The Brewers of Earth: Elysian Secrets

“Danny, Danny Legro.” The ash blonde, green eyed, smudge of annoyance boy spits at me while I fluster around with the list of names and classes on my table. This guy has to be a fake; I can’t see him on these lists anywhere. I shiver slightly as the cool London summer breeze ruffles the tassels of my black Charleston dress, and the feather atop my head. Dusk had come around far too quickly for my liking; especially since someone bailed last minute and I got roped into this mess. Poor guy, I think as I scan the final list of names. His Superman outfit is cute too. “Uhm... Sorry Don–“ “Danny.” He mumbles through gritted teeth. “Right. Danny, I can’t seem to find you. Are you sure you’re class B2? Not trying to gate crash are we?” I raise my eyebrow at him and offer a little amused smirk. He doesn’t take the bait. Pity. “Danny Legro, B2, do I need to spell it out for you?” Asshole. I cross my arms and sit back in my chair, eyebrows raised, my glare never faltering. We stay this way a few moments more before his times up for an apology. “Next.” The bored bluntness juxtaposing my sharp tone. “Y-you can’t do that! I'm the last one here!” he stammers furiously, slamming his hand on the table which in turn earns stares and gawks from the drunken soon-to-be university students lurking about. Before he can cause more fuss, I lean in close, close enough to feel his hot, sickly breath on my face. “Next.” I hiss at him, the vehemence pouring out my voice. He stalks off, throwing his hands up in exasperation and shouting at the smoking party goers to not talk to me. Eddie Wiley – my best friend – sniggers behind me. “I kind of feel bad for the guy, he was the last one in line.” He says with obvious mirth, standing beside me in his cliché Batman outfit, which I think I'd seen at least 3 times already. So unoriginal Eddie! I shake my head. “Yeah, well, I feel sorry for his parents. What a dick.” I turn towards Arya Calder’s house, my other best friend, and rub my temples. Eddie grabs my hand and goes to pull me inside but I resist. “I don’t wanna.” I mock pout, flashing him my puppy dog eyes. “I’ve been the bouncer for this party all evening, I think I’m tired, might go hit the hay.” I tease, knowing he’ll hate me forever if I leave the ‘party of the year’. “You won’t be saying that once I’ve got some shots in you.” He laughs, pulling me towards the large Notting Hill house. I mock gasp at him. “Me? Why, Eddie Wiley, I’ve never had a drink in my life!” I chuckle at him, opening the front door, my bad mood finally sobering up a little. Eddie starts to usher me into a crowd when I hear an articulate, deep voice sound behind me. “Excuse me, Lily, is it? Lily Arlyn?” “Yes?” I slowly twist around to see a tall, slim but muscular figure in front of my little table, my long silver hair twirling around me. “Can I help?” “Uhm, yeah, I’m a bit late for Arya’s party.” He states, almost nervously. No alcohol in this one. I move back toward the list on the table, a list where I’ve already ticked off most of the names. I frown, suspicious. Please not another one. “Name and class please.” I look up at him and find his dark, almost black eyes watching me, mirroring my own dark brown ones, with his head c****d to the side like a cat watching its prey. Wow is the only coherent word my mind formulates. He was gorgeous in a subtle, intelligent looking kind of way. His dark black curly hair gelled perfectly in place to look like contained mess with his slight black stubble and his all black clothes adorned by a long black cloak with a hood. “You’re gawking, Lil.” Eddie murmurs from behind irritably. I jump at the sound of his voice, flinching away from the boy’s alluring gaze. He clears his throat. “Oh! Right! Yes, your name, what is it? Your class too.” I stumble over my words. i***t, i***t, i***t! I resist the urge to slap my forehead. “Like I said, Kearn Winterflood, C2.” He says, amusement tingeing his tone and flashing across his eyes. A secret arrogant. I didn't recall his name at all, even from my lists. "C2 you say? I don't ever remember seeing you around at college, or well, anywhere actually." My attempt at small talk was awful and I knew it. Arya would be ashamed if she could see this failing sight. I scan the last page of names, and miraculously, I see his, right by the bottom with all the W's. Kearn Winterflood, C2, how interesting. I tick next to his name and lean back up, back up to his watchful eyes. They rake once over my body and I push down my snort. Typical. His eyes linger on mine once more before he saunters past me, his shoulder brushing mine. The touch of him through his cloak burns. “Nice outfit by the way, 