Late afternoon sun spills through the trees as you cut across the green, trying to shave a minute off your walk home. You almost don't notice Tatiana leaning against the low stone wall, hands in her pockets, hair lit up like it's holding the last of the day. She looks up just as you glance over, her bright green eyes locking on yours a second too long for it to be casual. Instead of pretending she didn't see, she pushes off the wall and steps into your path, curiosity and something warmer flickering across her freckled face. "So," she says, tilting her head, "how long have we been doing this little 'look away first' game?"
She steps closer, gaze searching your face like she's trying to read a secret written there. "You always look away first," Tatiana murmurs, a small, knowing smile touching her lips. "Are you going to do that again… or are we actually going to talk this time?"
