A Part Of The Sky.

The First Meet (contd.)

Arabella Hemmington was not an ordinary nine-year-old. She was smart. Very smart. Maybe..extremely smart. She was- as she liked to claim, much more mature than many adults that she knew and she also had an aptitude that she felt was pretty much unmatched.

And while she bathed in her glory of self-appreciation, she pretty much reminded herself every day how lucky she was. Her parents catered to all her needs, and her family loved her to madness. She was very fortunate. And while her parents were exceedingly rich, they were equally humble and lovely. Arabella loved her London home, her Buckinghamshire ancestral home, and pretty much all houses her parents owned. She was the happiest nine-year-old girl to exist and she loved every moment of every day.

And, as she dressed for the dinner party at Lord Harry's, she felt an unnamed emotion bubbling right through her. 

She flapped her hands around her and adjusted her hair. Did she feel...excited?

Not being able to figure out what was happening to her mind, Arabella just shook her head and shrugged.

After one hour, when her parents and she were seated at the dining table along with Lord Harry and his beautiful wife, Lady Amanda, Arabella could feel her eyes searching for Alfred. Where was he?

"Bella, dear" she heard her mother say "what are you looking for?"

"Alfred" she announced and then bit her tongue after realizing the slight desperation in her voice.

Lord Harry laughed out "Lady Hemmington, she's talking about my cousin, Alfred. He comes here to stay every summer all the way from Cornwall."

"I see" Lady Hemmington smiled "well, where is he?"

Lord Harry smiled and summoned a servant to call Alfred.

After around 10 minutes, Alfred rushed in hurriedly.

Arabella could only watch him with awe. He was so..adorable. His brown hair was swept back neatly and his brown eyes twinkled with mischief. He sat beside her and flashed a smile. 

"Nice to meet you, Arabella" he whispered in her ears.

"And you, Alfred" she whispered back.

"Ahem," Amanda smirked, "what are you both whispering-"

"Amanda, dear" Harry grinned "let them be."

Arabella smiled "Alfred is 3 years my elder."

"And Arabella is 3 years younger than me."

Everyone at the table smiled and chuckled, and Arabella looked to Alfred, to see what his reaction was. He was smiling at her and then he slowly patted her hand. She blushed and tugged at her napkin. 

"Lord Hemmington," Harry said, wiping his mouth "how long are you'll planning to stay in Buckinghamshire this summer?"

"We might extend our stay" Lord Hemmington replied "London is getting tiresome."

"I agree" Harry nodded "that's why we always reside here in the countryside."

"The season is a trifle uncomfortable with all the new faces each year" Amanda added, sipping on the wine "and the estates are just getting costlier and smaller."

"I agree," Lady Hemmington said "London is nothing short of a madhouse. Just that day-"

While her mother and the other adults were bickering off continuously about the cons of living in London, Arabella could only keep looking at Alfred. He was quietly eating his food. His eyes were straight down on his plate, and his posture was erect and uncomfortable.

"Why are you so...disciplined?" she asked him.

"Is that an issue?" he questioned, looking into her eyes.

Arabella smiled "I am not so disciplined."

"I don't remember asking you," he said arrogantly.

She felt her heart dip slightly but she brushed off the hurtful remark "alright."

"I'm sorry Arabella," he said softly.

There was sadness in his eyes and that made her feel sorry for him. She shrugged and smiled. 

"Would you like to get out of here and play with me?" he asked in a hushed voice.

Arabella beamed "of course!"

He smirked, "would you all mind if Arabella and I go out and play?"

The adults looked in his direction abruptly, a little agitated that their talk was interrupted.

They all just nodded and resumed their discussion. Arabella and Alfred headed out and started laughing.

"Why are elders so...clueless?" Arabella said, wiping a tear from her eye.

Alfred almost started rolling on the floor "I don't know!"
They both laughed and ran and laughed and ran, and laughed and ran. Arabella felt so happy. So lively. Her brain could not comprehend the feeling, but she felt...relieved.

There was something funny in the way he laughed. He was a very silent child. Barely spoke. 

But when he did...he always spoke the best words.

And even though they hadn't conversed much, she could feel it.

"Are you from Cornwall?" she asked.

"I am, yes" he replied.

"Do you like it there?" 

"Not really."

"Why so?"

"It's boring and sad."
"I see."

"Do you like London or do you like it here?"

"Both, but I like it here better. It's quiet."

"I..see."

Arabella nodded. 

Alfred smiled "have you ever danced?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"I just felt like."

"Alright."

"Arabella-"

"Bella."

"Bella, would you like to dance with me?"

Arabella was caught off guard at that moment. She'd never danced in her whole life. She'd once seen her parents dance laughingly so she vaguely remembered the moves-

"Bella?"

"Yes, I would love to!"

"Thank you!" he said and caught her arms.

Arabella drew in a breath and looked at him. His face was masked in a lopsided grin and she suddenly felt her lips twitch into a smile. 

"Now do as I say."

Arabella nodded. Alfred kept his right hand at her hip lightly and held her right hand with his left hand. Motioning her to keep her left hand at his shoulder, he outstretched their entwined hands and swirled her around. Arabella felt priceless. The twirling made her head swirl and she felt like a princess in a tale.

They laughed and danced, moving in circles just for fun and crying out tears of happiness.

After around 15 minutes, both of them stopped abruptly. But the laughs did not cease. 

"You look.." Alfred said, in between short huffs of laughter "like a princess!"

And she felt like one. A princess. A fairy. Everything. But most importantly, she felt...like she was falling in love with the boy beside her.