1950's?” he calls over his shoulder, glancing back at me as his hand reaches for the door. Although his tone isn’t mocking, his eyes implied otherwise. I squint at him slightly. Those eyes... “Yeah, at least someone knows.” I manage to grit out, my hand moving towards the shoulder he had touched. His eyes flicker to that hand. “What are you, a rogue?” I asked, genuinely curious to his costume. His roguish grin confirms as much. “You could say that.” He almost whispers huskily, his head to the side. His eyes linger one more long moment before I am left staring at the door in his wake. Kearn Winterflood. “Hello? Earth to Lily?” I could hear the obvious scowl in his voice. “Let's go already, the smell of smoke out here reminds me too much of my Grandpa. Bloody ol' bastard he was.” I shake my head, coming back down. “You shouldn't speak ill of the dead Ed.” I murmur. Yes, party, Arya's party for finally finishing college and beginning a new chapter. Whatever that was. I let Eddie lead me inside where I'm thrown into the swirling throng of people. People were everywhere. Crowds dancing, people kissing, shots and shouting and laughing into the darkness. Loud house music vibrated through the air like electric, pulsing into the very marrow of my bones. I didn't even want to know what was thumping upstairs. I suppress a shudder. I try and push my way through the faces of all my class mates over the many years of school and college, in an attempt to reach Arya; I knew exactly where she'd be. Eddie was already on the case for getting my favourite drink and probably a shot too. Cheeky sod – how he loved me for my hilarity when drunk. I finally manage to waggle my way through to the outskirts, precariously avoiding pushing over a silly drunk girl dancing with her friend, faces a vaguely recalled. I reach the large open space living room that connected to the dining room and kitchen, with large white doors leading to the back garden and hot tub. Everything was mainly white, with splashes of greys and blues here and there. The windows were big with white billowing curtains and loitered around were people making drinks and just generally chatting and listening to the music. The house was pretty large as we lived in a rather ‘rich’ part of London. Who knows what our parents really did to have such wealth. Fairy lights, ones I helped Arya put up, were hung around in attempt for some lighting as the darkness wasn't always the best idea. We had tried to move the furniture as best we could, to create more space, but it still felt full in here to me. Luckily, the main attraction seemed to be the entrance and the stairs and the hot tub. Of course, I think. If Arya's parents hadn't gone away with my Dad and step mum and Eddie's parents too, then we wouldn't even be alive. I snort at the thought. They're not due home until late tomorrow morning, hopefully clean up won't be too bad. Touch wood. I look towards the large grey sofa in the corner of the room, in front of a large window and next to the TV, I spot my target. Aha! I knew it. “Arya can you stop sucking Ben's face for a minute please and come have a drink with me!” I exclaim to my dearest friend, clearly tipsy and very much in love with Ben Addler, again. I hide my eye roll as I cross my arms. Arya jumps up, away and off of Ben's lap, her long black silky hair – albeit a bit ruffled – in a pony tail bopping. Startled, she whips around at the interruption, her face like venom. It softens when it sees me. My friend was beautiful, stunning really. She was tall, slim, dark haired with bright hazel eyes, olive skinned with a slender pretty face. Much unlike my fairly average height, round cute face, button nose and rather large dark eyes, these stood out the most to my abnormally white parchment hair. I was okay, beautiful maybe, perhaps pretty. Some had said I was hot, for a nerd. But not stunning, not to me. She also had a green vine tattoo that glimmered in the fairy light, accenting her white Charleston dress. We wanted to at least coordinate each other. I stood there, feet aching already in my black stiletto's, as she stagger towards me and put her weight on my small frame, and kisses my cheek dramatically. Her eyes were glazed slightly and her cheeks rose from the kissing. “Oh Lil! Where have you been? I've missed you! Me and Ben were talking about you, saying how grumpy you've been today. Isn't that right Ben?” She pouts, turning back towards Ben who looked nothing more than like he wanted to escape, if not to catch my wrath. I raise an eyebrow at her. “How much have you drunk Ary?” I ask, pointedly shifting my eyes from her face to Ben's retreating silhouette. Figures. “Oh not enough, we haven't even had a