He went silent again, not speaking up. *** A few days later, Nascha stormed out of the house, Caly in her arms. Once she got outside, she sat down on the stone, her hands trembling and expression upset. She pet Caly to calm herself, unsure what to do.
As the night moved into morning, strains of sunlight appeared over the horizon, painting the sky with pinks and oranges. * * * The forest was silent, but if she was listening, she would hear a staccato of chirps from something that might have been a horn in the trees.
He sighed, frowning slightly. "Dahlia, we need to go." *** She looked up, her brows furrowed slightly before she got up to investigate.
She was asleep next to him, but she stirred when he said her name. "...hmm?" * * * Before she could enter the woods, she would see Victor emerge, a bag made of tulip leaf slung over his chest. "I figured it was probably you," he said, tilting his head. "What are you doing here?"
His frown only deepened. "We need to go. We've been here for too long." *** She jumped as he emerged, a little startled. She looked tired and sad. "Me? I'm just.. looking around, I suppose?"
She looked up at him, her eyes pools of honey in the morning light. She looked sad, though, reaching up and poking his cheek gently. "You never smile anymore, Cy." * * * He noticed her expression, his own face matching hers instinctively. "What's wrong?"
He looked down at her, seeming unsure. "I'm worried.." *** She laughed slightly, but it sounded like she was close to crying, trying to hold back the tears. "I don't really.. I don't really have anywhere to go right now. I can't go back home. At least not for tonight."
Her brows furrowed too and she sat up, looking out at the sunrise. "I know. You always are." She stood up, brushing her hands off before offering one to him to help him stand up. * * * He didn't make any attempt to approach her, but his face reflected his concern. "What happened?"
He took her hand, standing up. "We need to be careful when we go back in." *** She shook her head slightly. "I got into a bit of argument. It just escalated. That's all. I'll be okay. I'll figure something out.."
She seemed strangely subdued, only nodding in response. * * * He sighed, running his fingers through his dark hair as he considered her for a moment. "You can stay with me for tonight. It's not a big deal."
He looked over at her, pausing. "What's wrong?" *** "What?" she said suddenly, hesitating. "I don't.. I don't know. I don't want to intrude."
She only shook her head, saying nothing. * * * He waved her off, looking over his shoulder for a moment. "You've already done it once before. I need to do some stuff first, though."
He stopped, turning to her. "Dahlia. What's wrong?" *** She may have relaxed a bit, nodding slowly. "Okay."
She was frowning, but shook her head again, evidently growing more upset. "I... I don't know..." * * * He looked back at her, gesturing with his head. "Do you want to go to the house, or do you want to come along on some errands?"
He looked confused and upset. "I don't know how to help." *** "I'll run errands with you," she said, standing up.
Her lower lip trembled and she looked down at the ground for a moment before speaking. "I think... I feel like..." She moved her hands in the air as if she was struggling to form the words. "I think I make you sad. I think I make you sad and anxious. I had a really weird dream last night, Cy, and I realized that you don't... you don't smile anymore." She sniffled, not meeting his gaze as they walked. "You don't smile around me. I feel like... I don't know. I think you stay around me because there's a routine here, and I'm familiar, and I don't think you even realize it - that I make you sad - but I really think I'm the reason why you... why you worry so much." * * * He offered her a small smile. "That's the correct answer. You can let Caly walk, you know. He's old enough."
He stopped, his brows furrowed before he came nearer, wrapping his arms around her. "Dahlia.. You don't make me sad. Being around you doesn't worry me or make me sad. I worry because when I'm with you there's the prospect of being caught, and the idea of not being able to see you again is what makes me sad." *** She looked down at Caly, setting him down. "I know. I usually let him. Holding him just made me feel a bit better."
His gentleness seemed to make her closer to tears and she hugged him back, her hands coming up to rest on his back as she rested her head on his shoulder. "But... that's what I'm worried about. I mean... we're not supposed to see each other ever again. Unless something drastically changes, this is it. This is how we get to interact. I don't... I don't want our friendship to be you worrying about this for all eternity. So, whether or not it's me or it's the situation, you're still worrying. You're still panicking when I'm around." * * * Victor laughed, looking over at her. "He's not a stuffed animal, Nascha."
