The first day of spring

You can tell by the scent the wind picked up over the blooming fields that spring has finally arrived. However, it is the floral perfume of Thea which my nose cannot get enough of.

I’m still not sure how these first weeks have passed so quickly, since Thea – the beautiful blond extrovert from Norway – entered my classroom and my life. We became close friends and, despite my shy personality, she makes me feel accepted in a way that lets my personality flourish like the rain welcoming the new and sprouting seedlings to the world of mother nature.

“Let’s hit Starbucks and hang out at the pier later?”, Thea suggests as she is about to get the bus home. It must be her third grande caramel macchiato with vanilla syrup this week, her favorite.

“Careful there, you might become addicted”, I respond, calling out her sweet tooth.

“Hey! You introduced me to my new favorite drink, remember? Don’t blame the victim.”

Her perfume mixed with the scent of roasted coffee beans and sweet drops of chemical vanilla – that is my new definition of spring.

“Yeah, yeah. Meet you at 4 at Pike’s?” I get to ask before the bus door closes. Pike Place is close to the Pier and the Waterfront Park next to Seattle Aquarium.

A thump up and the hangout is set. I feel excited, but why do my cheeks feel that warm? When did I blush? I usually felt this kind of excitement when a boy I secretly had a crush on was in the same group on some school project.

I’m really glad and thankful for Thea entering my life. We feel naturally drawn to each other, and I’m always happy to spend time with her. Talking to her feels so easy. I’m not best at making friends with people, and I’d consider a lot of girls from my school rather as acquaintances than friends, despite knowing some of them for years now. A cold breeze hits me, soaked with the thick diesel cloud from the school bus that had just departed. I shiver and start to realize I should rather hurry if I want to make it home and back to the Starbucks at Pike’s in time. It’s funny though how the first day of spring always rewards everyone who waited through the dark cold and so not cozy winter days of rain and icy temperatures. Moods change all of a sudden, as if mother nature herself breathed warmth into everyone’s hearts again. I feel relieved that my daydreaming didn’t cost me my bus home, yet. My phone vibrates.

“Please ask your mum to lend us that cozy blanket again!” reads Thea’s message.

Not everyone can brag about a self-knitted comfy blanket out of alpaca wool, perfect for the cold stones at the pier. When my mom found out about Etsy, her knitting hobby combined with her working at the fabric store became another source of income. Additionally, as her only daughter, I’m overly privileged when it comes to test new designs of her work.

“Will do,” I reply and enter the bus home.