Short Stories

Nathaniel x Chloe

There was a man standing at the water's edge. 

Nathaniel, a rebellious young man in his best years, stood alone on the beach, gazing over the navy water with his fiery viridianpools. His scarlet hair danced lightly in the ocean breeze, tickling against one cheek as he tried to keep still despite his impatient excitement as he hummed "Iris" to himself.He wore a crimson shirt with sleeves that ran down to his wrists and a pair of indigo jeans that showed off the shape of his body.His russet strands brushed against his shoulders, complementing his spiritedhealthily color-touched lily-white visage. He stood, awaiting his love. 

They had known each other since they were children. They had spent time together so often that, despite all differences, others often mistook them as siblings. However, it was not until recently that they had recognized their feelings for each other.From then on, they were inseparable. They shared every part of their life with each other. That was how it was to this very day. 

Nathaniel's forest-green globes spotted Chloe further down on the beach, closer to the roaring sea. Her lovely hair was woven into a lemon-colored braid. Her spheres were turned toward the ocean, hidden from Nathaniel's sight, but he knew and loved their innocent royal blue hue. She was dressed in her usual everyday clothes. Her skin was tawny and her form was slight. As Nathaniel drew nearer, he caught a note of her familiar perfume: a sweet, rich lavender.He smiled to himself. It always reminded him of the time they shared. "Chloe," he called, walking towards her. 

She stood at attention. "Nathaniel! I'm glad." 

Nathaniel smirked and flicked a bit of hair over his shoulder. "Good to see you. C'mon."They began their leisurely walk along the ocean's edge. "You know, Chloe," he began, "it's great having days off like this. You should loosen up more often." 

Chloe frowned a little. "Nathaniel... diligence is an important virtue ." 

"Yeah? You keep telling me that." Nathaniel crossed his arms behind his head. "But I think you're being too hard on yourself." 

Chloe lapsed into a momentary silence, contemplating his words. "Perhaps... but, to tell you the truth, I often think... that you are too negligent, Nathaniel." 

"Negligent? Ouch. What a sick burn. Someone, toss me an elixir." She rolled her eyes. "Come on, Chloe. Don't you love me as I am?" 
"Well..." she replied, her voice trailing off. 

That did in secret wound his energetic heart. But he was careful to show no sign of it. "Heh. Don't feel obligated to stay with me, or anything. I do it because I love you. I don't want you to feel any differently." 

"Nathaniel!" she exclaimed, openly hurt. "It's not that! I love you. I just wish... I just wish you'd listen. That's all." 

"Chloe." His voice had gone equally serious. "Do you really worry about that?" Chloe dipped her head down, pools covered by her caramel strands. "... Look. I know I'm a rascal. But when it comes to you, I'll always look out for you." He reached out to tuck one strand of aureate hair behind her ear. "Iknow I haven't given you much reason to, but... trust me. All right?" 

Chloe murmured something too quiet to hear. 

"You say something?" 

"Chloe... you're right. And I... I do trust you," she whispered. 

Nathaniel laid a peck on her hair. "You're lovely. Thanks. ... It means a lot." They joined hands as they continued to walk along the beach. 
After a few moments, they found themselves walking down the beach again. Something was bothering him, although Nathaniel didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to burden Chloe with it anyway -- he was supposed to be the stronger one! Still, hisshroud of pain wouldn't leave him alone. 

All the same, Chloe seemed to notice. She looked at Nathaniel cautiously for a moment before murmuring, "Nathaniel? Is... something wrong?" 

"Chloe... it's..." 

And at that moment everything came together, all of the magic and the hurt that had been building that day, and she locked her crystals with his and whispered, "You can tell me." 

It was like a floodgate burst, or some barrier of fear had been struck down. Nathaniel shook his head and everything came out at once. "I don't know if I can put it into words. I... lately... it might not even be just lately, heh. It's nothing. It's nothing! I just... I don't feel well, heh. I don't know where it is, whether it dwells in my heart in my head. It burns... there's nothing that helps. Except that... sometimes, I feel a bit better when you're by my side...." 
Chloe listened silently and solemnly. At last, when all the words had left him and he was at a loss for words, she reached out to him and took a deep breath to whisper back, "I... I understand, Nathaniel. Please believe me. It's happened to me, and... lately, I keep thinking about it too. Your shroud of pain and mine... maybe they're not the same, but I... I think I know how you feel." She laid a hand on Nathaniel's shoulder. "That awful sadness... I just... I just want you to know, Nathaniel... you're not alone." 

Nathaniel's eyes began to burn, and he abruptly pulled her into a fierce embrace. Her pools widened at first, but then she too felt overwhelmed by emotion and succumbed to the warmth of his touch. 

"You," Nathaniel whispered, his breath hot on her ear. "As long as you're here, I'll be all right." They held each other as tears trickled down cheeks and dripped onto the shifting sands to be carried away into the sea. With time and soothing embraces, their pain dissipated into a mist swept out by the ocean breeze and into the setting sun. 

They basked in each other's quiet companionship for a few moments. 

"The sunset is so beautiful, isn't it?" 

Nathaniel lifted his head at Chloe's words to behold the dying sun's tangerine radiance."It's nice." 

After a moment of silence, she took Nathaniel's hands in hers and said quietly and seriously, "Nathaniel... I need to tell you how much you mean to me. How special you are to me. Without you, I would be the sea without the moon -- the moon without the sun -- You are irreplaceable to me." 

"Chloe," he intoned in response. "I can't believe you'd say something so syrupy. For me. But... if I had to tell the truth... I feel the same way about you." 

"Nathaniel... Let's be together forever, then." Chloe squeezed his hand and sidled closer. 

Nathaniel sighed with contentment and brought her closer. He gazed at the beautifulflaxen rays of the falling sun, thinking about everything that had transpired on this day and all that would pass between them. 

"You'll hurt your eyes doing that," Chloewhispered. 

"Oh never mind my eyes," Nathaniel sighed, kissing Chloe to shut her up. When they parted, he murmured, "I love you, Chloe." 

"I love you too, Nathaniel." 

Their lips met, and sanguine strands metlemon-colored ones, aflame in the dying light. The sand was their witness and the rumbling ocean their approving audience, and Chloe, his eternally faithful lover. Nathaniel thought to himself that nothing could be more perfect in the world.