Six Of Us, One Day
1423 Words
The group chat had been unusually active that morning.
It started with Ava.
I'm bored!
Cal replied almost immediately.
That sounds like a "YOU" problem.
Wow! I regret inviting you. Ava replied.
Sarah joined in next.
Invite him again. We need entertainment.
I support Sarah! That was Nelson.
Bethany finally came in.
What's happening here?
We're going out. Park..Today!
Evan's message came last.
I'm in.
And just like that..
The plan was set.
The park was already lively by the time Cal arrived.
He stood near the entrance, hands in his pockets, scanning around.
A few minutes later, he spotted them.
Ava and Sarah walking side by side.
They always arrived together no surprise there.
“Finally,” Cal said as they got closer.
“We’re not late,” Ava replied.
“You’re just early.”
Sarah laughed softly.
“Don’t start already, you two.”
Cal smirked.
“Too late.”
A few minutes later, Nelson arrived.
He slowed down slightly as he approached them.
Then he saw her.
Sarah.
The sunlight hit her just right.
She was wearing a soft white gown with little yellow floral patterns, light and flowing with the breeze.
For a second
Nelson forgot he was walking.
Then he quickly looked away…
But not before a faint blush crept up his face.
He cleared his throat slightly.
“You look good… without your uniform.”
It came out quieter than he expected.
Ava immediately turned to him.
“…This is not your first time seeing her without uniform.”
Nelson frowned slightly, looking at her.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
Cal burst out laughing.
Sarah covered her mouth, laughing too.
“Nothing has changed,” Cal said, shaking his head.
“Since we were kids,” Sarah added.
Ava crossed her arms, but there was a small smile on her face.
“Whatever.”
Bethany arrived next.
From a distance, she noticed it immediately.
Cal and Sarah laughing.
Nelson and Ava looking like they were mid-argument.
She smiled to herself and walked faster.
“What did I miss?” she asked as she joined them.
Cal didn’t waste time.
“Nelson tried to be smooth.”
“I did not,” Nelson said quickly.
“You did,” Ava replied.
Bethany laughed.
“Wait—what happened?”
Cal leaned closer, lowering his voice slightly like it was some big secret.
“He complimented Sarah… and Ava attacked him.”
“I didn’t attack him!” Ava said.
“You interrogated him,” Cal corrected.
“That’s better.”
Bethany laughed again, shaking her head.
“Are we all here?”
They all turned.
Evan.
Standing there.
He had just arrived.
And his eyes found her almost immediately.
Bethany.
She looked… beautiful.
A sky-blue sweatshirt.
Short jeans.
Simple.
But somehow
It worked perfectly on her.
For a second, he just stood there.
Looking.
Then he smiled.
They all greeted each other, but something about the moment between Evan and Bethany felt quieter than the rest.
Softer.
Unspoken.
As they started walking into the park, Evan slowed his steps slightly until he was beside her.
Close enough.
Not obvious.
But intentional.
Then he leaned slightly toward her.
“I like the ponytail Bethany too… you know.”
She blinked.
Confused.
“The… what?”
He just smiled.
And kept walking.
Bethany slowed down for a second.
Then it clicked.
A memory flashed in her mind
That day.
Standing in front of the mirror.
Packing her hair up.
Trying something new.
Trying to impress him.
Then Ava’s voice
“You look better with your hair down.”
And she never did it again.
Bethany’s hand slowly moved to her hair.
Then immediately packed it up
A small smile formed on her lips.
The day unfolded easily after that.
They walked around.
Talked.
Laughed.
Teased each other.
At one point
“Let’s try that ride!” Nelson said again.
Ava squinted at it.
“That thing looks like it was built in 1992.”
“It still works,” Cal replied.
“That’s not comforting.”
“Come on,” Sarah said, nudging her slightly.
“It’ll be fun.”
Ava sighed dramatically.
“If I die, I’m haunting all of you.”
“You won’t die,” Nelson said.
Then quickly added
“…Sarah, are you okay with it?”
She blinked, then smiled.