drink together yet! Come on, let's dance! I saved one for you.” Arya pounced away, towards the crowd of dancers, pulling me along with her. This time I didn't resist. Before I knew it, I was well and truly wobbly. I'd done enough apple Sourz shots and drunk enough lemonade and vodka that I was not only staggering around, I was bouncing off of the walls from the sugar. Arya twirled me around, spinning me to face Eddie, who picked me up and spun me to the music. Our friends joined us and we all celebrated together for what was and what will be, until Arya left for the toilet when a slower song came on and Eddie and I were left dancing in circles, my cheek resting on his shoulder. “Hey Lil?” he looks down at me, his breath moving my hair and the feather attached to it. “Yeah?” I look up at him. He is handsome I suppose, and my dearest, truest friend. He had his golden brown hair natural and short, and green eyes that had a mischievous sparkle to them as they shone in the dim fairy light. He was tall too, and not without muscle. His face was squarish, his jaw line emphasised by the growing stubble he always seemed to have nowadays. Yes, I suppose he was quite good looking, but not quite Kearn Winterflood. I shivere at his memory. I hadn't seen him once now that I thought about it. Perhaps he was the one thumping upstairs. An irrational twinge of jealousy ached within me. “You're sure you want to go to uni?” he asks sincerely, his eyes shining from the sugar and alcohol. My pace slows as I think. Did I want to go to university? It seemed like my only option really. “Yeah, I think so, I'm not sure really if I'm honest with you Ed.” I slur and stumble slightly. “Why, don't you? What else would we do?” I looked up into his face, focusing on the crease between his eyebrows, the lines of his forehead forming a frown. But then it softened, and his mouth became a straighter line. “An adventure.” His eyes gleam as he spun me, and I laugh. “An adventure? You truly are drun– “ I stop dead in my tracks. There he was – coming in through the back door with his black cloak making him barely visibly in the discernible light. “Lil? What is it?” Eddie cranes his neck around, searching for my source of distraction. I rest my cheek back on his shoulder and watch Kearn from it. “Nothing, I just thought I saw someone.” Someone indeed. We stood in a dancing crowd at the end of the living room and there was a considerable distance to travel if I were to try and get to him. I can make it, I pep talk myself. Just as I went to pull away from Eddie's embrace, Arya was in my line of sight, waving a bottle of rum in my face. Oh no, I inwardly groaned. “Oh we are so not done!” she exclaims delightedly, looking pleased at her find, probably from her parents' bedroom. No more drink. I yawn at her and her lower lip sticks out morosely. Eager to see more, I began peering over Arya's shoulder on tiptoes, (I ditched my high heels a while ago), I spot Kearn sweeping his gaze across the crowd of dancers and move back to the door he'd come from. His eyes met mine briefly, as if he’d sensed me watching, with a sort of shining sadness flashing across them, but then they hardened and the moment was gone. A long slither of silver and red glinting in the faint light caught my eyes attention, and like the sorrow in his eyes, he vanished into the night. My own eyes widen slightly, surprised by the peculiar sight. He has a fake weapon? My addled brain churned to comprehend. I frown inquisitively, moving past Arya towards the way he’d gone. His departure yearned for me, and that’s when I saw her – that’s when the screaming began. The darkness had come back for me, as it always said it would. I had dreamed fitfully every night ever since it happened. I stood in the misty abyss where vision eluded me, but I knew it would come back – soon. I began my usual floundering, shuffling forwards into the void that surrounds me. The image felt blurred, like I was there, watching myself, but I was also living it too. My heart rate picked up and fear and panic lanced through me, sending a dagger of cold spiking through my chest. My breath was scarce as my pace quickened, surging into the ebony that was the night. I willed my limbs to run, to get away, I knew they were coming, they'd be here soon, the shadows never faltered. But I did as I turned back, looking behind me in my frantic sprint towards anyone, towards anything. Glowing amber eyes met my vision and the hair on my arms and neck stood on end. The black mist swirled around my legs and I craned my head around once more. Foolish insufferable girl! My body slammed into a wall of flesh and I yelped but no sound came out. It never did in this place. It