When writers fall in love

So much is found under the apple trees

When they finally returned back to others there was much more people than there was before. The place was crowded with women in light blouses and pretty boater hats and men in working clothes. Almost everyone held a basket on their elbows while they were picking the apples from the surrounding trees.

"Come, we will take some baskets and find ourselves a tree. We will pick together," said Thalia and so they went to fetch the baskets from the nearby cart.

They made their way through the trees and when they found one that wasn't occupied they immediately got to work. They chatted cheerfully while they worked and it seemed like the apples were picking themselves.

Suddenly their laughter was interrupted by the cracking of a branch followed by a muffled shout and cursing. Another voice started laughing instantly. Both girls immediately knew to whom the voices belonged. They put down the baskets and rushed to see what happened.

When they came out from behind the trees and their view cleared, they saw exactly who they thought they would. On the ground under the tree there lied half cursing half giggling Curtis with a broken branch across his back and near him on the ground sat Will who couldn't catch his breath from laughing so much. The view was grotesque and they didn't even notice the girls standing afar until Thalia spoke towards them.

"What in the heck are you two doing?" she asked mockingly, "are you alright, Curtis?" she chuckled as she walked towards them. But Lucy stayed standing still and watched from afar.

"Oh! Well good day Miss Weston!" Will greeted her still half laughing, "you should regret not seeing him fall! It was hilarious!"

"Ha-ha, get the branch of me, you asshole!" cursed Curtis.

"Watch your language in the lady's presence Curt," grinned Will.

"Why Please, like I haven't heard you say worse things by now," Thalia rolled her eyes smirking and dragged the branch off the lying Curtis.

"Thank you, Thalia," said Curtis barely looking her way as he went and smacked Will's head from behind.

"Ouch!" he rubbed his head.

"That's what you get for laughing and not helping," said Curtis. He then finally noticed Lucy standing aside looking at her shoes, "and why isn't your lovely friend joining us?" he asked loudly enough so she would hear him. At this, Will's gaze instantly fired towards her and met with her eyes. He quickly got up and dusted his pants.

"Miss Morrison!" he said a little too loud, "how silently you stand there! We haven't noticed you at all! Come closer, we don't bite, I promise."

"Or only when we are asked to," added Curtis with a smirk and Lucy's cheeks instantly turned red.

"Curtis!" cursed him Will and Thalia giggled. Will made his way towards Lucy and offered her his arm, "try to ignore my friend's ramblings, you'll soon get used to them and they'll go unnoticed," he smiled at her and she returned his smile with cheeks still red. She always blushed when he was near and she cursed herself for it.

"How are you enjoying the festival ladies?" he asked when they all stood together. Curtis was leaning against the tree as Thalia was encouragingly smiling at Lucy who still had her arm under Will's. When she realized so, she took it out and Will tried to drive away the thought of disappointment.

"Quite nicely, I don't attend town events very often, but I like this one quite a lot," Lucy answered, "Thalia has been a great friend already and I enjoy the nature very much," she smiled.

"Yes, I have decided to become Miss Morrison's personal Roseville guide," Thalia nodded proudly and smiled at Will.

"Well, Miss Morrison," Curtis turned the attention to him, "there is no one as suited to be your guide through our town as our pastor's little daughter," he patted Thalia's head.

"Don't mock me, Curtis!" she frowned as she tried to fix her hair.

"I am sorry Thal, you know you're like a little sister to me," he took her under his arm and Lucy couldn't go without noticing her friend's disappointed look.

"Well enough," said Will, "allow me to take over your guide shift Miss Weston," he looked her way, "I would be pleased to show Miss Morrison around here too. Will you accompany me for a walk, Miss Morrison?" he turned his head back to Lucy and offered her his arm again.

Curtis's eyebrows shot up all-knowingly and Will gave him a scolding look. He just wanted to get to know the new girl a little. What's the harm in that? Besides, It wouldn't be the first time he asked a girl for a walk.

Lucy looked into Thalia's direction. She was already smiling like crazy and she nodded in a way that only girls who are friends would understand.

Lucy hesitantly accepted Will's arm.

"We will join you later," said Will, "Curtis, try not to fall again, I don't know how many lives you still have left," he smirked and leading Lucy by her arm he turned to walk away.

They walked silently for a while. Lucy kept looking around. It had two reasons. Firstly she wanted to occupy her mind from the fact that she was walking through the apple orchard with Will Thomas Greenwich and secondly, the place looked astonishingly beautiful and she couldn't get enough of the calm beauty of it.

"By the look of it, I guess you like it here," he smiled at her dreamy gaze.

"Oh, I like it so very much! It is so different from the crowded city where we lived before. It felt like I was suffocating there! This little town and everything around is a breath of fresh air and there is still something new to discover! I don't think one could ever discover everything there is to see around here!" she exclaimed and he watched her excitement with such intense look, she had to force herself not to look away.

"I couldn't agree with you more, Miss. The view is indeed wonderful," he almost whispered still looking as if directly into her soul. Surprised by his own words he quickly looked away and changed the topic: "Did you and Miss Weston only meet today? You seem like long lost friends who met after the years of separation."

"It's funny you say that! It's the exact thought I had few moments ago! Yes, we only met today, but I feel just the way you described it! She has already found a spot in my heart."

"A heart of yours must be a wonderful place to find a spot in," he said smiling. What in the hell was he talking about today?! The cheesy nonsense coming out of his mouth was really not like him.

Lucy couldn't believe the words she was hearing though. She kept reminding herself that he is always like that with the girls, but why did it still feel so special to be one of them?

They came to the edge of the orchard and before them there rolled out a meadow and a little swift brook flowing through it. Sun was slowly getting orange and Lucy could think of only very few places as beautiful as this one.

As she was looking at the meadow, the biggest and reddest apple from the closest tree caught Will's eye. He grabbed it and quickly polished it with his blouse to make it nice and shiny. He stepped closer to her from behind and he handed her the apple from over her shoulder. She jumped a little in surprise and turned to his face with wondering eyes.

As he held the apple in between their faces he said: "Not even an apple a day, will keep me away," he laughed and she burst out laughing too.