The Park

​After my park revelation, the boys seemed to tone down a bit as they started planning what sort of activities we would get up to there. Cooper did not ask me about my tantrum earlier. Keith felt more at ease with his hair and stopped scratching it so much. I silently left them to it and went to take a bath. Sgoth's towels were in the shower, her robes in the en suite area, so even if I were to mess up, the boys would not see me, thank God. The boys left while I was showering, or trying to, at least. How the hell did Sgoth make this look so easy!? At first, I was like a natural. I knew exactly what I needed to do. Then soap got in my eye. The horror. 

                                  ...

Long story short, I decided to wear a pair of thigh high shorts and a baggie tee, which was one of Sgoth's dad's. Shorts. I knew she would never wear something like that, but I figured if she wore her dad's 'Friends' tee it would make a lot of sense. I was just feeling so damn hot. I rummaged through the drawers and could not find what I was looking for.

Instinctively I called for Cooper. "Seriously, you seem to need help with everything toda-!" I turned to face him. What greeted me was a "What the hell?!" look. I didn't get why till I turned to the wall high mirror which was one side of the en suite area. I was only dressed in a bra, and shorts I'd forgotten to button. "I'm looking for my dad's Friends tee. Do you know where it is?" Rather feign ignorance than admit  I had faltered. "Are you sure you're OK today? Maybe you need to lie down." He looked really concerned, and confused. 'What would Cloudy do?' I thought. Cloudy was what I called Sgoth. Well her character was like that. Or that's what I thought anyway. She probably would not have even told the guys she wanted to go to the park in the first place. When you get kidnapped the one time you try to do something on your own, I get why you would doubt ever trying again. Cooper had said something. What had he said again?

"Here." I came back from my daydream. I was so used to not having to reply people that I had not been listening to Cooper when he spoke to me and now I had just been standing like a total freak and he'd found the tee for me. "Uh thanks. You're a life saver." "I just hope this is a phase, and if you go to the park like you want you will get back to normal. Now get dressed. We'll be leaving in 30." "Of course. Did you get a picnic basket? In my head we had a picnic basket." Again I got that confused look from Cooper. This time I was quick to identify my folly. "I mean, I was thinking it would be nice to have a picnic basket with us." "Right." Cooper walked out.

Living was hard. How did she even do it?

                                 +++

The park was even prettier up close. Tall willows, a tiny Brook with sparkly water, a couple stray jumping fish, people walking, running, walking pets. Keith was dressed for the occasion, having put on shorts and a polo golf tee-shirt. He even had shades. Casual ones for once. Only his earpiece stuck out like a sore thumb. Cooper was in black jeans and a plain grey tee. I swear I had not seen this side of him in a while, but of course he carried his laptop with him. Such dedicated boys they were. If it weren't for their obvious unease, we would have looked like a happy family. 

We sat further out in the park, in the vast lawn where we could see the tiny bridge that went over the Brook and a couple of benches across from it where I spotted a couple sitting on one. I was immediately drawn to them as I had never seen anything like that up close. 

My first encounter with love. Well the romantic kind anyway. It looked blissful to say the least. They looked happy. They couldn't take their eyes off each other. Something somewhat peculiar to me at first but nice to watch nonetheless. I couldn't hear much of what they were saying, but only a robot wouldn't have been able to see that chemistry. Pun intended. 

"You know it's impolite to stare." It was Cooper. He hadn't seemed to get his eyes of his computer since the time we'd settled on the lawn, but somehow he noticed what I was doing. Probably because I had stopped setting up the food midway in my day dream. His laptop was set on his laps as he sat cross-legged. Keith quickly saved me with a "let me help you with that". We had lunch in silence. Sandwiches with ham, lettuce, tiny tomatoes, mayo. Standard. A cannister of juice. A tiny basket of fruit, cheese and Crackers. Everything tasted delectable, but for some reason I couldn't help sneaking a peak at my new found interest, the couple. The color in my eyes seemed to be having a bit of a malfunction. The place they sat seemed brighter to me. I couldn't even see the run down color of the bench they were on. The different colored eyes of the girl, the crooked grin of the boy. Somehow it seemed so perfect. So surreal to me. I felt a warm trickle on my cheek, and instinctively my arm went up and my finger felt for what it might be. Tears? But why would Sgoth be crying? Or was it me? But why? 

Keith and Cooper said nothing. Nothing at all. Silently, they started clearing out the leftovers and tidying up, then when they were done they told me it was time we went home. Keith offered me a hanky for my tears. He still said nothing. I was kinda glad he didn't. Not like I had any answers to give anyway. I got up and started feeling kinda quizzy. "Yeah. Home." 

We started our walk home and I got worse and worse with every step. I ended up asking the boys to have the car come pick us up. The worried looks they both gave me didn't make me feel any better, but with the way I felt I couldn't give them a believable answer. Once we arrived, I made my way straight up to my room without talking to anyone, even as the greetings from the other staff came. With one hand I held my stomach and with the other my head. Everything everyone was saying was going over my head. I got in my room and quickly shut the door and my legs gave way. The room was spinning. I sat there for what must've been an hour. Then I heard a knock from the door. "Alright Miss?" It was Keith." Keith? ""Yes Miss? "" My name is Sarah. " That must've been all the strength I could muster, because after that I blacked out again.