Iridescent ¤ Millard Nullings

¤ 9 ¤

Through Laina's years of lies and false realities given to the American school system, she never really cared much for what she was learning.

It wasn't that she didn't want to learn, it was just that nothing brought up passion and she just had no interest in it. Essays were boring and pointless, something made up by someone who was probably smart, but soulless. Sure, arithmetic had its place in every subject, but most forget it all until they have to help their children with homework. History was just there, and science was somewhat intriguing. Laina never felt like she was thriving with knowledge, though she was in a school and surrounded with it. 

But that was what she enjoyed about Miss Peregrine's lessons, or what she little she had in the month she had been there. It was applicable and interesting. Laina felt like she could learn and also be creative, and so she always got excited when the time came around for class. She learned to love poetry, and would sneak away as soon as she could to a quiet place to write some.

Millard loves listening to her poems. He didn't want to read them, no, he wanted to hear them speak them with the grace of an angel. Her words were delicate and beautiful, and Millard loved that he couldn't find a common theme within her writing. It was so unique and strange.

"The man in the sky loved her so much
That he put every ounce of his time into painting the heavens
He would watch her lying in the green grass
As she tries to guess what cloud was being dotted into existence
She saw the swirls of colors he stroked back and forth in the evening
The hues fading into the light of a falling sun.
Every morning would be a bright yellow sun." Laina spoke eloquently, snapping her yellow journal closed. "What do you think of that, Millard? It's just a start, I'm still working with it."

"What do I think?" Millard said from beside the girl. He laid with his head propped up on her coat and his vest. The pair snuck away from the group after lessons to go sit in the shade among the spruce trees. He tilted his head up to look at her, but she wouldn't see that. "I think it's absolutely beautiful. Lots of colors."

"Well, you know me," Laina started with a lopsided grin. Her fingers found the red bow in her hair. "I love my colors."

Her fingertips lit up in flames and she swirled her hand over his head. He marveled at the flickering light above his forehead, smoothing his hair back so it wouldn't catch fire. But Laina was careful and gentle, she wouldn't dare harm any part of his body, especially that she could not see.

"Don't get too close, we both know what happened the last time," Millard joked. 

"Yes, but your sweater has been fixed, hasn't it?" Laina cutely wrinkled her nose as she said it.

"Yes, no thanks to you, and thanks to you," Millard jeered. Laina laughed and laid back on the ground, clutching her yellow journal to her chest.

"What have you wished for out of life? Like, how would you imagine your life without your peculiarity?" Laina questioned, eyes not leaving the sky above.

"Well," Millard began, gathering his thoughts. "I presume I'd be one of these new age historians. I've already dedicated what I can to being the historian of this day in Cairnholm, but imagine doing that for the course of decades. How interesting! Time changes so frequently, and I could observe all of it as it happens."

Laina let her head fall to face him. She wished she could have seen his face. Everyone can see a person's face light up as they speak of their passion. The glow, the expression, the fire ignited in their eyes. It was so wonderful and precious to see that from a person, that form of intimacy and care. Even the way his sleeves would move about as he spoke, it excited her when he spoke, even on a subject she wasn't so familiar with.

"What would you do? I believe you've seen more and lived more than I had, but I assume you have dreams of your own," He said, nudging her side and making her smile.

Laina hummed and fell silent. "I'd want to be stable."

"Stable?" Millard questioned, moving to his side to look at her better.

"Yes, stable. I've been on the move my whole life, and I've always lacked certainty. To have a pinpointed place of belonging would be bliss. A job in the city, a house outside city limits, a family, money, and just that bit of freedom away from a job. Just a simple life."

The two were silent and the earth felt stilled.

"You could still have that, you haven't been here long."

"I know," Laina sighed. "But I know it isn't what I actually want. Not with my knowledge of life as it is now. I had no sense of home before I found this place."

Millard nodded and rolled back over.

"And I wouldn't want it without you, Mill."

Her words both excited and confused Millard. Though he never uttered a word about it to anyone, he found himself to be lonesome before Laina came along. In his studies, he would note the couples of Cairnholm, and find himself watching them more than noting and observing. He wanted to be like them.

"And why is that?" He asked, heartbeat beginning to stir faster.

Laina's face grew into a wide and endearing grin, one that he certainly could not miss. "I've just never met anyone like you. I never actually met people before I came here, but I never saw anyone such as you. Well, not saw because I can't see you, but blast, you know what I mean! There just aren't many who have the patience and willpower that you do, and it is admirable."

Millard almost let his jaw fall open, as it seemed to him like reading a love letter. She wouldn't have seen it, but he displayed no emotions at all. His heart surely had to be seen pounding out of his chest, yet he spoke his words calm and steady.

"Well, I find you to be admirable as well. I can say with certainty there is no one like you, even if I haven't seen much of the world."

Laina beamed and slid down closer to his side, letting her head rest on his shoulder. Millard tried to slow his breathing and heartbeat, yet he knew he wasn't successful. Laina lied there smiling and listening to the wild beat of the invisible boy's heart.

~~~

I've had a slight pause with updates on all stories just because of general life things. I'm super busy these days, but still think about all of my works! Make sure to check out my other stories. Vote and comment!