“Well, I’m sorry for my part in it,” I said, sidestepping so I was in front of her.
She gazed up and bit her lip. Her dark blue eyes shone. She really was incredibly beautiful. The longer I stared at her, the harder my heart beat. “It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered, her eyes flicking to my lips and then back up.
Heat flooded through my body. I wanted to kiss her, too. She was so alluring, so sweet and pure. I couldn’t kiss her. Not yet. I had to remember what I was doing here.
I exhaled hard. “Let’s get you those chips.”
Grinning she replied, “Nah, I might try a salad since I have it on good authority that they don’t suck.”
Laughing, I put my hand on her back and led her into the canteen towards the salad bar. “They definitely don’t suck.”
After school, I went home to change into some warmer clothes and my walking boots and left to get Scarlett.
She opened her front door and pouted. “Is this appropriate walking wear?”
“Yes, you look great.” She had on a fleece zip up jacket, slim jeans and boots.
“Okay, let’s go walking then.”
“Are your parents in? Shouldn’t I talk to them about where we’re going first?”
Giggling, she shook her head. “They’re both at work still. I’ve told Jeremy, though.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Where exactly are we going?”
“You have a great countryside here, so we’re going to explore it a little. I promise to have you back before dark.”
As we walked along the path, I took her hand. She was warm and inviting and so unable to hide her smile that it almost made me laugh. I liked the feel of her hand in mine far too much.
“Okay. I’ve not really explored where I live before.”
“Why not?”
“Well, we moved around a lot growing up. We’ve been here about three years now, and it’s the longest we’ve stayed in the same place.”
“Really? Why do you move so often?”
“Dad’s work.”
“Oh,” I replied, looking away. I wondered if they would ever give her the true reason. “Do you think you’ll move again?”
“Not sure. They seem settled so hopefully not. I have friends now.”
“You didn’t before?”
“No, there was no point. We’d move on and lose contact, so I stopped trying to get to know people.”
That sounded so painfully lonely. If she had never been taken she wouldn’t have ever had to know what loneliness felt like.
“The people I’m friends with back home I’ve known since I was little. We’re a close community. I can’t imagine what it was like to grow up with just your brother.”
She lazily lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I didn’t know any different, so it was fine.”
“You may have. Did you move a lot before the fire?”
“I…I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. We could have.”
“Do you not know much about that time?”
“I remember nothing,” she said.
“But your parents must have told you all about it.”
“I guess.”
Why doesn’t she want to remember? I wanted her to, needed her to.
“Perhaps you’ll get those memories back one day.”
She would. I was determined to push gently and often to get her to try to remember.
We took a public footpath and followed it through fields and past forests. The familiarity of it settled something inside. I missed my community so much but when I was outside I felt a connection to them through nature and being among elements.
Soon Scarlett would understand how that felt, too.
Noah
I HAD NEVER been excited to see a girl before. Scarlett made me feel things I didn’t think I’d experience until I was a lot older. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything for her. That shouldn’t be possible.
The doorbell rang, and I wiped my hands on my jeans. That was her. My parents were sitting reading on the sofa opposite. They looked up and smiled.
“Are you ready, Noah?” Dad asked.
I nodded once and stood. “I’m always ready.”
There was a lot riding on my ability to win over Scarlett. I had to make this work. Taking a look in the mirror in the hallway, I took a deep breath and gave myself a silent pep talk. Thinking of home gave me strength. There was a lot of distance between me and my people but knowing they were all behind me spurred me on.
I opened the door, and she was standing holding a carrier bag and grinning as much as I probably was. Being around her was euphoric.
April had rolled around quickly. I loved spring; everything was coming to life again, and the air was considerably warmer.
“Ready for our movie night? I can’t believe you’ve not had a movie night in with friends before.”
I shrugged and moved to let her inside. “I prefer to be outside.”
“Well, you’ve been missing out on something great.”
“Hello, Scarlett,” Mum said, conveniently walking out of the living room as Scarlett came in. They were going to have to stop popping up everywhere, or it was going to look weird.
“Hi, Mrs York.”
“Call me Bethan, remember?” Mum said.
Scarlett nodded. “Right.”