"How was the plane ride?
"I sobbed"
"I miss you"
"I miss you too"

"Grab the fireworks from the car please dear," Madison calls to me from the picnic table.
"Will do," I turn away from the chairs I had just sat down and head back towards the car for the fireworks.
It had been a week since I came back from the great wolf trip and I had texting and calling my friends more than ever before. Last night, Ash and I stayed up until three am on a video call talking. Eventually Ash drifted off, so I ended the call after a few minutes.

As we set up I hear faint firework noises all around us.

boom

They are occasionally slightly louder and it sounds like they're nearby, but still just background noise.

Boom

Boom

Tssss

Eventually our picnic is set up and we're all sitting around in a rough looking circle.
"When are the fireworks going to start?" Kelly asks.
Everyone looks to Clyde's father expectantly, knowing he is in charge of the show. My father would be helping, and I'm sure even us kids would get to set off a couple fireworks, but Clydes father is the one really in charge.
"Once we're done with dinner," Clydes father assures us, glancing to my father for confirmation.
My father nods once and goes back to eating his hot dog in big bites.
I'm not much of a hot dog fan. I glance down at my plate, looking at the hot dog covered in ketchup in its bun sitting beside the mountain of chips. I'll eat one every once in a while, but it's definitely not my favorite. Zack is the same way... I take in a deep breath. I wish I were back home.
The group chatters on for what seems like hours, but the sky is just barely dark when Cludes father finally stands up to stretch.
I watch intently as he stretches, then heads over to the firework stash to start preparation.
Madison pours water on the ground around him, along with on the wood panel I assume he's using as his stage, and then sits back down in her seat.
Clydes father carefully opens the first firework, setting it down on the wood panel gently, and pull a lighter out of his pocket.
Clydes father carefully lights the fuse, and just like that, the fireworks begin.

BOOM

BOOM

TSSSS

BOOM

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Late that night, I'm laying in bed on my phone.

Zack: hey
Me: hey!!
Zack: how was your 4th of July?
Me: pretty good! My family and Clydes family had a picnic!
Zack: nice! Clyde's the neighbor, right?
Me: mhm! How was your 4th?
Zack: pretty boring, just the usual family stuff
Me: it sounds like it was probably a little fun, right?
Zack: yeah, I guess
Me: :)
Zack: 😝
Me: 🤪
Zack: weirdo
Me: PFFT YOURE A WEIRDO
Zack: nah
Me: shush, you are
Zack: I don't think so
Me: uh, yeah, I think so. It's true. Obviously you're a weirdo to be talking to me
Zack: you should come with a warning lable: WARNING!! really weird person
Me: oh hush, you like that I'm weird
Zack: yeah, because you infected me with your weirdness

I can feel that I'm blushing as we're texting. My heart is racing a million miles an hour at each response.

Me: pfft sure, because you weren't even a little weird when we met?
Zack: uh, no, obviously
Me: suuuuurrrrre
Zack: stop gaslighting me
Me: WHOA BUDDY, CALM DOWN WITH THE BIG FANCY WORDS
Zack: Buddy?
Me: IDK, IDK WHAT ELSE TO USE
Zack: I have a few suggestions 😉
Me: sjdghshfithsgrgr
Me: I'm going to bed
Me: shush
Me: go to sleep
Zack: aww
Me: shhhhhh
Me: good night
Zack: good night

I exit the app just as I get another message in my notification tab.

Zack: I love you

My heart beat stops for a moment. What do I say-? I love him back but I can't tell anyone else- if I say it back then we're basically together- people will find out. I take in a shaky breath and turn off my phone. I wish I could just say it back- Tears begin to run down my face and in under a minute I'm clutching my stuffed bear, sobbing.