5.4.13

After being cooped up inside all day, we escaped to the 84 degree weather waiting for us. Humidity and heat hit us in the face in a blast. We looked like girls straight out of a retro movie. We all had our stage make up plastered on our face,  including the bright red lipstick. Hannah had jean shorts and a turquoise tank top on, Maddy in her high-waisted white and light pink shorts, and baby pink racer back tank top, and I was wearing my periwinkle leotard and jean shorts. All three of us geared in sunglasses. We walked to the back of the school and sat on the metal bleachers overlooking the baseball field. Sitting there, we ate our lunch as Hannah told us the story about how she sat on these bleachers and watched the guy she liked hit a home run a few weeks ago. Hayley, Hailey, and Neill came up a few moments later. They were going to the creek and wanted to know if anyone wanted to come with them. I jumped up and said I would love to, for I had never gone to the creek before. The others didn't want to go. The four of us set off on the asphalt road. We got to the field on the far side of the school and set off in a run. We all were smiling and the grass squished between my toes. We got to where the grass met the powdery dirt and continued running. The powder felt odd beneath my feet. The other three all had shoes on. Finally, we got to the rocky road. The path was made up of big and small rocks, jutting upward. Neill offered to carry me but I refused, I was used to walking on rocks, I never wore shoes in the summer. We walked along the path in the shade. The air was filled with warmth, even in the shadows. After the long walk, we came to a small, short, dirt side path. Following that, we found the creek. They took off their shoes and we waded into the water. Neill went the farthest first, to the middle of it. Then Hayley followed. Hailey was one fourth of the way in and I had only put my feet in. The water was icy and contradictory to the heat it was used to feeling. I went farther in and stood next to Hailey. There was a white butterfly that kept flying by. Not long after being in the water, Hailey wanted to go back to eat dinner. None of the others wanted to go yet. Hayley was in pure happiness, a state I rarely see anymore. She was glowing and didn't have a care. Internally, I scolded Hailey for threatening to take these moments away from Hayley. Neil was in his own world, studying the water, enjoying every minute. Hayley wanted to document this so we took many photos to get the best one. Hailey then got out of the creek. Going back to the edge of the water, I stood on the bank and Hayley and Neill tried to catch fish. I was crouched down as Neill and Hayley stood with their legs straight and bending over. I scouted the water for them, telling them where the fish were. Neill was the first one to catch a fish and Hayley soon followed. I joined them in victory and celebrating. After that, we decided it was best to go back. Walking back, we all sang. "Ohhh, I just want to feel this moment," and in those instants, I knew that I would remember this. Maybe not the exact date, but I felt it. I knew that this is one of the best days of my life. I would feel this moment forever. I felt like I belonged.

love, savannah