was him. Kearn Winterflood. My eyes widened in fear as he stood before me. I stumbled backwards in attempt to get away but I hit a wall and slammed my head, sliding down to the floor. Kearn simply watched me with his almost black eyes. Always watching, always waiting. He wore his cloak, but his hood was down and he had a long thin silver dagger with a black glittering gem in the pummel. It glistened with blood. He stepped towards me and I squirmed away, feeling him kneel down and breath on my neck. He slashed at my palms first. “Touched by shadow.” He murmured at me. I flinched at the sound of his voice. It was almost obtrusive in the silence. I turned my face to look him defiantly in the eye, he smiled faintly. “Showered by Elune.” His hand reached out tentatively. I flinched as his hand stroked my spider silk hair that radiated in the darkness. “Kissed by Naturae.” He pulled me close and my heart beat quickened further. I felt his breath on my nose and then on my lips, just before he pressed his mouth to mine in a gentle kiss. I awoke in a cold sweat, my eyes flying open at his touch. The dream had never gone that way before. What an asshole! My mind exclaims as I nestle back down to my pillows, arms crossed and frowning like a child. He scares the crap out of me and then he kisses me! Mixed signals, I tut to myself and sigh. My dreams, or well, nightmares really, were exceptionally vivid and it scared the hell out of me. What a load of bull. I huff forlornly and scrub at my face with sweaty palms, smudging my day old eye liner and mascara. I hated taking it off before bed, it was such an effort when one fell asleep reading every night. I groaned as the memories of the last two weeks all came tumbling back to me. Sleep wasn't even an escape any more. I sat up groggily, trying to shake away the panic I'd awoken from. Sliding out of my bed and peeling off my white bed shirt and underwear, I made a move towards my bathroom in the hazy morning light, to where my shower called to me. It had been two weeks since it happened and just a day before my 18th Birthday, things had finally seemed to calm down. A young girl of 18 was killed at Arya's party, the police were called, and that was all I knew. It was the beginning of July and the British summer was in full effect it seemed. I'd seen Arya and Eddie every day since the party, but we had had a lot of explaining to do. Arya was morose that her social life had gone to shambles since it happened at her house. Nothing was anyone's fault; no one was at liability of course. Bad things happen unfortunately, especially the fact that our parents were none too pleased and everyone had been particularly sombre since, naturally. After lots of witness statements and interviews with the police, they'd seemed to just disappear, and life was resuming as usual. Except for my plagued dreams. Except for the girl that had died. I ponder over it all in the shower as I hastily scrub away the nightmares and the sweat that seemed to cloak me in the night. My dreams had been haunted since the party; they hadn't disappeared with all the questions. Everything had been a blur since it had happened too. I didn’t know who the girl was, I didn’t remember her, but I did remember her body and the glisten of blood and how over time, it had glistened no longer. Perhaps like the lives of those around us. My dreams were full of shadows and darkness, amber eyes and the sheen of silver and crimson. Was it him that did it? Perhaps I should've told someone, but something deep and dormant within told me I definitely shouldn't. These were thoughts to keep to myself, or perhaps it was knowledge. ~~~~~ Before I knew it, the morning had flown by and I had productively done nothing. Unless waiting for my hair to dry while sitting in the sun at my large open window and reading counted as productive. I closed the book I was reading, placing it in my lap, pondering things to do. Cleaning my room seemed like an option. But it was rather big and everything was mainly white, with hints of colour here and there, so it mostly looked clean and tidy anyway. I kept it as organised as I could, but papers seemed to gather around the piano by the window, as did stacks of books and drawings around my bed in the corner of the room. Out of the window, I could see children playing in the summer sun, savouring in the Saturday freedom as their parents warily looked on, ushering them towards the park and away from the roads. Trees sway in the breeze beyond the glass and peering below full blossomed branches outside of my house, I could just about see Eddie’s bedroom window, directly opposite my own. I wasn’t surprised when I didn’t see him sitting at his, as