When his head came out of the river, she was sitting on the shore, under a tree. One of her feet inside the water, a bow on her lap full of fruits. There were pieces of strawberries and papaya, whole apples and a kiwi. The mangoes were on the ground, next to her, and he knew they were there because she hated mangoes and would never add them to the bowl. Right now, she was cutting the bananas. He didn't have to ask to know his mother told her to do so, she would surely prepare a fruit salad today.
- Bookworm! You scared me!
She laughed. Her smile couldn't curl up the corners of her mouth, it was depressing, and her laugh was silent, but still she laughed and smiled all the time. Her laugh was certain as the sun rising in the East, which make it kind of comforting. If she was laughing, everything was right.
- How can I scare you if I'm doing nothing?
He started to swim toward her, his pitch black hair falling over his forehead, his greyish-purple eyes following the waves his strong arms created. Those eyes the colour of the storm sky.
- That's the very problem. How can I prepare myself if you don't make a noise to let me know you're here?
- I thought the problem was that I make too much noise.
- You do, but only in the wrong moments. I have no idea why I still let you stay.
She laughed again. She knew he was just kidding. She was annoying and noisy when she arrived, but she was learning fast how to not disturb him during their walks in the woods. She lifted the foot inside the water, splashing him.
- You don't let me stay, you have no choice! I stay because I want to!
They were both laughing now and he reached the shore. He was halfway out of the river when she sighed shaking her head.
- Oh, Will, I love you.
He froze but she kept cutting her bananas, never even lifting her gaze. Like she had been talking about the weather.
- Did you just say that you love me?
- Yes, I did.
And she started stirring the fruits in the bowl with the knife, a little smile on her face. Because he was silent for almost an entire minute, she finally stopped and looked up to him, with those eyes that could never decide if they wanted to be blue or green. Those eyes the colour of the sea. They were the only remarkably beautiful thing about her.
- What? What's wrong with you?
- What's wrong with me?! What's wrong with you! Are you listening to yourself?
She said, calm as a steady lake, as always.
- Why are you turning it into such a big deal? It's a phrase like any other. It isn't like I'm going to steal a kiss or rape you while you sleep.
And she resumed her cutting job. He was still staring at her, chin dropped, still half inside the water. After a few more moments of silence, he spoke again.
- I don't think I love you.
- Okay. I know it.
- Doesn`t it hurt you? I mean, living here with us, seeing me everyday and all? Knowing I don`t feel the same way?
- Most of the times, yes. But my other option is to go back to my old life, which is worse. And, I don't know, I think I would miss you.
He couldn`t answer anything she said straight away. He wasn`t expecting this conversation... well... ever. She finished cutting the last banana, so she stopped and looked into his eyes again.
- Don`t worry, Will. It`s okay. It changes nothing. I keep loving you, you keep not loving me. We are friends, we are fine.
And began to cut an apple. He let out an exasperated sigh. She was weird and positively crazy. The angle she was sitting accentuated her too long and too thin arms and legs. But she was also fun and... practical. The sun was filtering through the leaves, making her red curls shine around her too white face. She had been helping, or at least trying to, since the day she arrived. A butterfly came flying between them and she followed it with her gaze, smiling her depressing smile. She never missed a butterfly and they seemed to follow her everywhere. Interesting, that's the right word. Despite all her weirdness, she was interesting. He smiled too, but his smile was always as bright as the sun. It was the very reason why she fell for him in the first place.
- You know what, Bookworm? Sometimes I wish I could love you back.
She casually threw an apple slice into her mouth and shrugged before replying.
- Me too.
