Darlington's Love

Chapter Two:  Carress.

We’d located Hannah and I sat beside her while she continued to sing to her ukulele. Eddy laid beside me and rested his head on my lap. I sat as the warm summer breeze rushed across my face, & my hair whipped behind my head. Hannah’s music was sweet & was all about love. The ukulele portrayed such an accompaniment to her voice that her music sounded somewhat magical and was extremely uplifting. I loved her voice, she had so much innocence in all her songs. I looked down at Eddy who was looking up at me.
“What?” I asked, giggling.
“I’ve never realized how pretty your eyes are!” he said with sheer amazement in his voice.
I chuffed, “Thanks,”

We sat there for a while, just listening to the sweet music & noises that filled the air. People would walk by and put money in the hat Hannah had set out in front of her. I’d put $5 in there, I figured she could buy a drink or something. When Eddy & I left Hannah, he had a massive smile across his face. It was strange because he hardly ever bared his teeth. He was quite temperamental about his braces.
“What are you so chirpy about?” I asked as ore butterflies erupted in my stomach.
“I don’t even know, I’m just happy!” he said jumping about the paddock like a drunken sailor. I smiled.
“That’s Hannah’s music for you, leaves you all giddy & guppy for no reason.”
“It wasn’t Hannah,” he said stopping & looking at me. I quickly looked away. What was I doing? Was this a dream? Was he actually showing interest in me? I wanted to slap myself in the face as I continued to walk in attempt to ignore the terms of endearment he was constantly throwing at me.

We walked to the front of the paddock where an activity was set up. It consisted of large blown up balls, that people could get inside, and run around in. I sat on the outskirt of the arena and Eddy sat beside me.
“Why do you hang out with me?” I asked in pure curiosity, “I’m sure there are better people you can hang around with.”
He looked at me in utter disgust, “I like hanging out with you, I don’t even know why, but I guess that’s why I hang around. Your personality is such an addiction to me.” I laughed at him, and began to finger the necklace I always wore around my neck.
“Okay…” I said as I bit my lip.
Eddy then stood up and took off my necklace off. On it was a heart pendant and a ring. I’d had the ring since I was a child, & it now barely fit my pinky finger.  He got on one knee, and smiled at me, he placed the ring on the top of my pinky finger, and laughed with shoulders abroad,
“Mallary Cooper Deanne, will you marry me?” he asked, smiling and have a sarcastic expression of passion across his face.
“Oh Eddy! My dear, I absolutely will!” I jumped to my feet as he stood towards me and hugged my awfully tight. He extracted himself from our grasp & kissed me lightly on the cheek. I stoop dumbfounded. My face felt hot, hotter than the day itself, and my heartbeat became fast as a jungle drum. I probably stood there for a minute before I actually realized what was happening.
“Thanks?” I asked,
“You’re welcome my beautiful girl!” My beautiful girl. My stomach erupted with butterflies again. It just kept repeating in my head. My beautiful girl.  My beautiful girl.
I must sound obsessed by now.

He walked around holding my hand the rest of the day like his life depended on it. He only ever let go to pick something up, or to play with my hair. This feeling was good, I felt as if I was his girl. It wasn’t that hard, & I now think he was beginning to see that. He looked at me as we walked past the stage. We stopped in the open space, and I looked towards the string band that was performing. Eddy took my hands, and placed them on his shoulders, and placed his around my middle. He moved our bodies in time to the music and we just danced looking at each other. His brown eyes had a gleam that wasn’t there before and his smile never seemed to fade. The evening sun shone warmly on my back as Eddy pulled me so close, I could feel his heartbeat beating on mine. I smiled as he held me tight. I felt beautiful, and invincible in his arms.