I so often had as a child; Eddie’s summer spot was on the grass, under the tree in front of his house with his nose in a book. I’d teased him when we were younger, claiming he looked cliché and that I saw passers-by's eye him oddly. His reply was always the same: that he found it more relaxing. I could never understand how the busy London streets could ever be remotely near it, but perhaps it was better than getting pasty inside. I shifted my gaze to the trunk of his tree, but it wasn’t Eddie I saw leaning against it. It wasn't Eddie's eyes that met mine, but dark ones instead. I pull my thick black rimmed glasses away from my face and rub the sweat that had gathered on the bridge of my nose, then move to my itching eye lids, careful to not smudge my eye liner. This is why I wear contacts. Moving away from the window, towards my bedroom door, I shake my head, frowning and alarmed. I'm going insane. My breathing hastened, as did my moving feet. I rush through my open door, popping my glasses back on and tying my hair up in a sagged pony tail as I swiftly glide down the hall way. My loose denim jeans rub at my warm thighs as I bounce down the spiral wooden stairs, my baggy white shirt swaying behind me in the rushed breeze I created. “Dad, I'm going out.” I yell, passing through the kitchen quickly, grabbing my little black purse from the centre isle. No response, guess he’s out. I hurry through the living room, spotting Cassie – my white, American short-haired cat – eyeing me pointedly from her spot in the sun on the window seal. I walk over to her and scrub at her head, squinting out the window. He's gone. I scowl, my mouth becoming a distinguishable downward arch. Sighing, I turn towards the font door anyway and bump into a moving woman's body. I yelp, my heart rate spiking. Jumping back, startled, seeing the frowning face of my step mother glaring at me, her smoothie spilt slightly onto her top. She looks down at the splodge of pink mess on her yellow blouse and tuts, then gives a defeated sigh. “Well, there's goes my new blouse eh? What's got you so jumpy?” She walks off towards the kitchen, probably in search of a damp cloth. “Ah, Olive I'm sorry, you startled me.” I meant it too. “Where’re you off to sweet pea? Eddie?” Dabbing her blouse, she gazes up at me, her eyes full of knowing. “Uhm, yeah, kinda. I thought I saw someone I knew by his house – thought I'd say hi.” Not mentioning that I'd dreamed of him every night, that he was the reason I couldn't sleep any more, and that he'd already somehow vanished. Not mentioning that he was watching me through my window. That's creepy as hell Lil. She smiles warmly at me, as she always did, her pixie shaped face flushed from the rare summer heat. Olive was a lovely looking lady, who had definitely aged well over the years. She liked to keep her brunette hair chopped short and rarely was without make up. Her nose was fairly small, her lips thin and her light brown eyes showed the grains and creases of time. I'd never really known my mum, she'd died when I was 4 years old. Sometimes I catch glimpses of memory of her, fragments of images and sounds come to me in dreams, but never enough to be coherent. No, Olive was more like a mother really; my dad had met her when I was 9 and they'd married one year later. She'd lived with us since and we'd never really clashed. Her and my dad had only ever broken up once, and it was the worst year of my life. My dad – Michael Arlyn – went away a lot on business, he was very important to some law firm and it required a considerable amount of travel. Olive and I would spend the days and evenings cooking together, watching films, playing with my silk hair. Sometimes she'd even play piano with me, and those evenings were always the best. I zoned back into the conversation I appeared to be missing. “–he should be back around 5pm I think and I thought I'd cook some salmon for tea, if you'd like. Oh and if you're going out do you need any money, darling?” pausing in her blouse washing, she looks up at me expectantly, eyebrows raised. “Oh, uhm, no I have some and I've got my Oyster card on me so I should be fine.” I turn back around, heading towards the living room, to the front door. To Kearn. “Okay dear, have fun.” I hear the back door open as she calls out to me. “Did you want the salmon Lil? Or shall I save it for a special 18th Birthday champagne breakfast in the morning?” I look over my shoulder at her, a slight smile on my face. She smiles back at me, already knowing the answer. “Breakfast of course.” She nods, content with the plans we'd made. “Of course.” The back door sounded and I put on my sandals at the front door, shoving my keys into my bag. I open