A Mouse's Tale

Chapter 9

Mouse sat alone on a bank overlooking the lake. Her shoes were sitting on the bank beside her as she dangled her bare feet in the cool water below. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes, smiling as she soaked in the sun's slowly disappearing rays.

She didn't mean to do it, but when the hand touched her shoulder she acted on instinct, grabbing the hand as she leapt to her feet, twisting the arm behind his back as she knocked his feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. It wasn't until she found herself perched on his back, pinning him to the ground that she recognized the long, blonde hair.

"I'm so sorry!" she stuttered, releasing him as she rolled off his back and got to her feet. "You startled me."

"Remind me never to throw you a surprise party," Vyron joked as he stiffly got to his feet and rubbed his sore arm. "You apparently don't take surprises too well."

"I'm so sorry," she apologized again. "Instinct just kind of took over. I guess I'm just a little skittish right now..."

"Are you alright?" concern filled his eyes as he drew closer to her, his hands reaching out and lightly touching her arms. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Mouse shrugged it off, not wanting to share her burdens with him just yet, as she sat back down on the bank. Vyron sat down beside her.

"Is it about Sir Darien?" he asked timidly, startling Mouse.

"How did you-" she stuttered before Vyron cut her off.

"Everyone is talking about him," he remarked. "I've heard many things about him. Specifically the fact that he has a thing for you."

"I'm the only one who has ever rejected his affections," Mouse sighed. "Now he's made it his personal mission to win my affections, which will never happen, but he just won't give up. I don't know what to do."

"Don't let him get to you," Vyron placed a comforting and not unwelcome arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. "He's probably just trying to soothe his wounded pride." Mouse had to cover her mouth to try to prevent the slight laugh from coming out, but failed.

"What?" Vyron asked, confused. "What's so funny?"

"You sound like Gaston!" Mouse giggled, gaining a smirk from him. "Now that I think about it, you kind of look like him too!"

"Oh, ho hum," Vyron rolled his eyes. "You're so funny."

"I know," she laughed.

"Oh and vain too!" Vyron exclaimed. "And you're also something else too."

"Oh?" Mouse looked at him, cocking her head slightly. "And what's that?"

Vyron just gave her a sly smile and the next thing she knew she was falling face first into the water. As she resurfaced, gasping and sputtering, she heard Vyron's light musical voice laughing.

"You're all wet!" he exclaimed.

"Well you know what you are?" Mouse asked, slowly drifting closer to the bank.

'What?" he asked warily. Mouse's arm shot out suddenly, grabbing his ankle and she yanked hard on it, pulling him down into the water with her.

"You're all washed up!" she laughed when he resurfaced.

"Funny," his sarcastic voice replied as he sent a wave of water splashing at her. She squealed as the water hit her, then instantly began splashing him back as her giggling rose into the air. They carried on their child-like, flirtatious splashing as the sun began to disappear into the mountains. Finally, they pulled themselves, sopping wet, out of the water and back onto the bank. They huddled together, shivering as the cool wind slapped against their water soaked bodies, trying to keep warm as they watched the sun disappear completely from the sky. They sat there in silence, just enjoying being in each other's company even though they were both starting to go numb with coldness.