The black rose and the silver butterfly

Lessons

Kino walked to the school garden the next day and saw that Nora was already there. He walked to her and she tuned towards him. "Do you need something?" Nora asked.

"Um...can you teach me to be strong like you?" Kino asked sitting down next to her.

"Sure." Nora said. She sighed and laid down on the grass. Kino looked at her and noticed just how beautiful she looked. The way her hair fell from her face made her look like an angel. "You know if you're gonna say something like that, say it in your head."

"I said that out loud?" Kino asked.

"Yes." Nora said.

"I-I didn't mean to make you mad I just-

"Shh! Stop talking." Nora said covering his mouth. "And that's how you get people to listen to you. Speak and be firm. Lesson one."

"You kinda remind me of mom." Kino said.

"Jeez! Am i really that horrible of a person?" Nora asked.

"No. I mean you speak with an air of authority. You remind me of the good parts about mom. She was an abusive monster and an insane control freak but she had her moments where she was nice." Kino said.

"Uh...do i even want to know?" Nora asked.

"I don't mind telling you. Ask me anything you wanna know." Kino said.

"Lesson two. Don't tell people everything about you. It only make it easier for you to be hurt by them and for them to expose you." Nora said.

"But what about trust?" Kino asked.

"See this scar on my eye?" Nora asked. Kino gulped and nodded. "That's what happened the last time i trusted someone and they betrayed me." Kino touched the scar on her eye and she grabbed his hand. "Don't touch."

"I'm sorry! I didn't-

"Lesson three. Don't apologize unless you mean it or if you're being sarcastic. Honestly do you have any idea how often you apologize to me in one conversation? It's annoying." Nora said. Kino laid down on the grass and a butterfly landed on his nose. Nora looked at him and giggled. "A silver butterfly."

"Huh?" Kino asked. The butterfly flew away and he smiled at her.

"That's what you remind me of. A silver butterfly." Nora said.

"Why silver?" Kino asked.

"Your hair is silver. You're as intimidating as a butterfly. Honestly you're not intimidating at all. You're the most soft spoken, tiny, timid boy I've ever met." Nora said. "It gets on my nerves that you can make me...no."

"That i make you?" Kino asked.

"You ask too many questions." Nora said.

"Um...-
"If you ask me one more question I'm leaving." Nora said.

"Ok. I'll ask later." Kino said. He laid his head on her shoulder and she looked at him.

"Get off me." Nora said. Kino looked at her and his eyes widened. He made a cute face at her and she glared. He stopped and got off her. "Fine. Just don't get used to it." Kino laid his head on her lap and she ran her fingers through his hair. "You're going to get hurt. I will protect you though."

"Nora. Can we stay like this for a little while?" Kino asked. Nora got up and he grabbed her arm.

"I'm leaving." Nora said. She walked away and Kino followed her. She walked to her class and he pulled out her chair for her. Chase set a notebook down in front of her.