Catherine And The Black Heart

Lanterns

I honestly wasn't that surprised. I remember the question Sayaka had asked me the first time we met, "h-how did you get so close to Blake so fast?". After that I had a hunch there was something up with her and Blake. Even though I did have the thought that it was possible just the thought of those two together sent a needle through my heart for some reason.

"Are you ok?" Sayaka asked worried taking my arm. I hadn't realized it but I was gawking like an idiot.

"I-i'm fine" I managed to stutter out. I could feel something inside me yelling at her for having a crush because Blake seemed like the type of person who was like Jacob. So kind yet always believes and choses the one friend who lies over you.

"I have an idea! Let's make some crafts! I'm sure that I could find some in this book." I took out my book where I had put all the cool crafts I had found on the internet that I thought would be fun. I was desperately trying to change the topic.

"Um.... ok. That sounds fun." I could tell that she was a little confused at how fast I had changed to something completely different but I was glad that she didn't question it.

We started looking through the book but I felt a little guilty since I had just realized that she didn't question the sudden change most likely because she trusted that if something was wrong I would tell her.

We ended up deciding that we would little lanterns that we could put on the pond when the sun fell into its deep sleep below the horizon. 

When the time came we took our lanterns, with a string attached to them so we wouldn't lose them in the little pond, and two little candles. One candle for each of us.

"These turned out amazing! I can't wait to see them glow when we light the candles!" Sayaka said excitedly. I chuckled. I always made lanterns on new year's eve and family birthdays. Then we would all sit on the bank of the pond and watch the sunset while we released the newly lit lanterns. I remember that every birthday when I was young I didn't care about the presents or the cake I was always so excited to make the lanterns and watch the tiny fish swim curiously around the base of the little boat that the lantern sat on.

When we got to the bank I set down a small picnic blanket and laid out our dinner. I took out the lighter and set the dancing flame on wick of the candle. It licked at the glass around the paper on the lantern searching for a way to get to the paper.

The lantern itself was one of the best I had ever made. The colors swirled into a rainbow causing the light of the candle to blend and blur into a rainbow of colors. 

"We'll push them off into the pond on three ok?" I asked seeing Sayaka's growing excitement.

"Ok." she says a huge goofy grin spreading across her face.

"Remember to hang on to the string." I admonish, "Ready?" she nods vigorously, "One.... Two..... Three!" the gently push the boats. As they float off we see their light reflecting off the glassy surface of the water. A sigh slips out as I watch the light from the lanterns and the sunset mix and create a light almost like out of a fantasy. 

After a while Sayaka dozes off and I'm left sitting watching over the boats with their beautiful lanterns. I look down at her sleeping, the light making her blond hair look almost like a halo surrounding her gentle features. I try and imagine this gentle little angle with Blake, the boy of mystery. Just thinking about him sends a chill down my spine but at the same time a warm feeling in my heart is there just barely noticeable.

Why do I feel this way? It's like there are two ideas in my mind fighting for controll. But why? and what are they? I think to myself as the final golden rays of the sun disappear.