Here’s my first attempt at flash fiction. Under 1,000 words. Think I’ll try something even shorter next time, but this was fun. Inspired by a scene I witnessed while taking a walk today.
We showed up late. Mom had misjudged the timing on some fancy dessert, and I’d been rude about it. Walking down the driveway with my parents, I felt awkward and exposed in a summer dress. I wanted to wear my standard hoodie and jeans but Mom made a federal case out of it. Pretty much everyone I knew and their families would be scattered around the house and back yard. My classmates were dressed slightly nicer than usual. A band playing old people music in the back yard finished a song to a trickle of clapping.
It was Columbus Day weekend, all fall-harvest vibes. Jake said most of our freshman class was coming. Too bad Amy couldn’t make it. She was in Maine, leaving me to fend for myself. This big yard party on the reservoir had been an annual tradition for our class since the 5th grade, the year Jake’s family moved here.
I told my parents I was going to find Robin, my only other sanctuary here. I tried to look casual as I walked around, scanning for her. Steph and Marcus stopped me and said hi. They didn’t think Robin was here. Ugh! I played it cool and went to get a drink. I grabbed a grape soda and looked for a place to hide. The patio had a bunch of parents milling about, so I went and stood there against the wall, hoping nobody noticed me as I sipped with great purpose. The dad band started up with another song.
Then I saw Rex walking toward me from across the yard. I checked around to see if he was looking at someone else. Rex was the new kid this year. From Wisconsin? Then Ireland for a couple years? Now here. Something like that. I’d only spoken to him once during a group discussion in English.
Oh, he was just grabbing a drink from the cooler. He opened it and stood there. I wondered if he had nobody to talk to just as he turned around and caught me staring at him. I looked away, but he meandered over, stopped next to me and said what’s up. Hey, I said. We stood in silence for a few moments. Do you wanna go check out the lake?
It’s a reservoir, I was going to say, but thankfully caught myself. Sure. I forgot, you’ve never been here before, right?
Once to drop Jake off when he needed a lift, but no, not really. Rex was friends with the band kids. I’d never really noticed this guy, to be honest. Big head of wavy but short red hair, skinny. He was wearing jeans and a light plaid button down shirt, tucked in. Dorky brown shoes. He suddenly seemed impossibly attractive. Like how was I not going to screw this up. My hands, feet, upper lip, armpits — everything sweating. Ugh. I silently cursed the dress. Sure, I’ll take you down there, I said.
We walked too slowly with our sodas held up like we were at a cocktail party. I needed to think of something to say. It must be hard being the new kid. How are you getting on?
Oh, good, he said. I’m used to it. We’ve moved around a lot. People here are a little different, after Ireland. But yeah, everyone’s been super nice. I asked him about his friends there. He said they were rich, like stupid rich. Because of the school he was at.
We had to get into single file when we reached the path through the trees. He stopped and let me go in front of him. I could feel him watching me from behind and caught myself trying to not look too boyish walking on the uneven path littered with leaves. Amy was away, Robin was nowhere to be found, and here I am going down to the res with Rex.
When we reached the shore, he stood next to me and we looked out onto the water. I was desperate to keep the conversation going, but my brain had gone to mush. I kept asking about his stupid rich friends. Every angle. I was SO interested. Even as he became noticeably done with it. At one point I asked if they had help getting dressed like in Downton Abbey.
Cringe as it was, the memory’s a good one. The afternoon sun shone on us as we stood by the water, leaves starting to turn. Rex had asked me to the res and was still there talking to me, despite my terrible conversation skills. He would turn and look at me when he spoke. I was overflowing with excitement and anticipation, trying desperately not to show it. Finally, he changed the subject and said he liked my dress.
It often comes to me when I’m trying to fall asleep. The warm fall day, of Rex and possibility and new feelings. The dress I wore to school even as the weather turned too cold for it. I bask there for a time before thinking about my kids, healthy and safe in their beds. My husband beside me, lightly snoring.
