I’d been meaning to finish and post this last Friday, but my schedule has been a bit busier than usual. Thank you all for your support and patience!

All new folks, here is the first part: Part 1

In case you missed it, here is a link to the previous part: Part 4

Since I finished it, here’s the next part: Part 6

As usual, feedback is appreciated!

“Tag”

Even when the rain stopped, water still fell from above in the city. Droplets dripped from awnings and roofs, splashing upon the concrete and mixing into the little streams on the sides of the roads before they were swallowed up by the gaping maws of sewer drains. Newspaper stands stood open, hawking their slightly moist wares to people in galoshes and raincoats. Men in suits and women in dresses huddled under their umbrellas and coats, not wanting to let the remnants of last night storm stain their clothes.

Aaron and Lauren had thrown such caution to the wind when they finally left her apartment, and now they were paying the price. Aaron’s jacket and jeans from the previous night were splotched with dark spots, wet victims of the leaky fire escapes and awnings that hung overhead. Lauren herself was not much better, as her olive-green army jacket was beginning to grow cold beneath the expanding wet spots. The city sidewalks were still wet with last night’s rain, filled with countless puddles that splashed as Aaron and Lauren made their way to the park. Aaron could feel the cuffs of his jeans grow heavier as they absorbed the water, and Lauren’s yoga pants began to cling tightly around her ankles with each splash.

“I suppose it would’ve been smart to bring an umbrella or something.” Lauren groaned as she looked down at Aaron. He still had a smile on his face from when they had left the apartment. It had appeared when she had offered him her hand, warmly rising up his face as their fingers interlinked.

“I can buy us two if you see a store.” He piped up.

Lauren grinned. “Or we could just buy one, and you could walk even closer to me.”

Aaron chuckled, “I don’t need an umbrella for that.” He stepped closer to her and dramatically leaned into her arm, throwing his head up and landing it on her bicep.

Lauren took her free hand and patted his hair. “Well I don’t think we’ll have to worry about it for long, cause we’re almost there.”

Their concern for their clothes disappeared as soon as they rounded a corner and the park came into view. The concrete jungle opened up to a green mass of trees and shrubs, sparkling and twinkling as the sun shone off the morning dew drops. As they passed under the iron arch marking the entrance, a large red sign greeted them reading: “Eisenhower Memorial Park.” Around the pair, joggers and bikers wrapped in brightly colored spandex made their rounds through the winding concrete paths. The sounds of children yelling, leaping over bushes, and crunching fallen branches as they ran filled the green wonderland with more life.

“It’s a shame we came on a Saturday,” Lauren frowned. “Normally there are fewer people here, and the sidewalks aren’t as packed.” She pulled Aaron close to her side as a cyclist whizzed by.

“It’s alright.” Aaron took the opportunity to wrap an arm around her waist. Spotting an empty bench, he led her forward and the pair sat down. The bench was surprisingly dry, and was a welcome respite.

In front of them, the trees opened up to a large clearing. The ground was concrete, with statues of American heroes scattered about posing solemnly. Surrounding the statues and clearing were several benches, still wet with rain and dew. Children ran through the statues, zigzagging around their brass legs. Couples and families posed for photos with some of the more historic figures, like Ben Franklin and George Washington. Vendors were set up here and there selling all they could, from food and water to hats and selfie sticks.

Lauren put an arm around Aaron’s shoulder. She leaned into his head and got a whiff of his hair. He still smelled of her coconut shampoo.

“When I was real little my dad used to take me here.” She began. “He’d sit by the playground and chat with the other parents. The girls would always play hide and seek around the playground, and the boys would always play tag by these statues.” She pointed a finger out towards the brass figures, waving it about in a random fashion to imitate children weaving through.

“Which one did you play?” Aaron looked up at Lauren. Her eyes were full of memory, searching the scene ahead for her childhood.

“I tried to play with the girls at first.” Her lips tightened. “But I was too big to hide. My head would poke out of the bushes even if I crouched. And if I wanted to climb up a tree, I was too easy to find if people looked up.”

She gave a small chuckle, picturing her gangly limbs awkwardly hanging off the tree branches.

“And besides, I didn’t like hiding all that much. Even if I was good at it, it would just mean sitting around and doing nothing for a half hour.”

Lauren’s attention was caught by a boy and girl charging through the clearing, bobbing and weaving through the statues. The girl’s arms were outstretched, grasping at the tips of the boy’s hoodie.

“I started playing tag with the boys. THAT was definitely more my speed.” She smiled fondly. “No sitting around, waiting for people to find me. Just running around and chasing people down till everybody was caught, or dodging somebody else like hell.” She laughed again. “Plus, having long legs was actually a major advantage in tag.”

Aaron laughed with her. He could imagine his eight-year-old self being chased by a taller girl and thinking how unfair it was that she could catch him so quick.

“It was actually because of tag that I started to cut my hair short. I wanted to fit in with the boys.” The smile fell from her face. “I let it grow out past my shoulders in middle school and high school. When I started wanting to fit in with girls again.”

She reached her free hand up and ran it down the back of her head, feeling the fullness of her pixie cut under her palm. Aaron noticed, and pulled his arm off of her waist. He leaned his elbow on the back of bench, and reached his arm up to pet her, running his hand slowly from behind her ear to her neck.

Lauren smiled at his touch. “After I graduated, I realized how bullshit high school was. How worthless everything I did there was, and how stupid all my attempts to impress people were.” She sighed contentedly. “So I cut my hair how I wanted to. And now I live and dress how I want to.”

She reached over and pulled Aaron’s head into her coat, running her hand over his cheek and hair.

“And if I want to pick up cute boys at a bar, that’s my prerogative.” She leaned down pecked his forehead.

Aaron laughed lightly, “Seems like it turned out pretty good for both of us.”

For five minutes they sat in silence, feeling each other’s presence. Listening to the ambience of the park. Birds chirped. Bike wheels clicked. Children squealed with delight.

Lauren gazed down at Aaron, analyzing his face. Her eyes ran over his eyebrows, his lashes, his forehead, the point of his chin, even the pores of his nose. She noticed his lips were slightly puckered. It was enough to put a thought in her head.

She leaned her head low. “Kiss me.” She whispered.

Aaron’s eyes opened a bit and he smiled. “In front of all these people? Even the kids?”

“Fuck yeah.” She murmured excitedly.

Aaron pulled himself up a bit, and Lauren put a hand under his head, lifting him toward her lips.

They met in the middle, kissing each other deeply. Aaron could feel Lauren’s heavy breaths blow off his cheek. They opened their mouths slightly, letting their tongues meet just a bit. Not as urgent as their tongue fucking from the morning, but still just as passionate.

Across the playground a couple of kids stood watching incredulously at the scene. The smaller ones pretended to vomit and cover their eyes with their hands, while the older ones simply watched in bewilderment.

When at last they broke apart, Aaron looked into Lauren’s dark eyes and gave her a wide grin.

He laughed. “You didn’t have to chase me too much, but you sure caught me good.”

The pair of them giggled loudly, and went back to enjoying the moment.