Could It Be You? |✓

(17) Dancing

Still Falling For You by Ellie Goulding linked up there ^. Great song for the second half of this chapter!

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Sight-seeing in this rustic town has a charm of its own, and Emma is glad she and Ethan woke up early today for some hiking, in spite of a jet lag that messed with their sleep. Alice and Liam are supposed to join them too, but Alice is having an exceptionally bad case of nausea, and Liam stayed behind to look after her.

Several hours later, they descend the steep hill, which proves to be a challenge for Emma. It is clear that her lack of gymming recently has shortchanged her athleticism. She tries to not be such a weakling, but fumbles for support when her wobbly knees look like they'll give way any time. She soon finds a hand extended to her by Ethan, and she smilingly takes it, even though she swears she wouldn't need it any day had she kept up her exercise regime.

"Travelling is supposed to open your mind and release your soul. It's supposed to help you get rid of all your negativity. Is it working for you?" she asks.

He carefully leads her, and Emma gradually loses herself into the security of his grasp. "I'm basically a happier man after that soul-sapping relationship."

Emma is reassured to hear that. At least, he doesn't seem too depressed over the break. He has been handling it well. She has left her shoulder for him all this while if he needed, but it seems like he doesn't need one.

They stop to take a break at a clearing. Having settled down on rocks, they rehydrate, and Emma retrieves a towel from her bag to clean away the beads of sweat that have collected at her neck. As she dabs around the area carefully, she notices Ethan staring. She follows his line of sight, only to realise that he is looking at her necklace.

"Yes?" she prods.

An enigmatic expression hangs upon his face, and Emma waits for him to speak.

"It was for you, Emma. I'm sorry I lied."

She blinks in confusion. Whatever he's saying doesn't ring a bell.

"I'm talking about the necklace."

"Oh," she says, as realisation hits her, "and you withheld it because...?"

"Remember the commencement dinner? When you went as a date of-"

"Matthias."

"Matthias. Yup. Well," he laughs, "he was a step faster than me."

"Uh-huh."

"And I was supposed to give it to you when I ask you to be my date."

"Okay..."

"I liked you then."

"Like? Like ... more than friends like?"

"You know what I'm talking about, Emma."

In the instance, she is at loss of words. Her head is at  because she does not know what to make of this at all.

"But," she pauses, "that has changed right?"

She isn't trying to sound like she is repulsed by that idea. No, never - that is the farthest from what she thinks right now. But how does she even put it? That an involuntary part of her actually hopes he still harbours some sort of lingering feelings for her? That a part of her is thrilled by the idea that he had such feelings for her, even when it was ages ago? She knows Ethan got the message the worst way possible, when his face falters.

"It's been a decade."

"Right."

They fall silent, leaving only the rustling of leaves and remnant sounds of nature.