Under the Moonshine

Ten | Meeting strangers

Two weeks had passed, the mansion stayed silent for most nights. Emily avoided Taren, the why of it was unknown, but she just knew she had to distance herself for a moment. She observed him when he wasn't looking, noting his harmless acts and ways.

It has been almost months now, everything seemed to get back to normal, but her world clearly hadn't been the same. There was an added cast in her life, someone unusual, but she was getting used to him. After some thinking, knowing that her dad wouldn't let anyone get his research, she decided to just go with the flow, and worry not of the things that could happen in the future. Taren was family now.

"Hey, you promised to be in your best behaviour," Emily reminded him.

Taren cocked his head to the left, smiling at her worried face.

"Don't sniff them or anything. Don't go near them too much. Keep your distance, always. Don't gaze at them like you're gazing on a damn star in the sky. Don't- "

"Don't, don't, don't," he sighed and let his eyes wander around the surrounding. "All I hear is 'don't'. Why bring me here, then?"

She bit her lip for a moment, hiding her anxiety. She didn't even know why she was feeling nervous. It was just her friends. And well, it was just her friends who had a thing on Taren.

"Remember you're my cousin."

"Remind me," he replied in a low tone. "I might forget."

She frowned and dropped the bags on the ground. "Taren."

He looked at her again, sensing her dilemma. "Will you give me a hug then, if I remember we're cousins?"

Oh. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Yeah, okay."

He smiled, a megawatt smile, so bright and warming. That made Emily smile too, mirroring his happiness. She felt something foreign inside her, especially when she was with him. With Taren, everything seemed new and innocent, pure and raw. She felt alive, safe, and distracted. She didn't know what to do about it, to be honest, but she liked it. She liked being with him.

The sun was up high illuminating the Camp Garden. There were thick clouds forming at the end of the horizon, birds chirping as they call to each other. The place was pure nature, inviting and green. Grasses were maintained, flowers were scattered, the soil soft and warm, perfect for an afternoon picnic.

There were no other people to camp, the weatherman warned them of a possible heavy rain but Emily and her friends insisted to go. From the looks of it, storm seemed not coming, and for weeks of raining, sun finally came up, claiming its throne in the sky. So they might as well enjoy this day, Ruth had told them.

"We're here!"

Ruth and Amanda were waving at them with a grin, two boys trailing behind them. Emily's eyes widened at the sight of them, clearly she wasn't expecting add-ons. She flicked a look at Taren, who seemed familiarizing himself to those strangers.

"Long time no see, Em," a guy greeted as he approached, stepping in to give her a kiss on her cheek.

Taren tensed, the sight of it made his blood rushed through. He looked at the stranger guy, thinking of ways to kill him right now right then, a plot igniting in his head.

Emily distanced herself right away and threw a death glare towards her two best friends.

"What's this?"

Amanda forced a smile. Guilty. "I-it was my idea... I just thought, the more, the merrier?"

Emily rolled her eyes on her. "You can't tell me that? You can't call and say you're bringing some crap?"