Friday nights in our town were predictable. The main street would buzz with groups of teenagers spilling out of diners, their laughter echoing down alleys. Couples would hold hands on the benches under the fairy lights strung between buildings, while the rest of us wandered aimlessly, waiting for something—anything—interesting to happen.
It was my first free Friday in months, thanks to a last-minute schedule change at work. I'd planned to spend it at home, inhaling ice cream and re-watching an overly dramatic fantasy series, but fate, apparently, had other plans.
"Ellie!" a voice called from behind me.
I turned just in time to see Liam Harper skating toward me, his wheels making a faint rumble against the uneven pavement. He kicked the board up with a practiced motion and grinned, as if running into me wasn't the least bit coincidental.
"Do you always appear out of nowhere?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"It's kind of my thing," he said with a shrug. "What are you doing out here? Don't tell me—let me guess. You've finally decided to embrace Friday night chaos."
I raised an eyebrow. "And what chaos are we embracing? Getting trampled in the milkshake line?"
"Nope. You're coming with me," he said, gesturing for me to follow.
"Oh, really? And where exactly are we going, Liam?"
He leaned in closer, his green eyes glittering with mischief. "Trust me."
Now, I wasn't in the habit of following boys I barely knew into the night. But something about the way he said it—like the world was full of possibilities—made my usual hesitation melt.
"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes. "Lead the way."
We ended up at Hawthorne Park, a quiet patch of green on the outskirts of town. By the time we got there, the sky was ink-black and full of stars. Liam dragged me toward a small clearing where someone had set up a janky-looking swing tied to an ancient oak tree.
"This is your grand plan?" I asked, staring at the creaky swing.
"Yup." He jumped onto it, kicking off with a burst of energy. "Sometimes simple is better, Ellie."
"Simple as in 'a tetanus shot waiting to happen'?" I joked, but I couldn't help smiling.
He swung higher, the soles of his sneakers brushing the leaves. "So, Miss Serious, do you ever loosen up?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. I'm the epitome of fun."
Liam hopped off the swing mid-arc, landing like a gymnast before walking over to me. "Prove it."
"What?"
"Let's make a deal," he said, his voice softer now. "One night. No books. No plans. Just say yes to whatever happens."
"That sounds like the setup for every bad horror movie," I said, narrowing my eyes.
"Maybe. Or maybe it's the setup for the best night of your life."
The words hung in the air between us. Something about him—his reckless energy, his confidence that everything would be fine—made me feel like I'd regret saying no.
"Okay," I said. "One night."
He smiled, but this time, it wasn't cocky or teasing. It was genuine, almost…relieved. "Good choice."
We ended up racing his skateboard down the park's winding paths, taking turns until I nearly wiped out and he caught me mid-laugh. From there, we grabbed fries at a food truck by the lake and made up ridiculous life stories for everyone we saw.
"See that guy over there?" Liam said, pointing at a man in a suit who looked very out of place next to a group of teenagers. "Definitely an undercover spy. Probably here to recover stolen diamonds."
I snorted. "And the girl with the purple hair?"
"Obviously an alien. She's just here to scout the planet for their invasion next month."
For once, I wasn't overthinking anything. With Liam, the world felt lighter, like the weight I usually carried wasn't so heavy.
As the night wore on, we found ourselves back at the swing, looking up at the stars.
"So, what's your deal?" I asked, breaking the silence. "The skateboarding, the unpredictability… Do you just wake up and decide to be a mystery?"
Liam chuckled, resting his head against the tree. "I'm not that mysterious. I just think life's more fun when you don't have it all figured out."
I frowned. "But don't you want some kind of plan?"
"Why? Plans fall apart. The best moments are the ones you don't see coming." He turned to me, his voice quieter now. "Like this."
His words caught me off guard, and for a second, I didn't know what to say.
"Thanks," I finally murmured.
"For what?"
"For making this night…different. Good different."
Liam leaned closer, his expression soft but curious. "Guess I'll just have to top it next time."
And just like that, I knew there'd be a next time. The sparks weren't just in the rain—they were everywhere now. And I had a feeling this was only the beginning.