What You Are Is Beautiful

A Day of Rest

Swimming was fun. Lilith and Beatrice eventually came back in their pajama shirts and underwear. It was a pretty good makeshift swimsuit and it made them more comfortable with the activity. No one complained and Mary didn't even call them prudes like Ava expected. She guessed that all of their vows really meant a lot to them. Even if they seemed outrageous at times.

Beatrice was in a much better mood after her talk with Ava and was smiling and talking to the other girls again. Her and Ava occasionally shared glances like usual, but this time Ava felt differently about it and so did Bea. Beatrice felt like she was looking at the one person who almost really understood her and Ava felt a deeper level of connection and also longing.

Mary had enjoyed the little fishies and comments on how there must be bigger ones nearby. Camila couldn't stop commenting on how cute they were and Lilith was a little weirded out by essentially letting little fish feast on their dirt. "How are we sure we won't get diseased by them?"

"Do you feel them breaking your skin?" Ava asked, a hint of concern lacing her tone.

"No but still. You don't feel leeches or other parasites until it's too late."

"I assure you," Beatrice interjected with a smile, "the fish will do you no harm." Beatrice had no complaints and watched as Ava tried to gently stroke the fish in the water. She fish did tickle, but she wasn't focused on that. Ava's childish antics set off a spark within her chest. She felt a swell in her heart as she watched her goofily grin and stick her index finger into the water.

The group spent a good hour in the river before getting out to make their way back to camp where they had dinner like usual, this time with less tension. The group had been relaxing all day and that followed them into the evening. There was no left over tension from a difficult discussion of their situation. No one was feeling bitter over losing the upper hand while training. And Beatrice was back to her comfortable rhythm as leader. Ava felt calm and content with the situation at hand.

She thought back to what Mary had said about her affections toward Beatrice and it instantly made her yearn for more contact. Ava glanced at the other girl before looking away. She then 100% intentionally looked for a chance to move closer. She waited for the end of a joke before she consciously scooted closer to Beatrice and pulled her hand into her lap. Beatrice didn't even tense up and instead acted indifferent to the action. Ava turned her hand over in her hands and used her thumb to run circles into the back of her hand. When she felt Beatrice stiffen, she looked to the other girl and stared intently into the other girl's eyes.

"Are you okay?" Ava furrowed her brow.

Beatrice smiled softly. "Yeah. I'm alright," she whispered before turning back to the conversation at hand.

Ava continued her absentminded contact with Beatrice and the other girl was pleased with the warmth that filled her chest at the contact. Dinner was coming to an end and Beatrice could feel her eyelids feeling heavy. She waits a few more minutes, but decided to get up when the co versatile continued afterwards.

"I'm going to bed early tonight." She brushed off her shirt to smooth it. "I didn't get my usual river nap and am feeling quite knackered."

She stood up and moved to give the four other women a hug good night. She lingered for a second longer with Ava while she traced a few small circles into the halo bearer's back with her thumb. She pulled away, hoping no one else recognized the affectionate gesture and wished everyone a goodnight. She briefly made eye contact with Lilith, Mary, and Camila before stumbling across Ava's deep brown eyes. She was shocked by the intense emotion stirring about within them though she couldn't quite place what the emotion was. She tore her eyes away from Ava and made her way to her tent where she unzipped the entrance and crawled inside.

Her night shirt hadn't dried as quickly as she thought it would have and she didn't have anything other than her regular clothes to sleep in. She stripped down to her smalls before climbing into her sleeping bag and zipping it shut. She turned off her tent lantern and closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift off to sleep. She let her mind play out her favorite words once again: What you are is beautiful.