The Way of Eywa

13

'I want to spend the day with you,' Neteyam said as he watched her separate the plants she had collected in her hut.

'You know I have to finish this,' she said as she didn't look up at him.

He sighed and went to sit next to her.

'We've been in here all day,' he said as he began helping her.

'It isn't even midday yet,' she said with a smile as she looked at him.

'So we should leave before it gets there,' he said as nudged her with shoulder.

'We are almost done,' she said as he finished, dramatically falling on his back making her laugh.

They made their way outside towards the water, her laugh heard as she ran in front of him as he chased her.

He wrapped his arms her, making them both fall into the water. Laughs leaving her lips as she sat up.

'Ayvey,' she heard, making her turn her head.

'Ao'nung,' she said as she saw his friends standing behind him.

'What are you doing?' he asked as she stood, Neteyam coming to stand behind her.

'We finished with the plants,' she said as she watched his friends walk closer to them.

'You both did?' she heard one of his friends say.

'Yes he helped me,' she said with annoyance.

Ao'nung tried to stop from walking closer, but he pushed through.

'He's the reason sky people were here,' he said as he looked over her shoulder and saw Neteyam staring down at him.

'He didn't ask for them to be here,' she said as she looked at him with a hard expression.

'His family did,' he said as he turned to look down at her.

'Don't start this,' she said as he stepped back away from them.

'Freaks stay with freaks huh?' he said as he looked at her.

Ao'nung and Neteyam were both about to take a step forward, but was beat to it.

Ayvey brought her fist back and hit him across the cheek, making him fall into the water.

'Keep talking,' she said as she looked down at him, 'Bitch.'

The other boys helped him up and started to walk away. Neteyam grabbed her hand as she started laughing and pulled her in the other direction.

——

'I can't believe you did that,' Neteyam said with a laugh as he sat in the cave, Ayvey sitting in front of him laughing too.

'I've never done that,' she said as she balled up her fist again, a laugh leaving her lips, 'I just pulled back and,' she said as she lightly swung her arm forward.

They both laughed as she pretended to hit him.

'Ow,' he said as he held his arm as she actually did.

'Are you okay?' she asked as she instantly stopped laughing and coming to grab his arm.

He leaned closer to her as she was looking at his arm and connected their lips.

He pulled away with a smile on his face and she looked away with a blush spreading across her cheeks. She lifted her hand and a splash of water came over him.

'Hey,' he said as he wiped the water from his face, a laugh leaving her lips.

'You deserved it,' she said as she leaned closer to him.

'Then I won't anymore,' he teased back.

'I didn't say that,' she said as she looked up at him, leaning and connecting their lips again.

She pulled away and smiled up at him. His hand coming to touch the beads in her hair as he looked down at her.

She watched him climb back in the water, coming to rest in between her legs.

'Put another one in my hair,' he said as she rolled her eyes at him.

She reached in her hair and untied one of her beads in her hair and reached to put it in his. His eyes following her expression as she did.

'Very very pretty,' she said with a smile as she touched the three of her beads now in hir hair, 'I won't have anymore soon.'

'Then you better win me some another champion bead,' he said making her laugh again.

'I always win,' she said as she held his face between her hands.

'Well maybe I'll race and win you a bead this time,' he said challengingly.

'On what? An Ilu?' she asked as she tilted her head back laughing.

'Yes on an Ilu,' as he poked in her side as she laughed.

'You may try,' she said as she stopped laughing, 'But that means I have to dedicate to someone else.'

His smile dropped on his face.

'And when I win, I will place his bead in his hair and share his hand print for everyone to see,' she said as she smirked down at his jealous expression.

'I was only joking,' he said annoyed as he looked at her.

'Good,' she said as she leaned and pecked his lips quickly, 'We should be going before Jake Sulky worries where we are.'

They walked to his hut as the waves quietly crashed against the sand. His hand in hers.

'I don't think I want you to leave just yet,' Neteyam said as he pulled her inside the empty hut. His hands resting on her waist.

'People are going to think you're trying to steal me away,' she joked as she looked up at him, a smile playing on her lips.

'Would that be such a bad thing?' he asked as he leaned down, connecting their lips as his hands traced her sides.

'Oh,' she heard and they jumped apart.

'Dad,' Neteyam said quickly as he watched Jake stand in the entrance, staring between them.

'I have to go,' Ayvey said quickly as she rushed out, a laugh playing on her lips as she hurried back into her hut.