the space was for you and renee tonight. quiet and tucked away behind a little neighborhood cafe that you had rented out for just the two of you. string lights stretched overhead like lazy constellations, casting a soft amber glow over the cracked stone patio. a breeze drifted through, lifting the edges of the paper napkins and carrying the scent of basil from a nearby planter

it wasnt fancy but it didnt need to be. that was kind of the point. you and renee sat across from each other at a small wooden table with glasses of something citrusy between you. you werent really dressed up, just comfortable and real

suddenly she pulled out a rose. it had been handed to her earlier when her friends dropped her off at the front, mostly because she said she wanted to make an entrance. one of them passed her the flower and smirked “for seduction purposes only”

now with a small grin, renee had it clamped between her teeth with her eyebrows raised in exaggerated flirtation as she leaned her elbow on the table and struck a small cheesy pose

“they said i should use this to flirt with you” she said, the words muffled slightly by the stem “apparently ive lost my touch”

you raised an eyebrow while smirking “thats what they think? because this it.. incredibly effective”

“oh is it?” she teased, sliding the rose from her mouth with her eyes fixed on you “are you feeling.. seduced?”

you busted out laughing, leaning back in your chair with your head tilted slightly “you are the least subtle person alive”

“and yet youre still into it” she shot back, tucking the rose behind her ear "just like you were when we were seventeen and i wrote you a love letter with glitter glue”

“oh god” you groaned while grinning “you really brought up the glitter glue?”

“babe” she said solemnly, placing a hand over her heart “it was fuchsia. it stained my desk for like three years. thats commitment”

you leaned forward, resting your arms on the table “and i still have it you know. that letter.”

she blinked, caught off guard “seriously?”

you nodded “in a shoebox with your dumb notes and the polaroid from prom where we both look like we stole someone else outfits”

“youre gonna make me cry in a place with no tissues”

“ill let you use my sleeve” you said, offering your arm across the table with a small smile

she laughed, reaching for your hand instead and intertwining your fingers “do you ever think about how weird it is that we made it? like high school sweethearts actually surviving college and careers and long distance and.. everything?”

“all the time” you said “but then i look at you now and im just not surprised at all”

she didnt say anything at first. she just looked at you, her fingers brushing against yours. the playful smirk was gone now, replaced by something warmer and quieter. it was the kind of look you only got from someone who really knew you

“i think i knew. even then.” she said

you leaned in close enough to smell the faint floral sweetness from the rose “knew what?”

“that id still be sitting across from you at 25, wearing your shirt and badly flirting”

you smiled “flirting perfectly”

she grinned again, slipping the rose back between her teeth “then i guess they were right. it does work on you.”