Her eyes

"I remember your eyes," he says aloud, letting the stupid part of his brain that can't talk to cute girls properly do the talking. "Just, I can't seem to remember anything else."

The girl blinks, a hand half reaching towards her face. "My eyes..." She smiles, her face lighting up. "That a line or something?"

Ethan shrugs, really just ready to go home now. "Kinda?"

That’s about it. Time to head home.

"Well," the girl shifts in her seat, looking... pleased? "It'll do. Enough to throw you a bone, at least. It's Alex."

Alex.

Recognition hits Ethan like a freight train. Alex. He knows Alex. Alex was…

“We met in jail,” Alex beams, looking up at Ethan with a painfully cute grin. “My mom made Bobby play with you guys. You remember my brother Bobby right?”

Ethan remembers. Memories stitch together, forming an image of a tiny black-haired kid Ethan once sat on a rock with. One that wanted to play…

“‘House’,” Ethan chuckles, catching a break. “You wanted to play ‘House’.”

Nodding, Alex faux claps her hands, her pale palms barely connecting. “Bravo! You remember… Do you…” she tilts her head, suddenly looking coy. “Remember anything else?”

Ethan thinks for a moment. There is more, he knows that. Something he can’t quite recall, but he knows is important. He didn't interact with Alex much, only a handful of times over a few summers, but there was definitely something glaring he let slip his mind.

“Hmmm,” Alex shakes her head. “Forgetful as ever I see…”

Ethan frowns. “My memory is fine.”

“Sure it is,” Alex rolls her eyes. “You just totally forgot I ever existed, then tried to hit on me.”

“I didn't…” Ethan stops himself, feeling a noose of feminine wiles wrapping around his neck.

“‘You didn't’ what? Didn't forget or didn’t try to hit on me?”

“Both?”

The noose turns taut.

Alex laughs, covering her lips with a curled finger. “You liar!” She laughs a bit harder, clearly not mad. “You’re out for a walk, yes?”

“Yeah…” Ethan shifts, figuring he might as well answer honestly.

“Then walk me home,” Alex pops up off the bench, flattening out her skirt. “Considering your terrible shot shooting, it’s more than you deserve. Plus, it would be very gentlemanly of you.”

Ethan feels like he really doesn't have a choice in the matter. And yet…

If he refused now, he would be killing this, whatever ‘this’ even is, dead. There would be no turning back. Alex would be gone. Or he could man up and walk the fucking girl home.

Seriously. Walk her home.