Dandelions

"Hey, you've been silent for way too long! I know the picnic's over, but that's no reason to stop talking to me," Mia said, annoyed at her friend, Felix, as the two walked from the town park's picnic tables to the park entrance. Felix was toting a small picnic basket full of empty Tupperwares and used napkins absentmindedly, staring at the dandelions growing in the park sidewalk.

Felix smirked and looked at Mia. "I'm too busy digesting food to hold a conversation. By the way, that potato salad was delicious."

Mia blinked a couple times and then smiled proudly. "Thanks, your sandwiches were also- Wait, don't change the subject! I'm your best friend, aren't I?" Her smile had changed back to a look of annoyance.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." He kicked a fluffy white dandelion and watched as its seeds flew away with the light breeze.

Mia's eyebrow twitched. "So talk to me. Interact. Be social."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, and stop acting like a three year old. You're in high school now, you know?"

Felix cocked his head and turned back to her. "Only if you stop nagging me and stop acting like a forty year old. 'You're in high school now, you know?'" He gave her a wry smile.

Shoving him lightly with her shoulder, Mia muttered, "Shut up."

"But you wanted me to talk," Felix stopped walking.

"Not to hear your sarcasm! Think of a subject or something so we don't just trudge our way home in silence." Exasperated, Mia sighed and sat on a nearby park bench.  

Felix joined her, leaning back on the bench, and set the basket in between them. "That's not very encouraging. And I can't think of a subject on the spot. I'm a socially inept teenager, you know?"

"Then let's play a game." Mia pointed to a lumpy cloud floating lazily in the sky. "What does that cloud look like?"

"A cloud."

Mia turned her head and stared at her friend. "I'll seriously slap you if you don't give me a better answer."

Staring her dead in the eyes with a poker face, Felix replied dryly, "Condensed water vapor."

True to her word, she slapped him lightly on his cheek.  "Smart aleck."

Rubbing his cheek in mock pain, Felix replied with a smirk on his face, "And proud to be one."

Mia put her elbow on her knee and rested her cheek against her hand. "I need to get more friends. I've spent way too much time with you…"

"How much time is too much time?" Felix asked as he mirrored her pose.

Mia picked up the picnic basket and set in down on her lap.

Felix began humming the Jeopardy! theme song.

"The six years I've known you, you imbecile." She stood up and began walking away from the bench.

Felix followed after her. "Sorry, you failed to phrase your answer in the form of a question," he said when he caught up to her.

Mia rolled her eyes. "Then how much was the question worth?"

Pretending to think deeply, Felix held his hand up to his face. After a short pause, he finally answered, "…I'll tell you later."

"And when is later, my dear friend?" she asked sarcastically, a smile beginning to form on her lips.

"Why, the next time we have a picnic of course, Mia," Felix replied, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

The pair's laughs rang out as another breeze blew, carrying them somewhere far, far away. And if they had enough luck, they would grow into a golden, glowing flower someday.

Hopefully.