LoVe: The Childhood of L and V

Chapter 7

A year passed, then two, then three, and Sage and L grew closer and closer. L knew

now that he had feelings for Sage, and he embraced them. At 15 years old, he was

tall, lean, and handsome. He was pursuing a career in crime, and had his heart set

on Sage. Speaking of her, Sage had grown up very well. Her chest filled out, she

was only a little taller than when she was 12. She was now becoming a very talented

writer; she wrote love stories. She still hadn't realized her feelings for L, but

that would soon change. It would change on a Christmas Eve in Decemeber.

...

They still slept in the same room, just more seperatly girls from guys. A curtain

blocked one side from the other. It was the morning before Christmas, so it was

just beginning to break light outside. L was up already, the curtain pushed back as

he stared across from his bed at the sleeping face of Sage. Her eyes were closed

and her eyelashes were twitching a bit. Her arms were on top of eachother since she

was on her side. She sleeping deeply and he watched every movement she made.

He slipped of his bed quietly and inched toward her sleeping form. He was towering

over her. He brushed his fingers over her smooth face. She didn't even twitch. He

bent down and kissed her softly on the cheek. She stirred for a minute, then went

back to sleep. He sighed. Not today. He went back to his side and dressed into his

outdoor clothes. He then stepped over to the closet and put on his coat, hat and

gloves. Time to clean the driveway. 

Sage fluttered her eyes open. She sat up and rubbed them and focused her eyes on

the room. L was already outside, she thought. She stood up and stretched her arms,

then ran to the closet to get into some warm clothes. She dressed into a snowflake

sweater and black velvet pants. She then strolled to the dining area and yelled

over to Simon, "What are we eating today oh master of masters, oh king of kings?"

"Cut the crap, just pick up whats on the table and stuff your face." Simon, now 21,

was still at the orphanage only to assist the younger children. He was still as

bossy as he was before, only now he was older so he had an excuse.

"Finish early so you can shovel the driveway. No excuses! Just because you're a

girl doesn't mean I will go easy on the workload for you."

"Fine," she grumbled.  She grabbed some toast and eggs, and sat down at one of the

long fat doors. She ate quietly while thinking about colleges to go to. Just as she

was about to stand up and put her plate away, L stomped in, covered head to foot in

snow and waving a shovel angerly. She fell in surprise and giggled at his

appearance. He blushed slightly, "What are you looking at?"

"Obviously the giant angry snowman in the middle of the room. Why are you so angry

anyway?"

L didn't answer her, he just bellowed, "SIMON! YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME FOREVER!"

He stomped into the hallway and out of sight. Sage wished she had a camera as she

laughed at the specticale.

...

For the rest of the day, everyone was helping put up decorations and trees. The

girls got to put up mistletoe, while the boys did back-breaking work like hauling

trees in from the forest. It was snowing heavily outisde, so all the boys were

cursing under their breath against Simon, who made all the boys march while

carrying the pines. L slammed on one of the couches next to the fireplace in the

room during break time. It was getting dark outside and a few isolated stars were

winking in the purple and pink sky. Sage tip-toed inside and quietly asked, "L, are

you sleeping?"

He grumbled, "No, ugh. My back is killing me. Simon is killing me!"

She giggled. "Simon seems so hardass now. It's just holiday time, stressful."

L agreed, "Yeah, but it is more stressful for us guys. You get to hang tiny

mistletoe," he emphasized with his hands how small they were, "and we have to carry

huge pine trees!" he stretched his arms wide.

"Don't be such a baby," Sage lectured, "you of all people need some hard work for a

change. It's nice to see you sweating at something useful for once! But since

you're complaining, I will give you a good job hug!" She leaned over the couch and

lightly squeezed his bruised body. His face shaded pink.

She walked out of the room and called behind her, "Break ends in five minutes!"

...

Darkness finally enveloped the outside, and all the Christmas lights were shining

like fireflies. Everyone was in the large living room chattering, when one person

screamed, "LETS SING CAROLS!" They began singing God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen while

Sage and L quietly stared at the window. Fireworks were sparkling the black canvas.

Sage told L, "I love Christmas. It is such a happy holiday. I wish It could go on

for more than just an eve and a day."

L was staring not at the window, but at Sage this time. He had such an urge now,

and he couldn't control it any longer.

"Sage," he whispered.

She turned her head around and twisted her braid in her fingertips. "What?"

L leaned over and kissed her on the chorus of Carol of the Bells, while fireworks

were streaming outside, and inside of him.