Ripples

I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach before meeting Leo. I spent the entire Saturday morning getting ready, trying to look good, but in that effortless way where it seemed like I hadn’t tried at all. I felt like Leo was nervous too because she barely looked me in the eyes. I thought that maybe we could talk by the water or something. She turned the top half of her body around and stared at my stomach. You drive here? Her feet were planted by the very edge of the tributary, like she was daring the waves to reach her shoes.

 

Nah, my mom’s not like that. I walked.

 

Oh shit, I’m sorry. I tried to think of somewhere convenient for both of us.

 

I cut her off. No, really. It’s okay. I actually really like walking. I picked up a stone and held it between my index and middle finger. The breeze was starting to pick up and I wished I was wearing more than just a t-shirt.

 

I heard that things between you and Clemance are-

 

Over. I finished her sentence, and was nervous to hear her response.

 

Leo held my gaze for the first time, and she took a step towards me, very slowly, as if sudden movements would scare me off. Her hair began to wrap itself around her face and eventually around mine as she got closer. Her perfume was stronger that day, lingering in the cool air between us. She reached for my hand and I was worried she would notice that my palms were sweating. And then she took the stone that I held. Hey, can you do this? She stood by the edge of the water again, this time at an angle. She brought her arm back towards her and then flung it forward, flicking her wrist as if tossing a frisbee. The stone left her hand, creating gentle ripples as it skipped across the water three times before sinking.

 

I shivered. Of course I can skip stones. My dad taught me a long time ago. Leo handed me a stone and I quickly threw it towards the water, but only to have it immediately sink a couple of feet away from me. Leo laughed.

 

First of all, take this. Leo slipped off her black Thrasher hoodie and draped it over my shoulders. I could smell her perfume all over me now, mixed with the laundry detergent I knew Irene uses. Second of all. She smiled. Here. She took my hand and forced it into the same motion that I saw her do with her stone. You gotta do it like that, or it won’t work. Flick your wrist like you want it to snap off your arm. She smiled again, this time while looking at me.

 

My second stone sank like the first, and the third wasn’t much better.

 

It’s okay. You’ll make it another time.

 

I just want to get it.

 

Why? To impress me?

 

I turned to look at her. What would be wrong with that? I then turned away to hide the redness of my cheeks. 

 

Nothing! Nothing. She drew in a sharp breath. I like you equally whether you can skip stones or not.

 

There were so many words tangled inside me, but none of them found their way out. Not then, anyway. I wanted to savor the warmth of Leo’s hoodie and the simplicity of being close, without overthinking it. I wanted to pause time, but of course, I couldn’t do that. So I did the next closest thing.

 

Can I take a picture?

 

Leo jumped in excitement. She skipped a stone and threw up a peace sign. When I looked at the photo, I saw the stone suspended in midair, caught between its second and third skip—right between where it had been and where it was going. The ripples on the water were still gently fading away.