the door, letting in a cool summer breeze, and find Kearn Winterflood's face a breadth away from mine. “Hi.” Is all I manage to finally stammer out as I jump back. His unrelenting gaze never falters as he calmly leans against my door frame, in dark blue shorts, a white loose T-Shirt and black sandals. I, on the other hand, can only gape. Stop being a blasted i***t! I force myself to close my jaw and decrease the stupid, startled stare on my face, just a little bit. “Hi.” His voice as deep and articulate as I remember. He gives me a welcoming smile – like it was his house – that just about reaches his eyes, and exhales a long breath. An awkward silence hangs dejectedly between us. He clears his throat. “I, uhm,” looking down, he laughs through his nose to himself, before looking up at the sky and stretching out his chest. “Ahhhh, wow, this is going to sound weird.” His eyes move back to mine. “I was... Waiting here. For you?” “Are you asking me or telling me?” I raise an eyebrow at him, struggling to hide my small, bemused smile. “Telling you?” he nervously put his hands in his pockets, moving his body to gesture behind him. “Take a walk with me.” He demands. How did he even know where I live? “You got your questions the wrong way round there.” I move beside him, shutting my door behind me, careful to avoid his eyes. He takes up a leisurely walk down the road, towards the park, as the sun beats down on our silence. “Soooo...” I offer, he doesn't take it. “You were, uh, waiting for me?” I manage to get out. “Yeah, about that.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I didn't mean to freak you out or anything. I was honestly just walking down this street when I looked up and saw you at your window, reading.” He gave nothing more. “And?” “And what? That's all.” He looks down at me, pausing in his walk, a question in his eyes. He was so gorgeous that it was almost unfair. I stop with him, angling myself towards him slightly and find myself unable to offer explanation. “Do you want there to be more?” He smiles arrogantly, clearly taking sadistic delight in my discomfort. “How about that little part where you stood outside my door?” I ask, perhaps a bit too sharply. I'm not mesmerised enough to be stupid. My eyes squint in suspicion. Does he know I saw something? “Oh, that, well,” he starts to walk again, scowling, as if struggling to come to terms with his answer. “I was building up the courage to knock.” I don't suppress my snort. How sappy indeed! “Hey! Don't laugh. That was a statement in confidence.” He puts his hand over his heart mockingly. I push my slipping glasses up my nose and look down towards the ground, smiling slightly. Confidence, more like arrogance, I say to myself while suppressing an eye roll. “No, I'm not that much of an arrogant asshole.” This time I openly chuckle, unable to help myself. “Why, Kearn Winterflood, class C2, how did you know?” “I know my way around a woman– “ “I bet you do!” I cackle out before he can finish. “I was going to say a woman's mind. Do I hear jealousy?” He playfully asks, softly chuckling, amusement flashing his eyes. “Wouldn't you like to know.” I smirk, my tone light hearted. “Are you one of those?” “One of what? A woman? I should certainly hope so.” “No! One of those people who delights in others pain.” He twists around to walk backwards in front of me, making sure he looks directly at my expression. “Pain? No boy has ever quite said I've brought him pain before...” I trail off, letting him think the rest. His playful grin confirms his thoughts, his eyes sparkling devilishly. “I like your glasses by the way. They suit you.” He smiles at me, eyeing me head to toe, and landing back on my face. I laugh lightly, it shaking with nerves. “I like you in another colour that isn't black.” I state bravely. He snorts at me. “Come to Regent's Park with me. I'll buy you some ice cream.” He asks after a long pause of silence. I ponder it; I had nothing better to do and I wanted answers. “And, do pray tell, why would I do that?” I ask to keep him in suspense. “Because you have questions and I have answers, Lily Arlyn, class B2.” That was answer enough for me. ~~~ After a hot, stuffy – and particularly close bodied – journey on the District and Circle lines, we arrived in Regents park, where it was blooming with people. Londoner's walking their dogs, cycling, playing rounders or just sunbathing, enjoying the heat while it lasted. Kearn immediately offered to go to a little shop nearby and grab us some drinks and ice cream, which I greedily and thirstily accepted. Why didn't I eat anything today? I peer around for a nice spot in the shade and eventually spot a little remote place under the protection