Iris Blue, Am I In Love With You? (Childhood/Teens)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20 (May 1866)

"Can you take the dogs with you on your walk? They need the exercise. We'll meet you at Camille's later!"

Two barking bundles of fur sprinted out the door into the midst of the children, Henry and Jeremy energetically beginning to race alongside them. Sherlock trudged along beside Stella as they followed the chattering girls out onto the lawn, his notebook clutched under his arm, a pencil locked tightly into this hand.

Stella's eyes began to roam around the green expanse as they drifted down the hill, bright with the colors of late spring. The dark trees perfectly aligned with the vibrant green grass around them, wildflowers dotting the fields all around.

"Stella! Stella! There really are dandelions!"

Lily threw a glance back to Stella, rolling her eyes playfully to her fellow dark-haired friend. Stella chuckled a little, breaking off from Sherlock to take a peak into the field full of dandelions.

"This reminds me of a song...."

"What song?"

Stella hesitated as she realized no one would know the song she thought of. It wasn't in this world yet. Only Anne and Jeremy knew that she was from another world, Sherlock and the others would be confused if she said anything strange.

"Nevermind, I thought of the wrong thing."

"Hey, Henry! Bet you can't beat me in a race anymore since you've been sittin' around with them books!"

"Jeremy! Remember what Miss Elsie said, speak more noble-like."

The stir-crazed boy rolled his eyes at Anne, who was squeezing herself between the wooden fence rails to the dandelion field.

"As if you're one to talk, Anne. Look at you!"

"I'm younger than you! You have to learn quicker than me!"

Dandelion fluff flew up as Anne fell onto the other side of the fence. She scrambled up, brushing dandelion fluff off of her dress, completely ignorant of the many seeds stuck in her braids.

"Whatever. They haven't started teaching us, yet, so I can do and say what I please."

"Mum said she might start some lessons during the summer, since you three were so far behind."

Jeremy scowled at the resident genius, who now perched himself atop the fence rails and pulled out his notebook.

"Three? Stella is smarter than us by far." Anne reprimanded, stamping her foot at the boy in anger. "She already knows how to read and write and-"

"But she doesn't know British currency, or simple things like that." Sherlock interrupted, scribbling in his notebook.

"That's because I'm an American."

Sherlock's eyes darted over to Stella as she spoke, her snappy tone seeming to strike a chord in him.

"Obviously."

He paused for a moment as Stella scowled, almost as if he wanted to continue his thoughts.

"If you're so high and mighty then, Sherlock, climb down and race with us. I bet you can't run as fast as you think."

"That would be physically impossible."

"That's just a coward's way of getting out."

Sherlock simply sighed and shook his head, electing to ignore anymore of Jeremy's pleas and challenges. Eventually the two boys gave up, beginning to race and explore until their hearts were content, having been warned by the women to not ruin their clothes with any wrestling matches today.