Just Go With The Flow

The sun is setting just as we are reaching the field and it is objectively gorgeous, really, the light turning orange and draping itself over the crowd. Reaching down and casting the screen in vibrant hues before it fades away fully for the night.

The field isn't flat. It is instead a little like a natural amphetheater, with the plane sloping down slightly to meet the screen at the bottom. It isn't pitched enough that it would work as a slide, not steep enough for toboggans and sleds in winter and snow, but it is enough of a slope that you can sit pretty much anywhere and be guaranteed of a decent view of the screen,.

Not that it matters. Clearly we were not here for that.

"You made it!" boy-Kim calls out, checking our names off a list he has on a clipboard while girl-Kim rolls her eyes, "Good. Feel free to sit wherever you want and enjoy the film. I heard it's gonna be a great one."

"Yeah," Rachel replies, cheerful without a hint of the sarcasm I know is in her heart, "Looking forward to it!"

"And you brought a friend," girl-Kim glances approvingly up and down Jake, "Who doesn't look like a freshman?"

Behind me Jake shrugs, "I just figured I'd come for the show."

"The more the merrier!" boy-Kim calls out.

"Absolutely," girl-Kim practically coos, "I'm Kim."

"This is Jake," I hear myself say, almost protectively.

And my words earn me a sharp glance from girl-Kim with a quickly raised eyebrow, a movement that boy-Kim, on high alert, absolutely notices.

"Nice to meet you, Jake," he says, stepping over and half-turning girl-Kim as he angles the two of them away, "We should get going. Gotta sign in the rest of everyone before it gets dark and we miss someone. Still got a few left, Kim. Let's go."

The rumors, evidently, have reached boy-Kim. Because he took one look at the way girl-Kim was staring at Jake and instantly decided to get her out of trouble, wheeling her off and giving us the space and peace of mind to step away and find a place to stay.

"The back," Rachel instructs the both of us, "By the tree line."

"Oh great," I quip, "With a whole field to walk through in heels. Do I need to compliment you again on your choice of footwear for the evening?"

Rachel rolls her eyes and Jake cocks his head to one side so I explain for his benefit, "Rachel decided what I was going to wear tonight."

"Well then I guess I have her to thank," he grins, "Because you look absolutely amazing."

I blush hard, muttering out a quick, "Charmer."

Jake only shrugs and steps foward, sliding between the two of us and offering his crooked arms.

"Can I escort you both?"

"Certainly!" Rachel says, stepping up and sliding her arm into his, "What a gentleman."

"Yeah," I smile, taking my place at his side, "He really is."

It's nice, walking across a field as the sun starts to set while arm in arm with a handsome man. It is nothing like what I expected and nothing like how I spent this time the last time I was around in this life, but it is still nice.

Comforting, in it's own way, to have my arm in his and to have someone to lean on. To be able to look over past him and see someone I'd consider a friend.

To have people who have my best interests in mind, without any thought of what they could gain from it.

Novel, that was. Novel to me at least.

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