Strawberries And Crows (Canceled, For Now)

Part 7- The thief+ Afterparty

... Moss! " I say.

He shrugs, his arms wrapped around the sandwitches.

" I told you I could help if you needed more food. " I sigh. " You promised you wouldn't steal from me anymore! "

" SHH! " Moss hisses, pulling me out the door.

" I don't really enjoy having to ask you for food. " Moss says, scratching his head.

I sigh, " The next picnic is tommorow. "
I tell him. " Bright and early in the morning. "

He nods. " Is that all? " he trys to act cool, leaning against a tree, but his stomach growls and he slips down, dropping the sandwitches.

I sigh. " I'll get you something. " I say.

" No! " he yells, wiping his wet hair back.
He reaches down, picking up one of the dirtied, wet sandwitches.

" Ew! " I yell, turning back to the door.
" I'll see you tommorow, you grot. "

Moss laughs, waving me away.

I crack the door open, sneakig inside.
" Kalese? " Elizabeth says, walking up to me. " Why were you... " she gestures to me. Luckily, I stayed out of the rain, so I'm not all that wet.

" Just a friend. " I explain.

" Oh! Can I meet them! " she sounds excited.

" Sorry, not yet. " I sigh.

" Oh. " she says, dissapointed.

" The next time I'll see them... Probably.... Next time this week? " I lie with a smile.

" Okay! Can't wait! "

It breaks my heart, and I wish I hadn't lied.

" You're going to have to spend tommorow with Richard, right? " I ask

" Trying to get rid of me? " she rolls her eyes.

" I... " my face flushes.

" Joking. " She sighs, " Why'd you run off during the dance? " she asks.

" It was too stuffy. " I say. " My head hurt, too loud. "

" Okay. " she pauses, biting the inside of her cheek, " Do- "

The bell rings, another time, this one signalling dinner is served. " Yum! Let's go! " I grab her hand and pull her to our seats. I notice the flower is on my chair, it must've fallen out much earlier. I pop it back in my hair, then sit down.

The food is delivered, and I chow down.

Elizabeth is next to me sitting quietly.
" Are you okay? " I ask.

She shakes her head.

I stand, dragging her after me.

I pull her out the main doors and we trot down the hallway to her room. " Get changed. " I say, looking around, (I've never been in here after all.)

" Into what? " she asks, yawning.

" Something you aren't afraid to get dirty. " I smirk.

She giggles, " Okay! " she skips over to the dresser and grabs a short brown dress. " This is old. " she says. " and already brown... "

" Perfect! " I say, running to my room while she changes. I slip into another dress I don't really care for, then run up to Elizabeth, who is waiting in the hallway. " Come with me! " I say, and she follows after me.

The garden door squeaks when I open it but other than that we'd managed to sneak from the ball out her without being spotted.

I grab her hand. " Wanna jump in Muddy puddles? " I ask.

She just laughs in response and pulls me to the nearest puddle.

We laugh, and I kick some mud up at her.

She giggles, pushing me jokingly.

I fall back on my bum, mud splashing up onto me.

"Oopsie! Are you okay there? " She reaches down a hand to help me up, but I pull her down into the mud with me.

" Hey! " She hisses, seemingly unaware of the fact she is on top of me.

Her bony bottom digs into my leg, and I push her off of me.

She scoops two handfuls of mud into her hands and flicks it at me.

" Good grief! " I shield my face with my hands.

We jump around for a while more in the darkness, but eventually we both head inside for our baths.

" Thanks for that. " Elizabeth giggles as she stands at my door.

" My pleasure. " I grin. " See you later. "

I lean on my doorframe and watch as she runs down the hall, so not to get caught looking so dirty and dishevelled.

( End of Part 7 )