“I’m fine.”
Cal slowly turned his head toward Evan.
Evan slowly turned toward Cal.
“…He did it again,” Cal whispered.
Evan nodded.
“I saw it.”
Later, they stopped to get snacks.
The girls stayed back while the boys went ahead.
Evan stepped up to the counter.
“6 sodas, please.”
“5 sodas and one strawberry smoothie,” Nelson corrected quickly.
Cal turned.
“You don’t want soda?”
“ Since when did you start taking smoothies?”
Evan asked him
Nelson shook his head.
“It’s not for me.”
Evan raised an eyebrow.
“…Then who?”
Nelson answered immediately.
“Sarah. She doesn’t take soda.”
Silence.
Cal looked at Evan.
Evan looked at Cal.
Then both of them slowly turned to Nelson.
Same look.
Same suspicion.
Nelson blinked.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Cal said.
“Yeah… nothing,” Evan added.
But the look they shared said everything.
Back at the bench, Nelson handed the smoothie to Sarah.
She looked surprised.
“Oh… thank you.”
“No problem,” he said quickly.
Trying to act normal.
Failing slightly.
Cal leaned toward Evan again.
“…I’m telling you.”
Evan nodded.
“Confirmed.”
The rest of the afternoon was filled with small, happy chaos.
Ava complaining.
Cal teasing her.
Sarah laughing.
Nelson hovering just a little too much.
And Evan and Bethany…
Just existing quietly beside each other.
Sometimes talking.
Sometimes not.
But always aware of each other.
As the sun began to lower
Cal suddenly spoke.
“Let’s go watch a movie.”
Ava didn’t even hesitate.
“No.”
“I haven’t finished,” Cal said.
“I already don’t like it.”
“I’ll pay for the tickets.”
She paused.
“And popcorn.”
She paused again.
“…Continue.”
Evan laughed.
“You don’t have to worry about the popcorn. That’s on me.”
Cal looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Ava clapped once.
“Okay, I’m in.”
And just like that
They were off again.
At the cinema, they found their seats.
But just as everyone settled
Nelson leaned toward Cal.
“Can we switch seats?”
Cal narrowed his eyes.
“…Why?”
“My seat is too far.”
“…From what?”
Nelson hesitated.
Then said casually,
“I just prefer that side.”
Cal slowly looked at Sarah.
Then back at Nelson.
“…You’re not slick.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He stood up.
“Take it.”
Nelson sat down immediately.
“Thanks.”
Evan leaned toward Cal.
“…Gone.”
Cal nodded.
“Completely gone.”
The movie started.
Lights dimmed.
Silence settled.
Halfway through
Bethany’s head slowly dropped…
And rested on Evan’s shoulder.
He froze slightly.
Then looked down at her.
She was asleep.
A soft smile formed on his lips.
He adjusted just a little so she’d be more comfortable.
Then he just… stayed like that.
Quiet.
Content.
A few seats away
Nelson wasn’t watching the movie.
Not really.
He kept glancing at Sarah.
Then back at the screen.
Then again.
Cal noticed.
Of course.
He leaned slightly toward Evan.
“…He’s deep in it.”
Evan chuckled quietly.
“Very deep.”
By the time the movie ended, they stepped outside together.
The evening air was cool.
Soft.
They stood there for a moment.
Six of them.
Tired.
Happy.
Laughing about random scenes.
Teasing each other again.
Bethany yawned.
Evan looked at her.
“You slept.”
She gasped.
“I did not!”
“You did.”
“…Just a little.”
He smiled.
“A little?”
She nudged him.
“Don’t start.”
And as they began to head home
There was something unspoken in the air.
Something light.
Something warm.
A day like this…
Simple.
Happy.
Carefree.
Felt rare.
Like something to hold onto.
Because for that moment—
With laughter, teasing, soft glances, and quiet feelings growing—
Everything felt okay.
Like they could breathe again.
Like nothing was wrong.
Like nothing was wrong
Like this was enough
A Perfect Day
- Writer
