Selkie

Chapter 4

Mathias is on his way to school again, walking and taking his time now. The Monday morning breeze in cool and slow, almost torture if he wasn't wearing his red jersey. The sea breeze is mixed in too, not by much, but it is detectable if you sniff really hard, like having a cold and sucking back the snot, runny or not.

Mathias has a smile on his face, thinking back to yesterday spending the day with Selkie. He's learnt a bit from him, especially his personality.

The two spent most of the day together, rather awkwardly considering the circumstances, but Mathias didn't mind. He was liking the sudden changes in his life, Selkie seems fun. Poor man appeared too shy for his own good, but it was strangely adorable when he suddenly went from self conscious to innocent curious child in under a second. Sure Peel was boring to the locals, but Mathias guessed that to the visitors that it was a wonderful place.

He really enjoyed the monkey bars in the park. Hanging upside down by his knees and swinging like a ten-year-old while the other children watch trying to copy him but their parents telling them not to. Mathias liked that smile.

But it made him wonder why Selkie was so excited to play on the monkey bars. Did he never play in a park? It also made him wonder what Selkie's childhood was like.

Next they went to Luce's cafe again. Mathias ordered his tea and recommended Selkie the pink frothy coffee selection from the menu, the man flusteredly asked for the Sweet Pixie Coffee.

It was when Luce asked for money Selkie had a look of concern and patting his pockets, Mathias could see his eyes screaming 'I forgot!', so he paid the bill. 

Selkie's smile of relief made his day.

At this Luce gave him an all knowing smile and gave Selkie a sort of stern look before she told Mathias with an equally stern look but with a hint of playful. "You know you shouldn't be paying for both of you on your date, Gingerly."

Mathias blushes hard. Selkie looks down at him confused, even when the younger lead him to their table.

As they are seated, the new kid delivered their drinks swiftly while holding a tray of various drinks of various colours. Yet another mystery of Luce's magical abilities of barista-ing; she can make these drinks in a few seconds. Mathias hypothesises that it's because she pre-makes them or has boiling hot water on ice.

Mathias held his mug and was about to sip.

"What's a date?" Selkie suddenly asked tapping the sides of his mug.

Mathias's blush returned in fiery fury and he avoided eye contact as he placed his mug down on the table, resisting the sudden blow of air against his tea. All the while Selkie was watching him curiously with big black eyes as he begun to sip his mug.

"A date is... um..." It was awkward but Mathias somehow understood that Selkie's question was genuine. This guy really is strange, this made Mathias wonder where he was from. Beside that, Mathias thought he might as well answer the question the only way he knew how, even if it was hard. "A date is a gathering of usually two people... who have... intimate feelings for each other."

"Intimate?" Selkie lowers his mug slightly to tilt his head.

Why is he so adorable? Another good question was 'why does he not know these things'? This was confusing to Mathias.

"Intimate means..." Mathias could feel his blush still there present. How was he going to explain to a man who did not know what a date was what 'intimate' meant.