A truck slowed down as it passed the pedestrians walking down the street, a comfortable silence between them before Lyla finally spoke up.

"I actually didn't wanna show you around the neighborhood." The teenage girl confessed, bringing her hands up to tie her hair. Kicking pebbles beneath her feet.

"I figured, since most of the neighbors came over and introduced themselves on the first day." Austin glanced at her, "So what did you want?"

Smiling, she said, "I wanted to get to know you better. I would like to be friends."

"You are straight-forward. I like it, but in return I would like to know you better too. You will ask a question, then I will, okay?"

"Okay, so, why did you move here?" That was her first question, something kinda personal, but not too personal.

"My mother's company moved her here, now it's my turn. What is your favorite color?"

Lyla stopped for a moment and started to giggle, "How original of you Austin, but to answer your question, it's yellow."

"Oh, why is that?"

The girl gently shoved her shoulder against the boy's arm, "I thought we were taking turns, do you have a little brother?"

"Half-brother, my mother remarried, I believe you owe me an answer to a question." Austin shoved back, a smile on his face as his hands felt a little clammy. 'It's really hot here.'

"Yellow is the color of happiness, it's a beautiful color with a beautiful meaning. I'm trying my best to think of positive thoughts and to be happy, when I was younger, I suffered from depression. I'm not completely rid of it, it'll always be a part of me but I won't let it define who I am."

"I'm glad you're trying to be positive, to me, it's a power that most people wish to have. To be optimistic even in the darkest of times, find the light in every shadow, but it's also pretty scary too."

"How?"

The boy stopped and looked at his leg, "For example, what if you were attacked by a shark? An optimistic person would most likely be ecstatic about going against a share. A normal person would be freaking the hell out."

Lyla hummed in reply as her bangs flew in her face, "I suppose you're right, that is pretty scary. And twisted. So, how old are you?" She smoothly changed the topic, tucking her brown locks behind her ear.

"I'm seventeen, what about you?"

"Eighteen."

"Ooh, old woman."

"Very funny, I just turned last week country boy." A mischievous glint in her green eyes as she hoped he would catch on. To her surprise, he did as Austin chuckled, shaking his head as he began walking again.

"Do you have a favorite flower?"

A smile came across his face, "Yes. It's tulips, you know, no one's ever asked me that question before."

"Took a lucky shot." A faint smile painted on her face as Lyla shrugged her shoulders.

"I was wondering, do you-" A loud alarm cut him off as Lyla took out her phone, checking the alarm.

"Sorry, I gotta get ready for my job interview, can we do this later?"

The brown eyed boy opened his mouth and closed it, before replying to her question, "Sure, but that counts as one of your questions."

The pair laughed as they turned back around and walked back to where they were walking away from, mindless conversation between them. Austin's mind lingering with the one question he had wanted to ask the calm, green eyed girl beside him.

Published: May 4th, 2017
Word Count: 605 words