
Leo giggled.
"And the lake and the river and the trees and oh god just everything about it."
"Wow."
I turned and looked at him: "what?"
"Seems like you're in a much better mood."
"Well, going outside can do that to a person."
"I know."
We were about halfway across the grass at this point.
"And I luv how a person could hide inside the pine trees if they wanted to. And how you can literally sprawl in that giant tree over by the lake. I luv that tree."
"Yeah I know which one you're talking about."
"And how, on days like this, you could fall asleep in the park."
Leo looked at me, smiling. I looked at him.
"You really are nature girl aren't you?" he asked.
"Well it's fukin incredible Leo my god!"
"That's one thing I've always loved about you Morgan, is how much you love nature."
I smiled and looked downwards at my black lace up boots, white spots on them from the sunlight.
"So um," I said, in an effort to change the subject; "how was your morning?"
"Um ok. If you want, I have some muffins from my mom in my locker, for when we get back to school. I have orange, peach, apple-cinnamon and blueberry."
"Wow that sounds nice."
"Oh, any time."
Pause.
His mom rosemary makes wonderful bread.
"I had English, anatomy and chemistry this morning as well as art," Leo continued.
"Oh. How'd the other class go?"
"Ok. Chemistry is boring, as to be expected."
"Yeah."
"In English we're reading Oliver Twist."
"Oh another Dickens novel."
"Yeah she wants us to get through all of them by the end of the term."
"Good luck with that."
"They're really boring, slow moving."
"Well, Leo, that's all they did in those days. They had nothing else to do."
"That sounds boring."
"Yeah it does."
"Anatomy is actually quite interesting."
"Oh?" I asked.
"Yes. Right now we're studying the heart."
"Oh that does sound interesting."
"Oh it is."
Leo pulled a black lighter and a small cardboard cigarette pack out of his pocket. He offered the box to me; "want one?"
He knew it was my choice to say yes or no. he'd respect whatever choice I made.
"Yeah sure," I replied, taking a cigarette, popping it in my mouth and lighting it with his lighter, then giving the lighter back to him so he could have one.
"So how's your mom?" I asked, once we were both smoking.
"She's good she's good. Still a receptionist at the hospital that hasn't changed."
"Some things never do"
"Yeah."
We were now across the street.
"And how's your mom?" he asked.
"Eh idinnoo. Busy, I guess."
"Too busy for you to tell?"
"Yeah."
"Oh."
We were now on the gray cement sidewalk. Soon enough, we arrived at the coffee shop. I had a muffin and some tea and Leo had black coffee.