A Gift To You

Amber |Norton

"Hey, follow me for a sec"

You just about jumped out of your skin when you'd felt a large and heavy hand fall on your shoulder, "Norton! Don't scare me like that!"

"My bad, I thought you heard me come in" he had pretty heavy for steps after all. Then again, you were reading so that's probably why you didn't hear him come in.

"What do you need?" You put a pressed flower as your book mark in between the worn out yellow pages.

"Just come on already," he tugged you back to his room and closed the door behind him.

"You ok? You didn't hurt yourself did you?"

He dug for a small beat up looking box and turned to you, holding his hand out he let out a grunt.

You didn't know what to do.

"Take it!"

"Ok! Geez! Your should have said something!'

"Yeah well! Shut up!" He was flustered and was struggling to find the right words to say. He watched you slowly start to open it then suddenly snatched it back, "Ok look! I um..I wanted to say that," he swallowed and started fiddling with his compass that always sat on his hips,"you... you're like amber, you're really old"

"Seriously?" You gave him an unimpressed look.

"I mean it in a good way! You know!?"

"Most woman don't like being called old Norton"

"Shut up! OK listen What I mean is like you're smart and stuff and you only get better with age so-"

"Are you flirting with me?"

He groaned and shoved his hand in the box and pulled out whatever was in it. That's when he took your hand,forced it open, slapped something smooth,hard and cold in your palm then left.

"...I guess he was," now alone in his room you looked at exsactly what he'd given you. A piece of amber and inside was a small mosquitoe. It was twisted in a thin leather string that you used to tie a tight knot around your neck. Making sure it was secure you made sure it sat on your chest and opened his bedroom door.

He was leaning on the wall and just about jumped out his skin when you walked up to him.

"So?" You asked,looking at him expectedly.

"Uh"

You didn't know if you wanted to roll your eyes or hold his hand.

"How does it look?' You said, he was struggling to look you in the eyes.

"It ...it looks good, I'm only loaning that to you so you better have my payment ready by today" he swallowed and turned away from you.

"Of course, and where exactly will I be depositing this payment?" You walked around to meet his gaze.

"Th-the porch by 6, okseeyouthengottago" and he stiffly ran away.

You looked at where he last stood and shook your head,"Men, They're so goofy sometimes" but that's what you liked about him