Page 59 of Off The Rush
As we emerge onto the rooftop, the sight before us is nothing short of breathtaking. I had carefully set up blankets and a picnic earlier in the day, making sure everything was perfect for our date. The university stretches out around us, bathed in the warm glow of twilight.
“Wow, Alec, this is amazing!” Emma exclaims, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Her enthusiasm instantly eases the tension in my chest, and I can’t help but grin at her reaction.
“Come on,” I say, playfully dragging her over to the picnic. I pull out various containers filled with food, laying them out on the blanket while Emma takes a seat. “Dig in.”
“Thank you,” she says, still looking around in awe. “When did you set all this up?”
I laugh, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. “Well, I have the key to the rink for extra ice time, and I found out freshman year that it also works on this door. This place sort of became my safe space when things got too intense or overwhelming. And I wanted to share it with you. The weather worked out perfectly. It was warmer today so the snow melted and I have a space heater and blankets to keep us warm.”
Emma’s face softens, and she reaches over to squeeze my hand gently. “That means a lot, Alec. I’m honored you’d share it with me.”
“Of course,” I reply, feeling a warmth spread through me at her words. There’s something incredibly special about sharing this place with Emma.
As we dig into the food, Emma starts talking about her music program. “You know, there’s this girl, Rachel, who’s just so mean to me for no reason,” she says, picking at her salad. Her expressive green eyes flicker with annoyance, and I can tell it’s been bothering her.
“Really? What does she do?”
“Little things mostly. Like, she’ll make snide comments or give me dirty looks when I’m practicing. It’s like she gets a kick out of making me feel bad.” She sighs, clearly frustrated. “I don’t get it. I’ve never done anything to her.”
“Sounds like she’s just jealous,” I say, trying to reassure her. “From what I heard before interrupting you, you’re an incredible singer, Emma. Don’t let her get to you.”
“Thanks, Alec,” she smiles, but then her expression turns serious again. “And then there’s Kenny. He’s been so controlling lately. It’s suffocating.”
“Kenny?” I ask, my stomach clenching at the mention of a guy.
“Yeah, he keeps insisting on ‘helping’ me with my singing, but it feels more like he’s trying to control every aspect of our project. I hate it.”
“Emma, you’re strong and independent. You don’t need him holding you back,” I say, my voice filled with determination.
She nods, taking my words to heart. “You’re right, Alec. Thank you. I certainly won’t be pairing up with him in the future.”
“Of course.” I reach across the blanket to squeeze her hand, hoping to offer some comfort.
Feeling like it’s only fair to share something personal too, I tell her about my ex-girlfriend showing up at the rink earlier this week. “I can’t believe she thinks I’d sleep with her after she posted those pictures of me partying as payback. Then she threatens me with more pictures,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief.
“Really?” Emma’s eyes narrow slightly, and I can sense a hint of jealousy. “What did you do?”
“I told her to leave me alone, of course,” I reassure her, not wanting her to worry. “You’re the one I want to be with, Emma. Not her.”
“Good,” she says, smiling softly before taking another bite of her salad. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“Maybe you can sing for me sometime?” I ask.
Emma grins. “Maybe.”
I’ll just have to convince her.
With our conversation turning back to lighter topics, we continue to enjoy our picnic under the fading light of the sky.
The last light of the day fades away, painting the sky with warm shades of orange and red as the sun dips below the horizon. I can’t help but feel my heartbeat rise with excitement as I prepare to show Emma the main event.
“Alright,” I say, clapping my hands together in anticipation. “You ready for this?”
“Definitely!” Emma grins, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What’s the surprise, Alec?”
“Okay, look up.” I point towards the sky, now draped in twilight, as the first stars begin to twinkle into existence.
“Wow,” she breathes, her gaze transfixed on the celestial display above us. “It’s beautiful.”
