Leaning in close, digging dark green eyes into her iridescent hazel ones, waiting for an answer. Eve looks down at her hands, resting in her lap. Maybe she hasn’t expected our friendship to take this turn.

Eve gives a playful punch on my bouncing knee.

“Stop fidgeting! You’re making me nervous,” she smiles with an oh-so-sweet giggle before returning her gaze to her lap.

“Oh, come on, Eve. Just one date,”                  

“I don’t know, Kyle. I’m pretty busy with midterms coming up and all.” A slight breeze carries the sweet scent of the grass and a wisp of her auburn hair across her face. I take this opportunity to brush her strands with two fingers across her forehead.

I notice the smirk my touch leaves on Eve’s face.

“Eve, you have to make time for some fun in your life. Come on, we hang out together every day at school, I sit under the same fern with you – rain or shine,” Eve lets out a short breathy laugh at this.

“Luckily there’s an awning, eh,” she smirks again, looking up at me with her head slightly bent.

She’s softening, and I know I have to plow ahead.

“I know you’re worried about getting hurt again,” reminding Eve of her ex, is the last thing I want to do now, but I have to face the facts. “You have to move on at some point, Eve.”

“It has nothing to do with him,” Eve slowly replies in a quiet voice.

Eve looks around us, staring at the various students walking along the lawn or sprinting to classrooms in the buildings near the grass. I know she’s avoiding my eyes. She fidgets in her seat a little before answering.

“I just don’t wanna ruin our friendship,” she says slowly with a little smile, staring at her hands again. I know she knows this is a lame excuse.

“Our friendship would be improved,” I continue. “And, I think we could have something special. You’re a good influence on me – always asking whether I’ve studied for tests or written my papers. You keep me on track,” I run my fingers through my hair, knowing how this always catches girls’ attention, so Eve can’t be an exception. “Now let me be some influence on you. Get you to have some fun once in a while,” I place my hand on her forearm, sliding down her wrist to grasp her soft petite hand.