It was one of two things. Either it took me longer to get to the door than I thought, or the girl walked faster than it looked. I finally caught of to her at the Base of the staircase on our block. She turned around, left eyebrow slightly elevated.

It was at that precise moment that I noticed, I had no idea what I was going to say. As usual, my throat seized up a little as my brain went on recess. She relieved the pressure a bit by speaking first.

"Yes?"

And then, when my brain refused to hear the 'recess over' bell, she continued.

"Can I help you?"

"Uhm, about earlier." My voice squeaked a little so I cleared it a bit and started afresh. A little more bass this time.

"About earlier. Sorry, I was in a mood."

"Oh okay. I thought you were just trying to get rid of me. You know, because people were around."

The knot in my throat started to ease. Like I said, there was something about her.

"Why would I do that? I have nothing against being with you"

She smiled for a something like a full hour before I noticed my faux pas

"Being with me?"

She asked, placing that oh-so-slight emphasis.

That was it. The part of my mind that was cool with talking to her took leave. Vacation leave, without notice.

"Uh. Not like. I mean. You know, not like with. Not that way?"

Why did I end as if I was asking a question? I still can't tell. I do know that I was stumbling all over my tongue like an idiot.

"Which way? How many ways are there?"

I could almost swear she was enjoying it.

Something chimed. Her phone. A look flickered across her face. Irritation, worry, concern. I couldn't tell, it was too fast to read.

"Can I have your phone for a minute?"

It took me way more time than necessary to fish my hand-me-down rock of ages out of my folio (don't knock it yet. Folios are cool, timeless is always classy).

She tapped something on the keypad for a bit and then handed it back to me.

"My number. Call me later when you've decided on that wish."

Till today I still find that moment to be one of those points where I walked into this. A point in time at which I could have decided to walk away. I wonder how different things would have been... not often, just sometimes.

"It's nice to know you don't listen to the rumours." She beamed as she walked away.

"See you!"

I think I croaked something passably human in response.