Out in the Countryside

I Feel Fine

The car soon hauled to a stop near the center of the town—where a vintage clock tower remained suffocated by vines that lingered all throughout it. "I was thinking to go to the city out for shopping, but I just know that we're bound to find something around these little town shops; plus, I'm sure you want to get accustomed with the people about. I'll let you in on their secrets as we pass them by, I wouldn't want you to be trapped by their charms." The red-head chuckled as she moved the stick to park and killed the engine with a quick turn of a key.

Arturia unbuckled her seatbelt and let it run back to its resting place before pushing the car door open and stepping outside. She gave a short stretch of her legs before walking over towards Scáthach who had exited the car as well. The woman swung a black purse over her shoulder and pushed her silky hair back over her shoulder, "I was thinking to get some nice shirts, what do you think?" Her red eyes flickered to the young girl.

"Whatever you would like," Arturia mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck. She was a bit shy here in this little town, she simply wanted to start all over and she didn't want to mess up a second time around—shyness was proving to be best way of not tripping up.

Scáthach pushed a door open and held it for Arturia to follow her in to a flower shop, "I wanted to get some for the dinner table," she said before taking a deep breath of the sweet flowers.

Arturia had caught sight of a rose whilst she walked through the store after the woman had disappeared in the jungle of plants. She approached it with slow and steady steps, picking it out from the vase filled by other nearly identical roses. She reached into her pocket and drew out a few coins, counting them to check if she had enough for it.

"Oh, hello young lady! What brings you to town?" A woman approached her, grey hair almost escaping from its bun a top her head.

Arturia's eyes widened a little and then gave a courteous nod, "Yes," she responded but afterwards realized that was not the answer to the question of the lady, "Oh, sorry, I wanted to actually ask,"—she completely forgot about the question at hand— "how much for this rose?"

The woman stretched her lips into a bright smile, "Two pounds," she answered, "Are you passing by?"

Arturia counted the coins in her hand again but she was short; she should have brought more money, "Oh," she lifted her head, registering the rephrased question again, "Actually I—"

"Arturia!" Scáthach interrupted the young girl by singing her name, "How do you—Oh, Hello Mrs. Thompson how are you?" She was holding a bouquet of white tulips in hand and had thought to ask the girl for her opinion.

The old woman looked between Arturia and the Irish woman a couple of times, "I'm doing well, and yourself?"

Scáthach smile, her glossy lips stretching in an enchanting manner, "Very well," she nodded, "I'd like you to meet Arturia," she strode towards the two, "She moved here a week ago and she's staying at our cabin."

"Oh," Mrs. Thompson turned to Arturia and smiled sweetly, "Welcome to the town, sweetheart; the flower is all yours." It was odd to see such a drastic change in a short time span that Arturia had been left quite bewildered for a while.

She opened her mouth and her words slipped out all stuttered, "U-uh, thank y-you."

Scáthach gave her an encouraging smile and finally stood next to the short young lady, "Well," she turned towards the blonde, "what do you think of these tulips?"

Half the day was spent running around the shops and buying new things—although the red head had been the only one doing the buying. Arturia sat back into the passenger's seat and she held the rose to her nose, taking in the sweet fresh scent as the woman next to her continued to let her in on the details of each of the women they had met—including Mrs. Thompson.