Prelude
Our first meeting wasn't as flattering as I'd have preferred. There I was, butt in the air, crouched on the leaves in pain, her, riding her bicycle towards me with a curious look on her face. Perhaps I hit my head too hard, but the smile that filled her face made the surrounding aura brighter. The girl, who didn't look older than twenty, waved.
"I probably shouldn't be smiling, I promise I'm not laughing that you fell. I mean...I'm sorry! Do you need a hand, mister?" The girl's voice came out in a rush, her tone light and welcoming. About to chuckle, my shoulder, which was most likely sprained, expanded, causing me to hiss instead.
Quickly, she knelt to my level, her small hands trying to pull me up by my biceps. It was amusing, watching as her cheeks flushed, eyes tightened shut, yet the tug felt like she wasn't even trying. Shaking my thoughts away, I pulled myself up with a groan, staring with a small smile at the girl who had a triumphant look on her face.
"You're heavy, Mister." Her eyes widened, hands clasping her mouth shut. "I'm sorry, my momma said that's for dead people. You're not dead." Gosh, I found her ramble so cute. "You're fine." I meant that in more than one way, the smile refusing to leave my lips. The girl grinned.
"Are you hurt? I can take you to my brother so he'll help message it. He says I don't have a good grip for doing that." Her pink bottom lip pouted out in a small frown. I continued to stare, intrigued by the words that came from her mouth. The more she spoke, the more I doubted her age.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's my sleazy a*s that slipped anyway." Turning my sides, I began to stretch my shoulders, which were throbbing. Not wanting to worry the little lady, I bit my lip to stop any groan that would slip out. This was nothing compared to the months I spent in the hospital due to my broken ribs and a minor concussion.
"Okay." She blushed, playing with her fingers.
It was as though she'd run out of words to say because she bit her lips, her thumb nudging against the other. Tempted to ask for her age, I cleared my throat. That wasn't a way to start a conversation. If anything, it was a way to end it.
"Uhm...I should go now! I've been outside for a while. I don't want to get lost again." The girl jumped as she said, squatting to pick up her bicycle.
It was then that I noticed her outfit. She had on a thigh-length flair skirt with a body-hugging white tank, a pink hoodie completing the attire. She looked adorable, her hair bouncing as she jumped to her feet with a huff.
"Get some medicine for your injury! Bye, Mister!" It was then that I snapped from my trance. I didn't know her name, and I hadn't seen her around here before. I wanted to see her again.
"You know, when you meet someone, you're meant to introduce yourself." My tone came out sterner than intended; perhaps that was why her shoulders tensed.
"Oh! Uhm...sorry, Mister. My name's Amelia."
Without reciprocating the question, she was off, her thick curls moving with the wind when she rode past me, the tree covering any trace of her.
Amelia...
Good God have mercy, I felt like a p*****t.