Page 109 of Meet Me at the Metro

I don’t realize how far I’ve disassociated into the awful recollection until I feel Nora’s soft fingertips brush along my skin.

“It’s okay. We don’t have to talk about that right now.”

Her patience with me is truly remarkable, and I don’t think she realizes how much I appreciate her consideration when conversations like this spark up between us. I want to tell her about everything, I really do. I just haven’t found the courage or the will to speak on that part of myself yet.

I nod my appreciation and try my best to quell my growing anxiety.

“At least tell me your pitiful ass has carved a pumpkin before?” Nora blurts.

The heaviness in my chest immediately grows lighter, and I’m so damn grateful for the change of subject. “Not a single damn one.”

She dramatically sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. “Good Lord. I’ve got my work cut out for me!”

“I guess you do. Can you handle it?”

Nora draws her knees up onto the seat and nestles further into me.

I close my eyes and bask in the comfort of knowing that of all the millions of souls in the world, mine is the one that gets the pleasure of experiencing what it feels like to hold her like this—like peace.

For a while, I thought I had forgotten what that could feel like.

Her blue eyes glance up to mine with a sureness that disintegrates every single doubt in my mind. I want to drown myself in all of the silent promises that look gives me.

“I can handle it,”she says.

And for the first time in a long time, I can believe it.

“I saw it first, Theo!”

“Like hell you did!” I race after Nora as she sprints through the maze of pumpkins scattered along the soggy, weed-covered ground.

She jumps over and around the round, bright orange vegetables like they’re a damn grade-school obstacle course, moving so fast that I can hardly keep up.

The loud buzzing of Halloween and fall-themed inflatables dulls to a low hum as we bolt toward the far end of the field, further away from the fall-time attractions, where aginormouspumpkin awaits us. I try my best not to let the tempting smells of cooked chicken and fried batter from the food trucks looming behind slow me down as my feet squish against the muddy earth.

My heart is racing as I will my legs to move faster, the rush of blood pumping through my body taking off in a crescendo as we grow closer to the pumpkin. Never did I think I’d find someone as stubborn and competitive as me, but yet here I am, trailing behind Nora as she sprints through the sunrise-drenched field for the sake of getting to a damn vegetable first.

Her braid whips wildly as she dodges bundles of weeds at her feet, and I’m so close behind her now that I see every labored breath she releases into the cold air.

“Get your arse back here!” I shout, not giving a damn about what the people walking the haybale maze or riding the miniature ponies far behind us think.

This pumpkin is mine.

“Not a chance!”

She squeals as I close the remaining feet between us and attempt to clutch onto the straps of her overalls. Unfortunately for me, as soon as my fingertips graze the denim fabric, she lunges straight for the pumpkin. Her body collides with the hay-covered ground with a thud so loud it stops me dead in my tracks, but despite the hard impact, her hand reaches right for the damn thing.

She rolls on her side, breathless with laughter.

“You’re a damn cheater,” I accuse, shaking my head disapprovingly.

I won’t admit just how impressed I am with her commitment.

“I’m a winner, is what I am!”

“You’re something alright.”

This girl gave me a run for my money.

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