Simple Deduction

No matter what her hesitation the other day meant, I’d eventually realized that it couldn’t be a bad thing for me.

After all, the conversation we had on the way back gave every indication that what she planned on telling me today, would be something either positive, or at worst neutral.

Up until now I’d done a fantastic job at ignoring any subtle hints that I would think might mean something, but any more ignorance would just be an injustice to her efforts.

After hours and hours of thinking, I couldn’t help but feel that Ria had feelings for me.

Why else would she hesitate when about to speak about me in a positive manner in front of friends? Why else would she go so far out of her way as to pick up a new hobby that I liked and even buy equipment for it? Why else would she blush so noticeably, and then try to hide it?

I was especially bad at these kinds of things, and even I knew very clearly what Marcus was expressing interest in the other day. And if I noticed it, then I’m sure Ria did.

And by simple deduction, if Ria noticed it, didn’t deny it, and even wanted to discuss something relevant to it in private today, I couldn’t help but get my hopes up.

Whatever point that I was able to confidently confirm my own feelings to myself was lost on me, but it was very recent.

At some point between missing her over the break, and being excited about the opportunity of talking to her yesterday, I was sure of it.

I liked Ria.

Hell, I loved Ria.

I’d never felt this way so intensely before, so I wasn’t sure if I could call it love. But, I found that I don’t care if I’m wrong about the definition of these feelings.

They’re there, and they’re strong.

And I’m lost.

I was wondering towards where I remembered the soccer fields to be when I got lost in my thoughts, and must have taken a wrong turn.

I’d only been there a couple times, but the few extra minutes it took me to backtrack and find my way were an embarrassing slap in the face, reminding me to focus on the present.

I’d told myself time and time again since last night not to get my hopes up too much. After all, if I went there and she said something trivial after all of this I’d feel really stupid.

Also, there was the important factor that we’d actually be training as well. If I was too distracted, I was bound to make a fool of myself, which was very likely regardless considering my lack of soccer experience.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized, today was almost entirely in Ria’s hands. And I didn’t particularly mind the lack of control.

If this was the way that Ria felt ahead of our hike, then I could understand a little better just why she was so overly excited about it all.

Looking forward, I saw the soccer fields stretching out ahead of me.

There were two fields, one for the team’s practice, and one for their games. The practice field was extra large, basically the size of two pitches by itself, since both the men’s and women’s teams would use it at the same time.

However today there was only one person on the enormous second field, a tiny dot among the ocean of green.

As I approached, still fifteen minutes early, Ria stopped her running and turned to face me, waving as I drew closer, and chasing away the cold air around me.