I walked with my boyfriend, hand in his as we walked down the street. I was thinking hard about how, where, or when I was gonna him my question. I didn't want to just spring it on him, I might scare him away, I also didn't want to tell him before it was too late. We would be missing school, but I knew he wouldn't mind any of that, but what about the people?

"What's going on in that big, beautiful head of yours?" He asked suddenly as we made it to the park to sit on the same picnic table we've always sat at.

I took a deep breath as I sat down to ask him, "I crave a boon." I said to him. He quirked an eyebrow as he watched me. I was hesitant to go any further with my speaking so I guess e thought he should.

"Which is?" He asked as if telling me 'continue'. I don't know why I was so nervous, I don't know why I had to ask him at all.

I was hesitant but decided that it was best to spit out whatever I needed to say, "There's this huge food market type thing going on at home. My granny wants my mom and I to come help with all of the baking, the vegetables, all of that. Would you like to come?" I had physically winced at how long he waited. I think he likes to see me struggle sometimes.

"As your?" He questioned, waiting for me to reply. I scoffed and rolled my eyes before breathing in an laughing at him.

"Boyfriend, ya goof," I said flicking him in his arm, you could hear the nervousness in my voice as I spoke, "like, to meet my family?"

He chuckled at me which made me fell a lot better, like a lot better, "when do we leave?" He chuckled at me. I gasped and my jaw dropped as I jumped onto my knees excitedly like some toddler.

"You'll come, do you really want to?" I asked like I was some puppy that needed to be let out. He nodded and sighed at me.

"Yes, I'll go, why wouldn't I?" I smiled widely and poured onto him, wrapping my alarms around his neck. It took him a second to regain actual thought before he wrapped his arms around my torso. I laughed loudly in his ear and pushed my glasses up.

I finally let go of him, "Saturday, it'll take us like a whole day to get there, so we'll sleep when we get there and subs half of the day after. Oh, and you can meet all of my old friends, and I'll teach you how to fish and ride a dirt bike and we get started on the farming bit on Monday. This is gon-"

"Babe, breathe, please don't have an aneurysm." Richie had to interrupt me in order to calm me down. I laughed at how ridiculous I must have been acting and placed my hands on his face to kiss him on the cheek.

The week slowly went by and I anticipated our trip that was coming at the end of it. For now I shall spend it with my friends, specifically Ben and Eddie, cause that's who I was with in the library.

"Tell Tale Heart?" Eddie asked from besides me as he leaned over the table to look at the title of the story. I nodded at him, he scrunched his face up a bit.

"It's one of my favorites, I have it at home." I recall the pile of books that laid in an old duffel bag under my bed. He just stuck his tongue out in disgust.

"Doesn't a guy get killed in that," he asked, "like chopped up or something?" We were quiet as to not disturb anyone else who might be in the room.

"Blood drained in the bathtub and his body stored under the floorboards." Ben clarified, Eddie made a 'bleh' sound.

"That's so gorey." He said as he slowly started to peak over my shoulder before I looked at him. He looked at me as well and we just kind of kept staring at each other from our close proximity. Eddie hates stuff like this so why would he want to read a book like this, that's more of a Richie move.

"You think so?" I asked him, he still seemed out of it but I wasn't gonna rush him. I wanted him to feel like his friends were still his friends, everyone has this sudden knowledge of age and it frightens the best of us.

"Yeah..." He said quietly, I could see his eyes dart all around my face, "I do." I giggled at the germaphobe boy and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I'm gonna miss them if we ever leave each other.

I looked at the time on the watch that my mom got me. It was time for me to meet Richie by my locker, like I do everyday. So I grab my bag to sling it over my shoulder and walk next to Ben, giving him a kiss on the cheek almost identical to Eddie's.

"What was that for?" He asked with a blush that corresponded with Eddie's on his face.

"You're Losers, someone has to love us." I shrugged before walking out of the library. It took me about three or so minutes to get to my destination. Sure I was early and there was no one in the halls, technically this was 'skipping class', but only if I get caught.

"Hey," a loud voice boomed throughout the hall, "where are you supposed to be?" I looked behind my locker door and rolled my eyes.

"Stop that, Chase." We've had the same lockers since we were freshmen, he's been my locker neighbor ever since.

"What," he laughed the as he also got into his locker, "a little ole heart palpitation won't kill you." He said, I rolled my eyes as I looked at my watch again. Two more minutes until the bell.

"Yeah, sure." I said to him in a joking matter. I heard laughs coming from an opening door down the hall a little ways down. I looked to see Peggy and two more girls. One with blonde hair and blue eyes and another with big, uncontrollable curls. Did she try and replace Anna and I?

She glanced at me; instead of the scowl I was expecting was a saddened tug at her lips. I sighed and watched as chase got his last book and car keys out, he's graduating this year. Woah.

"See ya, Arri." He said, waving at me with the hands that held his car keys. I smiled at him sadly and wave at him. I watched as he turned and pulled his back up on his shoulder a bit more.

I was gonna miss not having him around for my senior year, "see ya, Chase." I said and sighed. Everything's changing too fast and I can't keep up.

The sudden sound of squeaking sneakers coming to a stop pulled me out of my sad state. I turned around to see a smiling boyfriend of mine, he had his bag ready.

"Hey," He said to me, at least here's one thing I know won't ever change for me, "wanna leave?"

I sighed, I hoped he never changed. I smiled at him, a small smile, but a smile. Anyways, I shook my head at him slowly and sighed again. When'd I start sighing so much?

"Can we," My voice cracked so I cleared my throat, "Can we sit in the back of the school like you and Bev?" He looked at me strangely. Like a mixture of concern and calmness. He then nodded and took my hand to lead me to the back doors. The route probably embedded in his mind.

Way too fast. I get it, Eds.

Finished: Saturday, March 3, 2018. 7:43 pm.

Published: Sunday, March 4, 2018. 5:49 pm.