Loni looked down at her tennis shoes with intensity hoping to look engaged, busy even. Yes, there was the black smudge on the left just below her pinkie toe, and her right laces really should be replaced. For a moment the burning in her cheeks subsided and she almost forgot why she was looking down at all. But then he laughed and she remembered.
Her eyes traveled up to her ankle socks. One yellow and one white. If no one looked closely they could pass as the same color...it didn't matter which one. But then she remembered the was a tiny bunny on the yellow one. Her internal sigh sounded loud in her ears.
Someone nearby yelled and it echoed across the big empty gymnasium, then came the slapping sounds of basketballs across the floor.
“Everyone pick a partner and practice passing the ball,” Mr. Castor announced and blew his whistle.
Loni stared harder at her shoes.
A throat cleared next to her, and she couldn't help herself. She looked up to see the love of her life, Aiden McKellan, standing next to her, of course he didn't know this. Her cheeks burned hot.
“I couldn't help but notice that you aren't picking a partner,” he said.
“I, well, yeah,” she stammered.
“I know I've tried before, and you've always shot me down, but do you wanna be my partner?”
She tried to look anywhere but his face. She couldn't think when she looked at his face.
“Loni, Aiden less talking more passing!” Mr. Castor yelled.
She was stuck.
“You heard the man, let's see what that little bunny on your sock is made of!”
Thanks so much for sharing this me! For more info about freewrites, check out @mariannewest!
Much love,
Stacie D
