Inexperienced Heart

Chapter 24: Leaving

"When we were young?" thought Landa. "What does Roco mean?" She dropped to her knees, sobbing. She thought she could not deal with the pain, the heartache she was feeling. Though she no longer loved Roco romantically, she still liked him as a friend. She owed her life to him, for all the times he saved her life.

Just then, her thoughts were stopped as she noticed Galadriel, Logan, and Goldtin all had their eyes on her. "How long had they been watching her?" she thought. She crawled over to Logan. The pain in her heart was that bad; it was weighing her down because of her loss of a friend. When she reached Logan, she put her arms around his neck and layed her head down onto his chest. She assured herself that he could comfort her.

Logan did not speak, but hesitantly, put his arms around Landa and put his head on hers. They remained this way for a while, their arms entangled, until the wizard suddenly stood up and insisted they continue on their quest.

Logan and Landa got to their feet, still holding each other. Logan let go, but Landa would not let go. She was comforted when she was holding him and he was holding her. After a persuasive long speech from Goldtin which went in circles, Landa reluctantly released Logan, but insisted on holding his hand.

They walked in silence for most of the journey. Galadriel led, followed by Goldtin, and Landa and Logan were last. Landa remembered her past experiences in this wood.

She loved one memory especially. She recalled her and Mira when they were only five years old. Her family and her friend's family had come to the woods to have a picnic. It was sunny and peaceful. They could hear the swaying of the trees and the beautiful songs of the birds. They had apple pie to eat. After they had eaten, while their parents chatted, she and Mira had stayed within view of their parents and played. They ran, they laughed, they talked. They had so much fun! And then, Mira had led Landa to a tree and said to Landa, "I will always be your friend, no matter what happens." Landa hugged Mira.

And they had been best friends ever since. The memory brought tears to Landa's eyes. She wished it was always like that. Mira had been true to her word. "She still is my friend, though she is kidnapped," thought Landa. Just thinking she was a victim of kidnap scared Landa, so she quit thinking about Mira and turned to Logan.

Those blue eyes. Gorgeous. Big, round, blue eyes. They looked so familiar, but she had left Elliot long behind her. It could not be him, yet she wasn't sure...

"Who are you?" Landa said quietly, looking intently into his eyes. Logan turned towards her, but quickly turned away, as if he didn't want to reveal his identity.

"You already know who I am," Logan said, nastier than he meant it to be.

"Your name is Logan. What's your last name? You never told me," Landa said. Looking down, Logan muttered, "Refrus."

"What's yours?" he asked.

"Polymer."

Landa noticed that Logan was not acting normally. When he talked, he answered angrily.

"What's wrong, Logan?" Landa questioned.