Sunlight always found the perfect way to filter into the treehouse; and River's eyes reflected it like no other, like burning stars, a wild dance under a midnight moon. Skyrealm as they had called it. Where nothing was out of reach because you were always among the clouds, and the whole world was at your helm.
The childhood imagination is really quite precious I thought, too immeasurably large to capture, ineffably impossible to contain, but ultimately gone too fast.
At least for most people. River and I weren't most people.
And so we sat, on an ordinary morning, side by side, leaving extraordinary thoughts unshared. Slow sips of tea, bringing us to life.
It was Monday after all, and although the mere sight of River was enough to put a smile on my face- well you know how it is... Monday's ...
"Hey," I said.
It was not a greeting sort of hey, but a you're not alone kind of hey. I can't tell you everything, but an I'm-here-with-you kind of a hey. A lot can be expressed in that three-letter exclamation. One of the many secrets of the universe I was just on the brink of discovering.
"Seamus?"
"Yeah?" I asked quickly, 'Oh god was that too quickly?' I wondered anxiously. For a second I felt it in the pit of my chest.
"Nothing. Just missed you." You could practically hear the smile in River's voice.
River really is a best friend, and there's no complicated wording or fancy adjective that could better the simplicity of that.
'He's my best friend. And that's just how it has to stay. Why do I always have to be a complete and utter numpty about it?' Just some of the mismatched and escalating thoughts racing through my head.
We had always been best friends, since before Scotty had even given me my first kilt. I'm talking miniscule. My dad, Scotty as anyone close to him often called him, was a deeply proud man of his Scottish heritage.
Lately things had become...different. At least for me anyway.
I loved him, but I couldn't put my finger on exactly when and how that love started to become something else. Right in that moment though, it felt something like a first crush, and maybe you know just how amazing those can feel.
The question. The bone gnawing, brain twisting question. Relentlessly buzzing it nipped at me again with sharp, demanding teeth. And I was right, this time things were different.
This time I wouldn't- couldn't ignore it.
'Does he like me too?'
* * *
Note: In this part River and Seamus are about 14- I'm still deciding on order so if you want more younger or older perspectives make sure to leave a comment!
Song: How Would You Feel (Paean)
-Ed Sheeran
Coffee Break (in the treehouse)
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