It all Began and Ended with a Tree... Part 2

Hold your horses! Have you read the first Chapter? No? Well here's the link: Chapter 1

==**==**==//==**==**==

It All Began and Ended with a Tree…
Chapter 2

I wave frantically at Elle as she leaves on that boat. I find it quite peculiar how she and the boatman communicated. Oh well, I guess that’s life; people are strange, sometimes even stranger than fictional characters. Then again, fiction is based on reality.

The sun is setting and the swim is going to be long. I grab my leather bag and do what I normally do. Then I begin the swim. It’s going to be dark soon, but it doesn’t matter, I know the lake better than most people and I can use the stars. Unlike many other places around the world, here, the sky is still clear! It’s as though the sky wishes to keep itself like that.

It’s already pitch-black when I come ashore. It’s a pity; really, I live on the opposite shore from where Elle lives. I live in a pretty nifty hut by the lakeside; evidently, I have no fear of gigantic waves.

I enter the hut and although it’s the dead of night the light of the moon is bright enough. However, as I search for a candle, I still stumble a few times. I even knock over a chair. Finally I found it, although much to my dismay, I forgot that I had no matches on me right then. I open the leather bag and took out a pack. I sigh; it had just a few in it left. I would have to get some more soon.

I forgot I was still nude. I found myself laughing at the thought. I took my clothes out of the leather bag and put my pants on, they were still dry, albeit a bit damp. I didn’t put my shirt on; it’s far too hot already. The leather bag is how I managed to keep my clothes dry. The bag was at most water-proof.

I take an apple from the pantry and started nibbling on it. I plop down on my bed beside a window. In all the excitement, if one could call it that, I almost forgot about Elle. It’s a good thing that she had yet to plague my mind. Not that her plaguing my mind is bad. Well, I guess it begins now.

It’s been a day, but I feel uplifted, lively, and powerful even! I’ve never been so happy in my life, save for those moments with those who caught my heart before. Alas, happiness with them seemed so short-lived. I wish against all odds, that Elle will be different. I think of her, that smile, and that laugh. I doubt anyone would be able to resist her charm. But there is something else about her, it’s as though she’s the half I never had. That was when it hit me. I think I’m absolutely, truly and entirely in love!

The epiphany was short lived. That moment, the memory of a friend from a previous ‘life’ erupted into my attention. It was one of those discussions we had in a posh room with lively music. One thing he said caught my mind. “But my dear friend, Dave, we are young… What do we know about love?”

Outside, in the distance was a massive mansion, even at night it gleamed with the light from the many fixtures outside it. It is in a Victorian style, beautiful and mystifying. I look at it sadly, and then, I drift off.

The morning comes and I wake up automatically. It’s already in my system. I take a mirror and examine myself. My face isn’t that angular, not too thin, not too chubby too. My eyes are brown and my hair is black. My skin is fair and smooth. I’m not that terribly handsome, nor am I ugly. I guess I’m your average ordinary guy. I place the mirror down, gingerly, it happens to be a broken-off piece of a larger one. My hut isn’t that quaint. It’s actually rundown, the only places where the roof doesn’t leak is over the pantry and over my room.

I put on my shirt and walk outside. I stretch as I inhale the cold fresh air. Don’t take my word for morning as that I’m walking in stark daylight. It’s only the crack of dawn. I pilfer some bread from a nearby bakery, making sure to leave a few coins. The baker need not know who I am. I go to the home of one of the poor people in the village. I then leave the bread on their window sill. They need it more than I do.

When I get back to my hut, there are two men dressed in black. They looked so formal and serious. I know what they want and I tell myself “Here they go again, don’t they know that I won’t give them what the want?” My eyebrows meet in a V. I had to execute all my restraint on my anger as I saw their finely polished shoes and brushed coats. Their exquisite cufflinks gleamed in the sun. I almost gritted my trees at the sight.

I walk into my hut using the back door. I sit on a chair, my stomach facing the back of the chair, my face looking straight at the door. My blood is boiling with hatred, my eyes are glaring. I wish my gaze could burn down the door and the men waiting outside of it. I then think about what I was feeling, it was wrong. All of it was wrong.

