THE DAY WE MET

I haven’t written in my diary in over, well, three years. There I said it. Since I like writing diaries and stuff I decided to make those three years into a story. A story about Leo Kuff, who is the only person I ever thought about in those three years. Well not the only person. Anyway, rewind back to sixth grade when I met Leo. It was April and I was with three of my friends. Celia Long, Elijah Nall, and Rider Kinsella. 

I glanced around the mucky playground and saw my best friend running toward me. Her blonde hair was flowing behind her in the wind. Celia was holding a few flowers in her hand, lilacs. My name is Adeline Dani. Addy for short. Celia and I have been friends since first grade. We are always together. Then there's Elijah, or Eli as I call him. I have had a big crush on him ever since fourth grade. That's going to change soon. 

Celia and I were talking to each other at recess about how much homework our teachers gave out when Eli came up to us and demanded to play. We were all in the same grade, sixth. We all had the same recesses. Eli always wanted to play, but Celia just wanted to chill out and talk. 

They were both my friends so instead I suggested, “How about playing this recess with Eli next recess we will hang out.” Celia looked at me as if to say, ‘Ug’. 

“Fine,” She mumbled, so Eli couldn't hear. Celia and I followed Eli to our meeting spot. Yes, we had a meeting spot. It was basically just a picnic bench next to a big tall maple tree. We usually met here for Book club meetings or other important things. 

“I want you girls to meet someone,” Eli said while pointing to a tall boy running toward us.  

“Sorry I am so late, Eli,” He said in between breaths. When he noticed me he quickly looked away. I wondered why. Rider looked at me quickly. I wondered if Rider had a crush on me, I’d known him since pre-school. “Hi my name is L-Leo.” He fell onto the picnic bench and sighed. He looked tired, which I’m guessing he was from running all that way. 

“Um-hi,” I murmured thinking about what to say. It was always awkward meeting someone new for me. I didn’t know why. I also thought Leo was really weird. Like the weirdest of the weird. By the look on Celia’s face she thought the same thing.  

“Leo has a crush on you!” Eli blurted out. He tends to blurt out weird stuff at random times a lot. His jokes were also really annoying sometimes. It's not funny to joke around like that when you're talking about love. I knew from experience. 

“Uh-” Leo said. I saw Rider walk away from us and to his older brother, Aaron. I would do the same thing if I were him. I did not want to be in the middle of this joke. “What Eli said is true,” Leo finished. I stood there stunned for a second. Could someone actually like me? I felt someone grasp my hand and pull me into the bushes. 

“What he said is true?” Celia whispered in between laughs. I wanted to laugh too, but just didn’t know what to say. This was new, having someone like me. “Here,” Celia handed me the lilacs she had picked earlier that day. “Give these to him!” I wanted to protest but she pushed me out of the bushes before I could say anything. 

I put the lilacs into my pocket as I saw Leo racing for the doors. I raced after him. When I caught up to him we were standing on the basketball court. 

“Leo,” I called out of breath. 

“Yeah...?”

“Uh, I picked some flowers for you.” The moment I said that I knew it was a lie but I didn’t really care. 

“Thanks,” He said. “They're beautiful but not as pretty as you.” I blushed when he said that. I had never blushed before. When he smiled back at me though, I felt something hit me. 

Love.