28
Saylor
Heaven and I stay in this new little love bubble for the next two days. We’re young, but I think I have to marry her. I eventually go back home to sleep and change and pretend my parents are the most important thing in my life, but then Heaven is back to pick me up at the next possible chance. We are nowhere near a bingo because we are jumping around and taking our sweet time, but we decide to knock out some more squares to keep our parents from getting suspicious.
We pick “listen to a full jazz album” and “go someplace in LA you’ve never been.” I’ve never been to Long Beach and there’s a skate park down there Heaven wants to check out, so we choose that for the square. On the way, we’re gonna listen to a jazz album her dad recommended by some really famous guy I’ve never heard of, Miles Davis. I’m going to take notes on our initial impressions while Heaven drives. And then hopefully after we’ll make out a bunch.
I try not to rush my mom through her “text me when you get down there and don’t talk to strangers” speech, but I’m basically walking backward toward the front door as she gets the words out. I rush outside and practically dive into Heaven’s car.
“Go!” I say. “Before my mom invites you in and asks you to do a hair tutorial.”
Heaven snorts but waits for me to buckle my seat belt before she safely drives us toward the 405. I find the jazz album on Heaven’s phone then press play, then I pull up the notes app on my phone.
“Okay, it’s only five songs, but they’re all like nine minutes long. If I know basic math, we should finish the album right when we get to the park,” I tell her.
“Perfect,” Heaven replies. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I heard from the cookie lady.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, she said we can come by and interview her in two weeks. She’s going out of town for some event, but she wants to meet us when she gets back.”
“Perfect. I’ll come up with some interview questions,” I suggest.
“Actually,” Heaven says, “can I do it? I kinda want to prove to myself that I can talk to an adult and a stranger without trembling or crying.”
“Sure. I’ll be your assistant,” I say, feeling a little proud. When we get out of the car, I’m definitely going to kiss her. For now, though, I focus on other important things. “I think your dad needs to quit being a scientist and do hair full time. You look so good.” It’s up in two braid buns on the top of her head—out of her face so she can skate, but still a little fashion for the people.
She glances over at me with this little smile. “Thanks. I like your pants and your sneakers.”
I look down at my khakis and my Vans. I have a white crop tank top on that shows off my belly button. It’s a cute outfit. “I figured we’re going to a skate park and I should dress like it.”
“You’ll fit right in.”
“Okay, I’ll stop talking so we can enjoy the jazz.”
“Hmmm.”
It takes us forty-seven minutes to get down there, and we both decide that we like every song on the album. I write down all the vibes—chill, mellow, and little romantic—in our notes for Dr.Campbell’s sake, though I pick “Blue in Green” as my favorite. Heaven likes “Freddie Freeloader” because of the title. She says it’s metal in a certain way. I have to agree.
It’s warm in Long Beach, but as soon as we get out of the car, I can feel the breeze coming off the ocean.
I tuck my phone into my pocket and look around the park as Heaven grabs her skateboard out of the back of her car. There’s a decent-sized skate park covered with cool graffiti, a small playground, and a fenced-off area for dogs. There are two basketball courts. I have a mini flashback to face-planting into the fence and the sick pop of my arm, but I guess I can’t turn back time. And I can’t go play a pickup game now. I came to see Heaven skate, anyway. She comes around the car where I’m standing, basking in the fresh sea air. I smile back at her and hold out my hand, palm up.
“Hi. Hold my hand, please.”
“I probably should, huh? I don’t want you to get lost.”
She kisses me real quick and then laces her fingers with mine. The most pathetic thrill rushes over my whole body. I feel my cheeks heat, and there’s no way she doesn’t notice. I like Heaven so much. Being around her feels right. Being able to hold hands with another girl, kissing another girl, feels right. I can’t imagine how miserable I would have been if I’d spent another minute pretending I was into Rhys or any other boy.
“Come on, Say-Say.”
“Is that what you’re calling me now?” I say, cheesing so hard.
“Yup.” She leads the way across the parking lot, and we enter the gate to the skate park. There’s a handful of people there. Three older guys who just seem to be messing around, two kids around our age on one of the ramps. There’s a girl on roller skates who looks like she’s trying to explain a trick to her friend. And over on the flat area, there’s a guy with a little girl on a scooter. She looks adorable in her helmet and kneepads.
I look around and realize just how little I know about skating, even after hanging out with Jake and Axel almost all year.
“Okay, so what do you do first? Do you have to stretch? Are there skate monitors you have to sign in with? I’ve never been to a skate park before.”