7
The final bell was the most relieving noise I had heard all day.
Watching as everyone quickly shuffled out of our last class felt like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
I was quite honestly surprised I had managed to make it through the entire day - even if we had gotten out earlier than a normal school day.
I was certain Serena would be even more surprised than I was and most certainly relieved too.
I was slow in gathering my things together. I willed my hands not to shake as Knox waited, his eyes watchful as he stood at the desk next to me.
Walking through the hallway at the end of the day was undoubtably the best time.
Everyone was in such a rush to leave that if you just meandered enough in the back, you were among very few stragglers.
So few, I didn't even feel a need to hold onto Knox in anyway.
Apparently I was wiling to make leaps and bounds today. Now they just had to stick.
The gentle breeze of the fresh outside air tickled my nose and I was more than happy to breath it in. Even most of the traffic had already cleared out. I hadn't realized I was being so slow but it seemed to be paying off for me.
Stopping at the bottom of the steps, I turned to face Knox. I was planning to walk home since Serena would still be working for a few more hours. Before I could say a word of goodbye, Knox was already speaking.
"Come get Ice Cream with me." He said in more of a demand than a question.
"Ice Cream?" I asked, quirking my head to the side.
We stared at each other for several silent moments, nothing but the breeze passing between us.
"C'mon." He turned and started walking again before I could truly answer one way or the other.
I supposed it didn't really matter. I wanted to go regardless. Why would anyway ever say no to the opportunity of ice cream anyways? I certainly couldn't do that.
Knox led me to his car, opening the door so I could clamber in. As we rode, only the low rumble of his music filled the air around us. After being surrounded by never ending loud noise all day, I had to say that this change was welcomed.
We pulled up to a parlor I had yet to see before. It was super cute in a classic mom-and-pop type of way. Their logo was a little pink cow sitting and eating a giant cone of ice cream. For a mascot, it was utterly adorable.
Cool air washed over us the second we stepped inside making me shiver slightly.
My eyes darted all around. While and pink checkered tiles filled the floor and matched the check-out counter.
There were several booths littered around the perimeter of the space, each seat as bubble gum pink as the next.
A little pink bobble head of their mascot sat atop the cash register. My lips quirked at the sight.
"Any idea what you want?" Knox's voice brought me out of my trance.
I looked up at the menu above the counter. Growing up, I'd only gone to an ice cream shop maybe once and I certainly never lived in a house that had any waiting for me in the freezer. I couldn't even remember any flavor of ice cream I've tried before.
"What do you normally get?" I asked softly.
Hopefully my question came off as if I was more of an adventurous foodie than a girl who hadn't really experienced something as simple as ice cream before. Knox didn't seem to think twice about it thankfully.
"Vanilla." Knox shrugged, looking back down at me.
Vanilla was always a safe option. I'd had enough sweets to know that much. It was just as safe as getting chocolate but glancing a the menu one more time, I still felt completely unsure. I was seconds away from just saying I'd get the same thing as him when he spoke again.
"Do you want me to pick for you?" He asked.
I chewed on my lip - a nervous habit I needed to break - before nodding my head 'yes.'
Stepping up the counter, Knox nodded his head at the cashier who had asked if we were ready, "Yeah, we'll have one scoop vanilla in a cone and another strawberry swirl also in a cone."
I was about the reach for the money I kept wedged between my phone case but Knox didn't bat an eye as he paid for it. The cashier handed over the cones seconds later, Knox handing me mine immediately.
"Thank you." I whispered as we sat at a booth in the corner.
There were a few other people in the other booths. There was what appeared to be a father and his two sons and then another couple of girls our age. Thankfully neither party was too close to our booth.
"Don't worry about it." Knox winked, beginning to eat his ice cream.
I was grateful that he had ordered for me. The first bite I took was heavenly, nearly making my tastebuds sing. Now I knew for future reference that strawberry swirl needed to be my go-to.
Knox unsurprisingly finished before me.
"Like it?" He asked.
I nodded, licking my lips.
"This is my new favorite." I admitted, my voice muffled by the next bite I took.
Knox smiled through a short, breathy laugh.
"Thank you, Knox." I said, again after finishing my cone.
"Annie, you really need to stop thanking me." He sighed, leaning back with his arms crossed.
"I can't help it." I whispered, frowning.
My words hung in the air for a few seconds. I had to admit that silences like these weren't as uncomfortable with Knox. I wasn't a huge talker and it was clear Knox wasn't either. I suppose it wouldn't have been a big deal for either of us to just let the silence go forever.
That was until I realized that I didn't actually want to stay silent around him. If we were going to be friends, I needed to start getting used to actually talking to him.
"Why'd you lie about the drawing assignment?" I asked. My tone far more accusing than I meant it to be. It wasn't as if I was truly upset about the situation at all, I was simply curious why he chose to lie in the first place. Even then, it probably wasn't best first choice of conversation topic.
Luckily Knox just threw his head back and laughed.
"I didn't lie to you." He chuckled.
"Yes, you did. You told me that we had to draw each other." I frowned.
He was smirking again, "No. You asked what we specifically were going to draw and I decided for us. You didn't ask me what she actually assigned."
I mulled over his semantics, furrowing my brows further.
"I thought that my true question was understandable enough." I argued, grumbling.
"You didn't seem to be complaining." Knox rolled his eyes playfully, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
My cheeks reddened. Trying to play off his words, I sighed. Technically could have been clearer and there were far worse things to lie about than just what to draw for an art class. I was just more embarrassed that he had tricked me than anything else.
Another beat of silence passed between us before he leaned forward again, speaking, "Let me see your phone."
He extended the palm of his hand, looking at me expectantly. His demand was soft but it was a demand nonetheless. I furrowed my brows in confusion but placed it in his waiting palm anyways.
"No password?" He raised an eyebrow, glancing at me briefly before returning his focus to my screen.
I shook my head. I hadn't had a phone of my own for very long.
Serena had bought it for me when I first arrived at her house.
Being welcomed into her home was gift enough for me, the phone had become an unexpected bonus.
I didn't bother putting a password on it because I guess I didn't really see a reason to.
I was hardly on it and I didn't really keep anything personal on it.
"What're you doing?" I finally asked. I mentally scolded myself, I probably should have asked before handing it over to begin with.
"Texting myself." Knox replied cooly.
"Why?" I was growing even more confused.
"So I have your number." He answered matter-of-factly.
"Oh..." I said, his answer feeling obvious now that he said it. "Does that mean we're friends now?" I asked, warmth flooding my chest.
Knox looked up at me, his fingers hovering over my screen. His eyes darkened and twinkled with an emotion I either couldn't place or didn't understand.
"I'll take whatever you give me, Annie." Knox said, shifting his eyes back to my phone.