With introductions hastily made, Eloise and Spencer sat together and talked. Sunset turned to twilight turned to nighttime in the ebb and flow of the conversation. When darkness had fully settled in, Eloise finally checked the time on her phone.
“Oh my, it’s late, I should probably be getting home.” Spencer immediately began feeling around his pockets for his phone, suddenly aware of how much time had passed.
“Yeah, what time is it?” Though she had just checked the time, she turned her phone on again and fully noted the time.
“It’s 10:55” Eloise reported, considering if her parents would have even noticed she was still out.
“Shit, I should’ve been home an hour ago.” Spencer shrugged, finally finding and pulling out his phone.
"Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get you into trouble or anything.” Eloise worried.
“It’s okay, my mom is pretty chill about this sort of thing.” He quickly navigated to his text messages and shot a message to his mom. “Got caught up in a conversation, be home by midnight” the message read. Spencer smiled “And besides, for a conversation with you, any trouble I'd be in would be well worth it.” Internally Spencer was screaming. He was never this forward or confident with people. Eloise was also screaming internally, trying to pull herself together. She was grateful that the darkness was hiding how flustered she was. Eloise wasn’t one to be easily impressed by words, but when Spencer talked, his words all sounded like masterpieces.
“Well if it’d be worth it to get in trouble with me, would you like to walk me home?” Eloise queried. Thankful to have found the poise to ask such a question. Spencer’s smile that had been plastered to his face since he had first seen Eloise grew even more.
“Of course, that’d be fantastic,” he beamed. Spencer offered a hand and helped Eloise off the bench before grabbing his bike and making an exaggerated gesture. “Lead the way.” His internal monologue belted “WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS YOU FOOL.”
“Well, right this way then.” Eloise directed, matching Spencer's dramatic delivery. The pair walked further down the path before winding their way through a charming residential neighborhood. Streetlights cast golden ambience onto the two; Illuminating the grazing of a hand against a forearm and a shoulder brushing a shoulder. There was tension and angst between the two that thickened the deeply humid air of a midwestern summer. Soon they arrived outside a notably out of place house. Most of the homes in the neighborhood were older, squat brick ranch-style houses. The one Eloise led Spencer to was a larger, modern-style house. Saddened by the prospect of leaving the light and liveliness of being with Spencer, Eloise cast her eyes downwards. “Well this is me,” Eloise sulled before looking up into Spencer’s eyes and smiling, “Thanks for walking me home.”
Spencer smiled warmly, “You’re incredibly welcome.” Not wanting to let the moment slip away, he sputtered “Hey, before you go, could I get your number? I’d like to maybe get in trouble for you again?”
Eloise smiled to match Spencer’s grin, “Of course. Maybe we can both get up to a bit of trouble next time we meet.” The two exchanged devices and imputed their respective numbers into the phones. “I’ll see you soon, Spencer,” waving and walking up the driveway to her garage.
“See you soon, Eloise,” Spencer beamed, returning the wave.
The wheels of Spencer’s bike never left the ground as he flew home. His head in the clouds, and his heart swelled to the size of a galaxy.
Eloise laid in bed, floating above the world. There was no amount of sterile architecture or uncaring family that could drag her back to earth.
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