𝕊𝕖𝕖 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕆𝕟 𝕋𝕙𝕖 🌸𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕊𝕚𝕕𝕖

Part 2: Overreact

Everyone went outside and raced to the tables, not having a table was probably uncool. I walked slowly to the trunk of a large tree, sitting on the freshly cut grass and opening my book.

The old, faded pages of the book belonged to my father, it was one of his favorite stories, but I guess he forgot to take it with him when he vanished from the family, from his family.

The book was a fairytale about these creatures called Maens, these human like people who possessed the ability to control the elements of earth. I flipped open the book, skipping a few pages and skimming the words until I reached the bit I was up to.

Using their connection to the earth, they made roots come above the ground and form the frames of their houses, then they would use large boulders from deep underneath the soil as walls and bark as doors. With them being so fast and agile, they climbed up the trees by merely jumping and grabbing onto the branches like monkeys. They would take the leaves from the trees and use them to heal wounds. They say that even now they are still roaming in the-

"That looks like some heavy reading you got there Athena" a boy's voice said in my ear. A deep voice.

I spun around, my eyes widening in shock. It was Axyl.

He was right there, sitting beside me. Talking to me.

I must be dreaming.

"Axyl North?" I choked out, fearing my heart would jump out of my chest.

"Whats that book about?" he asks looking over my shoulder to see the text, his eyes seemed to darken when he reads it but when I blink the look was gone.

"It's just a stupid fairytale thing, I'm not even reading it" I tell him, because he would probably think I was such an immature child If I was reading a book about made up creatures.

"You're... not reading it?" He asks, his perfectly shaped eyebrow raised.

"Well- I am but like, it's not any good. Well, it is but I'm only reading it because it was the only book in my house" I spluttered, mentally hitting myself for acting like such a fool. Why couldn't I just act normal?

He nods, as if he understood a word of nonsense that I said.

"What's it about?" he asked.

What was he doing? He could have been sitting with all the popular boys and talk about sport and cars with them, and he would have definitely been excepted by all the girls, but why did he choose to sit next to me? And why did he sound genuinely interested in what I was doing?

I turn the pages until I reach the front cover, it's so old and battered, and I can barely make out the title.

"It's about these creatures called Maens, they are like earth elf things that can pull up roots from the ground and throw really big rocks at people and stuff..." I stop because I feel stupid talking to him about this, also why does he care?
He waits for me to continue, then tilts his head to the side when I don't.

"And?" He asked, wanting to hear more.

I take a deep breath, trying to avoid the fact that he was staring at me with so much curiosity and warmth and ignoring how soft his knee felt against mine, and that if I just moved my hand to the left a little bit, we would be holding hands.

"They were fierce warriors, who fought with knifes and bow and arrows, but when they weren't on the battlefield they were in gardens and forests talking to animals and helping the plants grow.

"Seem to be saying 'was' an awful lot, Athena" Axyl mumbled.

I nod my head. "They became extinct hundreds of years ago, even if they were ever real, which they probably weren't" I smile awkwardly, my face hot again.

"How do you know they're extinct?" He asked, a tint of mischief in his voice.

"Well I don't actually know myself, but in the book, it says they're extinct, and I'm not even sure if ever were real" I muttered, still confused why Axyl was so interested in this topic.

"Anything else I should know about them?"

"No not really.... Well, apparently, they only cared about the animals and nature and hated humans, there was a war between them that lasted for years, and we had to retreat because they were too strong. They are very dangerous and if they ever encountered a human, they would kill them on the spot."

Axyl snickers, then tries to cover it up with a cough.

"What are you laughing about?" I asked, heating up because what if he was laughing about how stupid I was for reading this book. Maybe he didn't actually care and was just talking to me as a prank, for the boys amusement. He probably didn't even care about me, and was just doing this for a laugh, God I'm so stupid for not realizing.

"Nothing, nothing, I"-

I stand up, holding my book tight against my chest.

"Why are you even talking to me anyway Axyl North from Europe?"

I ask, my voice rising.

His eyes narrowed, wondering why the sudden outburst.

"Because I saw you by yourself, you looked lonely, and I was curious what you were reading about" He whispered.

"I don't need your pity, and I was fine reading by myself" I said angrily. I don't know why I was angry; I just didn't like looking weak.

"You are not receiving any pity from me Athena Wesly from Scotland." He replied furiously.

With my book in my arms and my stomach boiling, I stomped away from the tree and away from Axyl North from Europe.

I know I remembered his name, anyone with a functioning brain would.

But how come he remembered mine?

Almost immediately after I got angry at him and stormed off, I regretted my actions immensely.

Why am I always so bad at talking around boys?