The Ender Boy

sixteen

Xavier exited the cottage to feel the bright morning sun and the faint breeze. It could be considered beautiful that day but Xavier didn't think he knew the definition of beautiful.

Xavier walked up to the first hill hoping to see Stevie. He was still wondering what a kiss was. And why it was so funny.

He didn't see her but he saw a pink animal with a flat snout and gross feet. He didn't recall learning about them with the enderman. He approached it.

When it noticed him it made an oink sound and started to walk away. Xavier shrugged it off and kept walking.

He passed through a small patch of bright flowers that seemed to watch him as he walked. He also passed a cave in a hill with a dark, menacing, gurgling sound coming from inside. He stayed away from it. As he passed the cave and up the hill, he heard something. It the voice of Stevie but it was hard to understand.

Xavier reached the top and saw her with her bow but it was around her shoulder. She was sitting in the grass amidst a few wild flowers scraping the dirt with an arrow.

Xavier started down the hill towards her without a word.

She saw him coming and jumped, one, because he came out of the blue, and two, because he was just in her thoughts. She quickly wiped her hand over the markings she made in the dirt but stayed where she was.

Xavier made his way to her and sat next to her. It was silent and Stevie felt a little uncomfortable but Xavier didn't mind. He was all good with Stevie now. Even though he didn't understand why there would be tension, he knew something was going on.

He looked at the flowers. Some were bright and pretty and some were dull, faded, and wilted. One was bright red with a dark middle. One was pure white with a yellow middle. One was red and curled and he couldn't see the middle.

One in particular caught his eye. It was white, but had a green middle.

It reminded him of Stevie. He didn't know why, bit it did.

He picked it and handed it to her, "It made m-me..." he was having trouble finding the words, "me think of...you."

Stevie gingerly took it in her hands, caressing the petals. The emotions in her heart were more than she's ever had before. She just stared at it with a red face.

What red face mean? Thought Xavier. Was she mad? Was she hot? It didn't feel hot. What was wrong? It could be something people in the overworld don't do. It could be completely ridiculous.

"You ok?" He asked looking at her eyes, "What wrong?"

"H-Huh?" She gasped as if he just appeared there, "Oh, I'm sorry." She chuckled trying to force her blush to go away, "Yes, I'm fine. I love it, thank you."

He smiled a small smile.

Those eyes looked so much more better when he smiled. Stevie blinked when she found herself thinking such things and then realized she'd been staring. She felt the blush come back as she quickly looked away.

When she did, Xavier's smile faded a bit. He liked her eyes. The green middle matched the color of her eyes beautifully.

Beautifully.

Something clicked in his head and he didn't know why.

He said, "Steve t-told me to ask you what a kiss w-was."

Stevie slowly looked into his awaiting eyes and felt her ears get hot. The fact that her heart clenched when he talked with his impediment, stuttering and emphasizing the wrong words didn't help her already swollen, flustered heart.