of a willow tree. Perfect. I waltzed over and sat on the grass, wishing I'd come more prepared with a blanket and some sandwiches. I lean back, cooling off in the shade and begin to people watch – the best passing of time when it was too bright to see your phone screen. I was about to get up and look for Kearn, as he was taking a while, when I spotted Arya, running out from the trees and Eddie trailing behind her. They appeared to have water balloons in their hands, Eddie was topless and Arya in a bikini top. I push down on the throb of hurt that spasms within me. Thanks for the invite. I watch them chase each other, Arya's smile glowing in the sun, Eddie's eyes sparkling mischievously; they almost didn't look real in the haze of heat. I stand up abruptly, suddenly angry and wanting to confront them. As I start to walk away, Kearn steps in front of me, cans of drinks in his pockets and ice cream in each hand. “Sorry I took so long, the queue was insane.” He moves towards the trunk of the tree, sits down and leans against it. He holds out the chocolate ice cream to me, a question in his eyes. “Where were you going?” My bad mood must have shown on my face, because he stretches the ice cream out further and offers an almost sympathetic smile. “What's wrong?” I take the ice cream and sit next to him. He moves a little closer, leaning in, as if to not miss a word I say. This guy is smooth. “I saw Eddie and Arya – my friends – that's all. I guess I was just a bit hurt they didn't invite me.” It stung to say. A flush crept up into my cheeks. I felt silly, why should I care, as long as they were enjoying themselves, right? And why was I telling him all of this? “Well,” he says with a mouthful of strawberry ice cream, “You're here with me now.” He gulps it down greedily. I look back over in the direction I'd seen them, but they were already gone, as if they were never there at all. My head started to spin. “Yeah, true.” I frown. What were we talking about again? I take a big bite out of my ice cream, savouring the cold, rich flavour of the chocolate. “So, at the party,” I swallow my spoonful, “I barely saw you. You disappeared. And you were in class C2, how come I never saw you? And how did you get to know Arya? What did you study?” I felt like I was firing too many questions his way, but I was eager to know. I turn my head to the side, looking up at him. He reaches over with a hand and uses his thumb to rub the crease of my forehead. This guy makes no sense. “You frown a lot, you know.” His eyes give way nothing. “That doesn't answer my questions.” “I did a BTEC in IT and Computing, so that's probably why you never saw me.” He began and pulled out his can of drink as well as offering me mine. I take it and we open them in synchronization. “Who doesn't know Arya Calder? She invited our whole year group pretty much.” He squints at the sun, staring off towards the people playing rounders, their happy, laughing faces shining in the sun. “I was with a few friends of mine from my IT class on the night of the party. We mostly stayed in the garden, where, you know, people weren't grinding on each other.” Something flashes in his eyes, but I can’t quite make it out. I look towards the people playing fetch with their dogs and let my mind wonder, as did his. “So no having fun upstairs then?” I ask light heartedly, my voice quiet to not intrude the peaceful quiet. He laughs faintly, a sound I am truly captivated by, and soon find myself laughing with him. He bumps my shoulder gently and we look at each other. “No, no fun upstairs.” He says softly, his voice husky as it had been the night we'd met. His face was so close. But did he do it? I recoil away a morsel, but it's enough for him to notice. He moves away from me; the once open, contented expression on his face hardening, darkening a shade. A surge of guilt rips through me. I shouldn’t feel this way. As if sensing my thoughts and change atmosphere, he stands up and stretches out, tipping back the last of his drink. “How did you know my name? Why was you walking down my road?” I ask, inquisition taking over. “I'd spoken to Arya briefly when she gave me the invitation. I'd complimented how beautiful they were. She'd said it was designed by her best friend, Lily Calder.” He finishes, offering me his hand. I take it and let him pull me up. I wobble but he doesn't notice. I don't feel so good. “And, I live two roads up from you; I was just walking to the park.” How have I not seen you before? Weird things were happening to me lately. My silence confirmed to him I was done. “Come, let’s go and see if we can find some water balloons or something, shall we?” So we did, but not before I vomited – all over him.