Out in the Countryside

Rainy Days

Jeanne had left for school along with Diarmuid early that morning and since Arturia had worked the Sunday afternoon shift, she was off for the mid-afternoon one. It was around four when she heard a knock on the cabin door. She had arrived home from work only an hour prior to and she was still in her uniform. Arturia pulled the green shirt down a little because it was riding up a bit on the back. She fixed her hair, patting the stray strands down as she quickly walked towards the door.

A smile found its way to her lips, bringing a beautiful glow to her face. The tall boy before her had seemed so handsome the night before, under the stars with the moonlight kissing his features so sweetly. His honey eyes had glittered along with the stars and now she felt her heart swell a bit at the sight of the sun turning the ends of his wavy black locks a bit golden—if you watched him from the strenuous angle the girl was at—and a black t-shirt which fit him father well.

"Hey." She was really trying her best not to stare at him too much; but his eyes were still one of a kind.

"Hey," he replied in a bright tone, smiling down at her, "You ready?"

She gave a light chuckle and shook her head, her hair swaying in the movement, "Let me just quickly get changed." He gave her a nod and she opened the door for him to enter. He waited by the couch until she returned, dressed in something much more comfortable.

The late summer afternoon was as usual as any other, it was surprising that it ad not rained in the past few days—this was England after all.

They were able to make it to the stables with little to no talk and then silently stood before some horses.

"Well," Diarmuid broke the silence, a horse before him replying with a neigh, "Have you ever ridden a horse before?" He turned to her, furrowing his brows and giving her a look of confusion; the thought had yet to cross his mind until the given moment.

Arturia chuckled at how afraid he seemed, he simply wasn't prepared to teach, "Yes, I know a bit to get me by, I'm no pro, though."

She could see the relief flash over his facial features and then he turned his body towards a grey horse, "Let's get these beauties ready then." With that, they were able to saddle the horses and get them prepared for the ride.

Arturia had chosen a snow white mare that seemed sweet enough to let her ride. Diarmuid had said her name was Aithusa and she was a wonder to be around.

Aithusa was quite calm when the young lady mounted her and she was already hitting it off with her upon the first trots into the rolling English fields. The skies were blue and bright, a few thin clouds scattered every now and then again and it looked like a rather nice day.

They spoke about what he was doing in school and how her day had gone, but there was nothing they could really talk about.

"You know, Grainne isn't as bad as you think," Diarmuid sighed, "everyone thinks that she's hiding something and she can't be a perfect girl; she's not perfect but she isn't hiding anything. She's a flat surface and there aren't three angles to her—just one."

Arturia was truly taken aback by the sudden comment of the male next to her, her eyes widened and she furrowed her brows, "I..."

"She likes you," Diarmuid commented, "She told me you seem like someone she could become friends with."

"Are you asking me to be friends with her?" Her horse trotted onwards, side by side Diarmuid and the gentle breeze grazed her face, making her smile a bit. The smell of the trees and grass was so refreshing and she felt safe from all that city smog and loud noises of London.