A Midsummer Night's Dream

5

THEODORE

I used the sleeve of my cotton shirt to wipe the sweat off my forehead. Today was a really hot day and I was hoping it would rain soon.

I thought of going to the sea for a dip later after I took my vegetables home from the market.
I walked home thinking about what to do for the rest of the day.

I was about to step into my house when I heard some yelling nearby.
What is going on?
I suddenly saw the girl who I had avoided thinking of for the last week running towards me.
"Why is she-" I said to myself but then I got my answer. The marseille boys were running after her. Oh shit.

"Diana! Here!" I yelled as I opened the door for her.
She smiled as she saw me which made my stomach flutter and I smiled a bit too. She ran through the door and I shut it behind her.

We stood inches apart as we waited silently for the men to go by us.
I looked into Diana's brown eyes which looked golden like honey under the sun. She was just inches away from me. I could smell the vanilla scent of her lipgloss.

"Fuck she got away." We heard one of the men say only a few feet behind the door.
"Whatever let's just go." Another guy said.
We waited a few more seconds until we were sure that they had gone before moving.

"Fucking hell." Diana said as she moved away from me.

"What were you doing?" I asked her, trying to get rid of the weird tension after what just happened.

"I was just roaming around the village and those fuckers just started to harass me so I ran away but they ran after me." She explained.

"Those boys are no good. They come from another village nearby. I'll tell my dad and he'll report them." I said, rubbing my forehead.

"Shouldn't we call the police or something?" She asked, waving her arms in the air.

"We don't have a police." I said and Diana rolled her eyes.

"We never needed police. No one in this village is a criminal. Everyone's friendly and nice." I explained.

"Yeah sure. What about those men?" Diana snarled.

"I told you they're not from here." I said as I sat down on the swing hanging from the peach tree in our courtyard.

"Is this your house?" Diana asked, looking around.

I nodded and she sat down on the second swing.

We sat there quietly for a while.

She probably wants me to say something.
"Just don't go out alone for the next couple of days until dad gets these boys punished. I can take you whether you need to go." I finally said.

"Hah. As if I would trust you. You're not my guardian angel." She laughed.

I stayed quiet. I usually choose to stay quiet in situations like this one.

"Say something." Diana ordered, nudging me.

"What do you want me to say? You're always being bitter. Even on that day at the fountain-"

"Don't even! You walked away like a grumpy hippo even after I helped you get that handle from the fountain." She testified.