“Do you have your eye on anyone?” Ruby asked suddenly, startling Yanlie out of their thoughts.

“What?” Had they even heard Ruby right?

Ruby gave them a disarming smile, as easy and sweet as a summer breeze. At least Ruby didn’t seem to have any ill intent. Looking back down at their lap, Yanlie prompted their heart to answer the question, and answer honestly, but came up with nothing. It was something they really hadn’t considered.

“I… Suppose I’ve found myself thinking fondly of a few people. But again, it isn’t something I’ve actively considered, like wondering what it would be like to date them. I guess there’s a couple people I consider attractive?”

Ruby leaned forward with interest. Yanlie felt themself growing pinker by the second. They could see the beauty in everyone they met, but were they really attracted to any of them? Was there anyone Yanlie wanted to spend their life with? Was there anyone Yanlie would even sleep with? Certainly, their friends were gorgeous, but that meant nothing of romance. When Yanlie didn’t continue, Ruby frowned, but leaned to the side to wrap Yanlie in a one-armed hug.

“You don’t have to worry about it! Love is just something for fun. You’ll find it in your own time, okay? Just enjoy yourself first, alright?”

Yanlie quirked a smile at Ruby. “Shouldn’t I be telling you that?”

Ruby blinked, then laughed, sitting back. “I guess you should! But I’m fine now. Promise.”

Yanlie sighed softly, shoulders relaxing. All was well. “Up for a walk, then?” Yanlie asked, holding a hand out. Ruby smiled, taking Yanlie’s hand and standing with unfair grace.

---

Yanlie remembered the baseball field being larger. They walked around the perimeter marked by the chain link fence, stepping carefully over discarded sunflower seed shells and autumn leaves, yet to rot. Though the grass in the field was cut short, it was still a sickly, patchy yellow that scolded the midday sun. Ruby stepped softly in the grass, as if mentally apologizing for each step taken, head tilted up to inspect the sky whispering through the branches of the trees.

“This time of year is my favorite,” Ruby said reverently. “All the flowers start blooming, and all the leaves are so fresh and green… I would say it’s something about everything being alive again, but summer just isn’t the same as spring. The green in summer is too tired.”

“I would have thought it was because your birthday is coming up soon,” Yanlie joked wryly, looking at Ruby out of the corner of their eye.

Ruby laughed, surprised, and shoved Yanlie gently in the shoulder. “In a couple months, that’s still summer! ..I’m surprised you remembered.”

“You remembered mine, didn’t you?” Yanlie pointed out, still smiling. “You’d better be ready for the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever gotten in your life.”

“Aww,” Ruby said with a grin to Yanlie’s competitive tone, “what better gift could you give me than your wonderful self, Yanlie?”

Yanlie snorted, shaking their head in exasperation. No matter how they tried, neither of them could out-sweet the other, that was for sure. The silence stretched between them for a moment, comfortable, but full of unspoken words. They both tried to speak at once, to let free the flood of words, but caught themselves when they realized the other wanted to speak. Yanlie offered for Ruby to go first, looking at them with no small measure of affection.

“Thank you for doing this for me Yanlie,” Ruby said, holding their hair out of their face while they watched their step. “You took today off work, just to spend time with me and cheer me up… It means so much to me.”

“I’ll always be here for you when you need me, Ruby, and you should know that.” The gentle sternness in Yanlie’s voice made Ruby look up. “But for both of our sakes, don’t make a habit of dating men who make you feel this way. Wait until you find the one that’s worth it, Ruby. You’re worth so much more than these worms.”

Ruby stood up a little straighter, chest filling with a determined breath. Yanlie smiled back at them in their soft, shy way, and rested a hand on Ruby’s arm. “Let’s get you back to the bakery. Go home, eat some ice cream, watch a happy TV show, and text your friends. You’re going to be okay.”

Ruby stepped forward suddenly, throwing their arms around Yanlie in a hug, taking them by surprise. Once they recovered from their momentary shock, they lifted their hands to hold Ruby in return, smiling against their shoulder. Ruby drew in a deep breath before stepping back, adjusting their hair with a bashful smile. Yanlie let their hand trail down to take Ruby’s hand, and led them back to the car.