Did she know?

If you asked me if I could remember her, I'd tell you yes. I remember everything. The curve of her lips when she smiled. The deep blue of her eyes. I can remember the pattern of freckles that scattered across her nose. But did she know?

Everyone else seemed to. Even Chris, the older guy that tried to lure me away from her. They'd sit and watch. Watch me as I'd skate up the quarter pipe and pull off some hand plant or such. She would smile when I looked at her and he would shake his head.

What did he want with me anyway? I made it obvious that I wasn't interested and he still followed me. Like a lost puppy or the cat you feed once and they never leave. Everywhere I went, he was there. Taking pictures or sketching in his book. Maybe I shouldn't have been so nice. Maybe...

She would save me a seat in the back of the bus. She was older too. Not by much and by seventh grade, I'd caught up to her. They said she was waiting for me. Did she know?

We spent the summer nights hanging out in the pastures. Teenage Wasteland they called it but it was really our world away from the world. We were playing, Body Snatchers I think, and we were running. Me and her, hand in hand. Somehow we ended up on top of the old horse stalls. Rotted wood that would creak with each step. We were out of breath and laughing, her hand still in mine as she dragged me across that shaky wood.

And when the wood gave way and we fell through to the thick, tall grass below, she caught me and held me as we both took a second to realize what had happen.

Time stood still for just a moment. Her eyes were looking into mine, into my soul. Did she know? I think my heart stopped and I couldn't remember how to breathe. Her hand, so soft, so gentle, grazed my cheek and she smiled. Knee's went weak and the world started to spin. I was shaking, the smile in her eyes turned to concern.

"Are you cold?" she asked, the words were like warm hands to protect me. I couldn't speak so I shook my head. The movement brought the smile to her lips again but the sound of approaching footsteps wiped it away as quickly as it appeared...and we were running again. It was Body Snatchers after all.

Did she know? Everyone else seemed to know. But...not me.