Chapter 8

Yuri

“Uhh…” her breath wavered nervously.

 I released her hand.

“I guess the company would be nice I suppose.” She smiled at me. I found it hard to believe that this was the same creature that dared to scold me a short while ago and yet here she was smiling at me with not a drop of hate in her eyes.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, taking note of my silence as we walked to the train station to head into the local town.

I playfully returned a little smile back, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

She flushed and sat awkwardly in the seat next to me. She does that quite often I observed. For the rest of the journey, she was silent. Most of her thoughts seemed to be about how ardently ‘pretty’ the sky looked, how she’d like to roll in a field of daisies while eating strawberry-filled tarts, as well as trying her utmost best to not look at me.

Why would she not look at me? Did she have a defective eye that burns at the sight of me?

It irritated the hell out of me.

“We’re here!” she chirped happily.

I stood dryly and followed her out. “Joy,” I said with not a hint of joy embedded within me. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Well, I’m not too thrilled with the company either.” She mumbled to herself. “Inviting yourself along and being sour about it.”

“Don’t chew on your words, dear. Spit them out.”

She frowned heavily at me. ‘I’d rather spit on you, fool.’ Her thought was as clear as day. I smiled, quite amused. It was a sleepy, silent blue day with very few clouds above. The highlands mocking at me in its very essence. Pretty sky, my foot.

When we walked into the supermarket, I tailed behind giving her a little space. She seemed to know what she was doing. Not quite the standard helplessly lost human which I assumed was good. From a distance, I could see a group of young human males glaring at her and following as we walked.

“Those people,” I frowned, now next to her, “Have you stolen something from them?”

“What?” She seemed confused and took a quick glance back and returned to selecting the apples. She smiled cheekily, “I must have stolen their hearts.”

“Then return it.” I scowled, walking forward, “I don’t like being followed.”

The clock on the wall struck twelve as we left the store with the items. A ‘pleasant day so far’ I was told it was by some elderly man whom she aided to his car.

“Aren’t you going to help me?” She struggled with the heavy bags.

“No.”

She sighed. If I left her any further she would have tumbled down. And as much as I would have enjoyed the sight of that, I would have had to help aid her up as well as the groceries. Her physical strength was a major disadvantage. I grabbed the bags from her hands to prevent any further trouble.

“Oh.” She smiled, “You didn’t have to hold them all. I can help.”

First, she complains and now she wants to help. What is wrong with these humans?

“It’s either you hold them all or not at all.”

She kept silent. The walk back to the train station was rather longer than I had expected. Her mind seemed busy, yet she spoke no words. She played with her fingers nervously. She seemed to wish to tell me something as I could tell by her nagging thoughts of whether to tell me or not. Why couldn’t she just do so? I frowned at her silence. This had been going on for ten long minutes. I was ready to drop the bags but kept mentally preventing myself from it. Her thoughts were now screaming.  

Should I tell him?

No.

What if he says no?

Come on, Ana, you won’t know if you don’t try.

I don’t want to be a freeloader.

Oh God, I’m so hungry, why didn’t I eat this morning?

Now is the perfect time Ana, just ask him already.

I can’t even look at him without feeling my cheeks heat up.

Stop being a damn chicken, Ana.

“What is wrong?” I asked, irked.

“What? Nothing’s wrong. Why would you think something’s wrong? Everything’s fine!” she responded in one breath.

“I’m hungry.” I lied and stopped in front of the local coffee shop. “Let’s stop here and have something to eat.” The last thing I wanted right now was for her to faint and then along with the groceries, I would have had to carry her. In all honesty, I probably would have left her behind, she knows her way back anyway. I smiled to myself at the thought.

The smell of coffee trickled through the air. We sat at the small table after placing an order. From a distance, I saw a familiar face walking towards us. I couldn’t forget that pesky bird and friend of my brother’s even if I tried. Always constantly chirpy, it was absolutely annoying.

“Ana Alois!” He called.

She turned after the waitress brought the order to the table. “Quilt?” she smiled happily, stood, and greeted him with a brief hug. “We seem to be meeting each other almost every day.”

“That is true!” he smiled heartedly, “I must be your guardian angel.”

Or a scrawny little bird. I knew he heard me. I’d hoped he heard me.

He looked at me with that sweet little smile he often gave my brother.

“Oh.” Ana smiled, “I didn’t introduce you.”

“No need.” Quilt protested. “We are already acquainted with each other. We know each other for quite a long time now.”

“Very long indeed.” I sighed, taking a sip of my drink, “Too long.”

I sipped my drink calmly as he spoke and quickly left with his regards. Squirmy little worm eater. Ana seemed so contented by his presence. She sat happily and enjoyed her pastries. Her thoughts were filled with pure happiness. She was quite a strange little human, indeed. 

“Are you filled now?” I asked, hoping we could leave.

She nodded but stopped unremoved from her seat. “Yuri,” she sighed, “I was thinking,” She hesitated. Nervous to ask what she wished, “I don’t feel very comfortable living under your care without at least being able to provide for myself. So, I was wondering, well, I’d like to tutor some of the small children from the town if that’s alright with you. I’d be able to provide for myself as well as pay rent.”

“There is no need for you to pay me. I am also in no need of money.” Her face fell a little and I could have sensed the disappointment.  “However, you are free to do as you wish but I won’t accept anything from you.”

She smiled. “That’s good enough for me. And maybe you’ll change your mind about that last part.”

“Is that all that you wished to say to me?”

She blinked and looked away slightly. “Yes.” Her cheeks turned a soft red.

“Your face reminds me,” I smiled, “Did you pick up the tomatoes?”