“What do you think love means?” He asked me suddenly with the sun beating down on us while we laid on his trampoline in the backyard. We used to jump until exhaustion, then simply stare into the clouds.

I shrugged off the question. “I've never been in love. So I don't know.”

“Really?” He turned his head to face me. “There's not, uh, girl? Or something else?”

I laughed. “Or something else? What does that mean?”

He made a light chuckle. “Like… I dunno.”

A breeze went by and with it, the smell of summer.

Our last summer.

Breaking the silence he simply said, “I’m thinking about killing myself.”

At first, my mind went blank. “What?”

“I'm kidding. Obviously.”

“Why would you even say that?”

He shrugged, turning over on his stomach to smile over me. “It was a joke. Chill out.”

“Okay?”

“You know... I love you.” His fingers laced with my hair. “I think you're really attractive.”

“Thanks.”

He pursed his lips. “Nothing to say to me? Just thanks?”

“What do you want me to say?”

His fingers traced my face. “I don't know. I want…” he took his hand away and smiled again. “I'm gonna pee. Be right back!”

He jumped up and quickly ran back into the house.

*

“Peter?” I opened my eyes. The car had stopped. Right in front of us was a fairly large Target. “…Were you sleeping?”

I turned my head to get a look at Donovan. He looked more or less amused by me. “Yeah, sorry. We're here?”

“Yeah.” He unbuckled and rested his hand on the door handle. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Why?”

“You - nevermind. Let's go.”

I followed closely behind.