Play the Love Away

Dancing

Elise's schoolmates frustrated her. Tilly was hysterically falling over on herself between the two boys that had clung to her side since the beginning of the nature walk. Josie and Ruby hadn't stopped complaining since they had stepped foot into the woods. To finish it off, most of the boys found it particularly humorous whenever Miss Stacy used the word breast.

Elise walked alongside Gilbert, who tiredly walked next to her in his corduroy jacket. They had both been working around the clock for Bash and even though some time had passed since Mary's death, Bash was no where near recovery.

While Elise pointed out a blue jay to Gilbert, who keenly smiled and sneakily picked a flower from the grass below them, a yell sounded from behind them. They both spun around together and found Moody lying on the ground, clutching his leg.

Gilbert swiftly passed Elise the flower before kneeling beside Moody and pulling back his sock to reveal a nasty gash. This also released a scream from Ruby, who then startled a young Native in the woods who also screamed, then pushing the final domino for the other students to scream at the sight of Natives.

Ruby promptly fainted, earning the attention of all the girls. Elise kneeled next to her and took out a spare fan she had in her bag. She started waving it at her face while keeping her attention on Gilbert.

After about fifteen minutes, two Natives walked with Anne from their village to come see Moody.

Elise stood up and greeted the man who built hockey sticks and older woman. "Hello, thank you for coming. We have a girl who has fainted and our other boy is hurt."

The man translated and the woman nodded and smiled at the girl. She knelt down and took a look at the cut. She grabbed a small herb from her bag and prompted Moody to eat it.

He shook his head in denial but after Gilbert nodded, he took it cautiously and ate it.

The woman then took some of Gilbert's spare honey and spread it on the wound before stitching with thin string and a slim needle. Once she finished, she gave some advice to Moody and thanked Gilbert for his honey.

~~~

After days of tending to a crying Delphine, school was almost a paradise.

This 'take notice' board had really done enough in Elise's mind to be fed up with everyone at school.

Gilbert and Elise walked past it every morning, awkwardly, as they entered the schoolhouse early each morning for extra tutoring for Gilbert and extra reading time for Elise. Elise had been on the 'take notice' board a few times, but none ever so intriguing for Elise to read. She never really had any eyes on anyone else besides the boy walking next to her.

Elise sat down with the other girls at their desks when they all started to gossip.

Josie smirked at Anne, "So, Anne, are you gonna dance with Charlie tomorrow? Miss Stacy scheduled practice for the county-fair barn dance."

"For all of us. Boys and girls," Ruby gawked. Tilly giggled, "That means... touching."

Elise subtly rolled her eyes and earned a laugh out of Anne. It was like these girls had never touched a boy before.

Josie scoffed, "I'm going to hate practicing with these silly boys. I'll only be dancing with my intended at the fair."

Elise let out a laugh, "I don't think you'll have much luck there, Josie."

"She's right. Enjoy. Billy has two left feet and they both smell awful," Jane agreed.

~~~

"Perhaps Charlie Sloane should take notice of what an ill match we are. He's never taken a chance in his life!"