o’clock next Thursday,”
“Will you be able to meet me every Thursday at ten o’clock this summer?”
“Yes.”
Scott smiled. He had a date with Briana every week.
He returned his watch to his pocket and pulled out his poems. He handed her the folded pieces of paper. “I wrote two poems for you.”
When he observed her surprise, he kicked himself for his boldness. After all, this was merely their second meeting. “You can read them when you get home.”
Scott rubbed his hands on his jeans before reaching for her hand. “I’ll walk you to the entrance.”
They strolled through the park slowly, each not wanting their time to come to an end. Briana focused on their hands as the entrance loomed closer. Waiting for two full days to see Scott had been grueling. Now she had to wait for an entire week. She was grateful for their hike up the hill. Her heavy breathing had been mistaken for exertion instead of the nervous energy she felt from their near kiss. The vision of Scott moving forward replayed in her mind. His gaze had moved from her eyes to her lips, and a brief look of vulnerability existed before he gave an intense look of devotion. If she hadn’t glanced at the path, she would have kissed a boy she had barely met three days ago; and a kiss with Scott—Briana stopped her thoughts, refusing to think about that very idea.
She had been surprised earlier when he asked if she minded he was from South Hillside. She had wanted to say, “Why would I be? You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met. I don’t care if you live in a shack.” To her, Scott was caring, funny, and good-looking, but most importantly, he had missed his breakfast just to come and see her.
Her belly contracted with anticipation. Would Scott try to kiss her again at the entrance? When he simply squeezed both her hands and said, “I am looking forward to next Thursday,” Briana wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved.
She smiled shyly. “Me too.”
Briana hurriedly walked away. Her mother and sisters would be home soon and she had to be there first. She could feel Scott watching her all the way to the corner of the block.
After Briana turned right and was out of sight, Scott waited a few minutes before heading home. He thought about his first date with Briana which had been simple yet fascinating. His longtime question—would he kiss a girl on their first date—was a definite no. He shimmied down the embankment, telling himself that maybe next Thursday, they would kiss. While crossing the lower field with long quick strides, he plucked at the tips of the grass. He had always thought after his first date, he would know more about the girl than just her name.
6
June
In the month of June, Scott’s life became an endurance marathon while waiting for Thursday. As much as he enjoyed playing football, his secret meetings with Briana were the paramount part of his summer. Destiny remained interested, but he did his best to avoid her.
When Scott and Briana met each Thursday, they scarcely noticed the unseasonably warm weather with very little rainfall. Their thoughts were on the anticipation of developing their relationship.
On June 11, Scott arrived inside the park to find Briana reading the book Pride and Prejudice. As he approached, she closed her book and set it aside. She smiled shyly, stating she was very interested in this book. Scott nodded thoughtfully, remembering the past school year. For his advanced reading class, Pride and Prejudice had been a required book to read. As much as he tried, he couldn’t get into the story. He ended up getting a B for that class.
Briana moved over on the bench, making room for him. She said, “My mom recommended this book. She read it when she was young. Have you ever read it?”
“No, I’m more of a nonfiction reader.”
Briana nodded while Scott suggested they hike the northwest path inside the woods. Today they spent their time exploring several different trails. At eleven fifty, they stood at the entrance. Scott was pleased with their day. He learned two things about Briana from just observation. She liked to read and she also liked to solve puzzles. She had showed him a photograph of her dog, Minnie, a black dachshund. In the picture, Briana was sitting on a chair, working on a crossword puzzle, while her dog rested on her lap.
Before leaving, Briana handed Scott an envelope. “Read this after I leave.”
As soon as she turned the corner of the block, Scott opened the flowered envelope and removed the matching paper. Her penmanship was as elegant as her mannerisms.
Scott, your poems hypnotized my heart. In return, I wrote a poem, using your name. Scott = Strength of character. Captivated my heart. Only boy for me. Talented poet. Tremendously handsome.
Refolding the stationery, Scott grinned as he placed the poem inside the envelope.
Later that evening, he sat at his desk, tapped his pencil on his notebook as he mulled over and played with words. Finally he wrote,
Briana, here’s a poem with your name. Briana = Beauty in the park. Respects her loved one. Intelligent girl. Affectionate dog lover. Not a talkative girl. Always waiting for Thursdays.
*****
On June 18, with his poem inside his pocket, Scott sat with Briana on the rock inside the woods and played a game he had made in his seventh-grade shop class. The game had a triangular light-green wood base consisting of nine holes. Golf pegs were placed into eight holes, leaving one empty. Showing Briana the rules of the game by playing it, Scott jumped one peg over another and removed the jumped peg off the wood base. The object of the game was to remove as many pegs as possible. When Briana played the first time, she removed all the pegs, except the jumping peg which remains on the wood base.
As she played, Scott studied her intense concentration. Since the first day he met her, he figured she was intelligent because of her careful observations. Today she proved it. He smiled at her. “You’re good at solving puzzles.”
Briana blushed. Then over the next three rounds, she was unable to remove all the pegs off the wood base. “I guess I had beginner’s luck.”
As she returned his game, Scott grinned. Her strategy to lose had been as intense as her strategy to win. “I know what you are doing, Briana.”
Frowning, she replied, “You do?” She had worked hard to try and hide her tactic for losing.
“I really don’t mind if you beat me in that game,” Scott joked, although like Briana, he had solved the game’s solution on the first try.
He moved his attention from the game to her eyes. Suddenly conscious of her warmth filtering into his body, his breathing became shallow. He knew this was the moment he’d been waiting for. Since their second meeting, his urge to kiss her had monopolized his thoughts. Moving forward slowly, he wasn’t about to let this opportune moment pass without his lips being introduced to hers, but the moment he tilted his head, Briana turned hers in the opposite direction, looking at the path that leads to the park.
Scott swallowed, trying not to feel rejected. He stared at the oak tree in front of him, wondering if he had once again misread her expression. He controlled his disappointment. “Do you want to play the game
