Day after day Castalia and Dexter would write each other. Their messenger doves must have hated them. But they didn’t care, they were in love. Each and every day longing for the other if they were apart. And if they were together, perfection, if it only lasted longer. They became inseparable, when someone thought of Dexter you would think of Castalia and when you thought of Castalia you would think of Dexter.
Castalia wrote one day saying,
“So you like me?”
Dexter was surprised, because of course he did! Actually he Loved her. But knew this was gonna be a shock to her so instead of writing it he wrote,
“The Festival of Fun is coming up soon, I will tell you then.”
Castalia agreed and waited for the day like no other. This was the day when he would finally say he likes her. Not just friendship but possibly something more than that. Possibly a start of something new, better than what happened before…
It was the day of the Festival. Dexter and Castalia both got ready preparing for the upcoming night. After school they got all ready and headed out. The whole town was there! All their friends, relatives and even people they didn’t even know came! Everyone having fun, eating food, playing games and laughing with each other! Dexter finally found Castalia and took her out of the chaos of the festival. They walked just outside of the festival. The sun was setting and they stood there on a hill. Dexter turned to Castalia and said,
“Hey”
As they both smiled she knew he was stalling as he always does. She was waiting to hear the words ‘I like you’. awkwardly some festival goers walked by… they smiled and waved so they waved back. Then dexter turned to her, looked her strait in the eye and said...
“I love you”, again he waited for a response.
Shocked and surprised Castalia stood there. She had a weird confused smile. Like she was confused but tried smiling it off. Dexter came closer and said it again,
“that’s right, I love you… I know that’s a big word. But there is no other word that fits. Nothing else that could explain how I feel about you” he waited… “Are you gonna say anything?”
Castalia was blushing; she couldn’t wrap her mind around it. so all she said was,
“Dexter…!”
Dexter smiled knowing Castalia finally got it. a bunch of his friends were looking at him through a festival window. Dexter knew it but didn’t say anything. He just hugged her still waiting for her thoughts.
“I thought you were gonna say, ‘I like you’ not ‘I love you’” she said
“nope, because I know it is stronger. Love not like” he said
“dexter!?”
“it is true, I love you. I told you before but I guess you didn’t hear me…”
“when!?”
“well when…(looks down sadly) I told you I had a choice to make…. Sorry by the way. And also when I told you I chose you!”
“No you didn’t! … Did you?”
“Yes I did, you probably didn’t hear it because those were two big news to you. you were probably thinking of that instead of listening to my words. Its ok, cuz now I can tell you right now!”
She smiled and they hugged. Finally they went to the festival. Dexter was running a booth so he couldn’t play games with Castalia but she came by now and then to try and win him in a game of chess. Almost before the end Castalia had to go home. So Dexter gave his booth to one of his friends. Then took Castalia on his horse and rode to Castalia’s home. When they got there they both got off and he hugged her goodbye.
“Goodnight Castalia”
“Goodnight Dexter… I love you”
Dexter smiled, finally she said it back. He was afraid that he scared her with the news. But those fears were all gone. Only love now. He let her go then said,
“I love you”
Dexter got back on his horse gesturing one last good bye to Castalia he rode off, back to the festival. Heart racing and joy building, he let out a “WHOOOHOO!” all the way back. He enjoyed the rest of the festival not because he was out of the booth but because his Love… loved him back. Finally! After all these years he found someone who would return his love. No more one sided love. No more being the good friend but not boyfriend. Just Castalia and love flowing both ways. The days looked brighter already.