I used to do what they do now. I am no robin hood. I am no dark knight. I’m someone seeking redemption for a life that was spent stealing from the poor and rich. I grab the leather bag, my eyes set on having a steadfast resolve. I push open the door and prepare for the inevitable.

“Young Master, your parents want you back home.” The men spoke as soon as they set their sights on me.

“Tell them I’m not coming back to them, unless they learn how to open their hearts to the poor. And I want an apology.”

“They wish us to tell you that they have opened their hearts. Your father apologizes for his actions.”

“Oh really? Now then, why do I not see that?”

“Sir! Come back with us now!”

“No.”

“Then we are sorry to tell you that we are authorized to take you by force.”

“I am still not coming.” Right then and there, I take my clothes off, put them in the bag, turn around, run for the shore and begin swimming. Within moments I am halfway down the way to the island. The angry shouts of the two men were only a buzzing in my ears. By now, the sun was fully free of the horizon and the light had overtaken the entire lake. In no time, I am at the island. I dry myself on the most concealed branch and I put my clothes on. Hey, I still have my dignity you know. Aside from that, I don’t think Elle would appreciate seeing me naked.

It wasn’t long before the boat was speeding across the lake. Soon enough, Elle had taken her place in her usual spot. She looked around, as though she was waiting for someone. I figured it was me. I pulled off another of those dive things. Surprisingly, Elle was still startled.

It was then that I realized how pretty she was. I found myself staring for a long time. Thoughts that came from last night came rushing back. I felt like jelly for that moment that seemed like an eternity. I saw only her and the wind that moved her hair and the sun that hit her face. Only her voice shook me back to reality. “Dave?”

“Oh… umm… Hi Elle!” I said, beaming my biggest, toothiest grin.

“Would you mind doing me a favour?” She said with an innocent look on her face.

“Yes, Elle?”

“Stop dropping out of that tree at the most unexpected moment!”

“O-oh… Okay.” I was still dazed. All thoughts of what happened just recently were washed from my mind.

“So how was your day?”

“Great, just great… It was the typical thing for me… How about you?” I hate lies, but I’m too entranced to actually know that I was lying. Not to mention, everything I was saying was trailing off dreamily. I wouldn’t be surprised if Elle thought that I was acting weirdly.

“Oh… Same here…”

“You know what, Elle?” Finally, some measure of confidence. It took all of my self-control to avoid taking that sigh of relief.

“What?”

“Yesterday was the happiest day I’ve had in years!”

“Me too!”

“Cool!”

“Hey, I brought some lunch, seeing as how you have nothing else but the clothes on your back on you.” With that we began the day together. First we watched the lake in the early morning sun. And then I began to point out clouds that made odd shapes. It was an enjoyable experience, albeit, a peculiar one.

When lunch came around, Elle showed me her picnic basket. We spread it out on the beach of the island. It was a sumptuous feast, well, at least for me. I hadn’t tasted such food for so long already. I felt so comfortable around Elle, but I don’t think that I’m ready to tell her about my parents just yet. But there is something I know I should and could tell her.

“Hey Elle, I have something to say…” Unfortunately, Elle seemed to have been lulled to sleep by the waves. I know I shouldn’t but I lie beside her and put her head on my shoulder. She was even prettier when she was asleep. Her hands on her abdomen and her shoulders moving as she breathed were a sight indeed to behold. Soon enough, I fall asleep, thinking of her.

When I wake, it was already a few hours later. The sun was low over the horizon. Elle was awake; she was looking straight at me. I looked at her my mouth moving wordlessly. My courage was rapidly escaping, but I managed to blurt something out. “Hey… Elle, I have something to say…”

“Yes Dave?”

“I like you, I really, really like you… and that’s all there is to it, period.” As soon as that was out. I had room to breathe easily.

“Hmm… Where did that come from?”

“I dunno, my heart I guess…”

“Well, back to you Dave.” The grin I had on my face at that moment was so big I felt as though my mouth was getting wider. That was when an idea hit me.

“Hey Elle! Let’s carve our initials on the tree!” She was all too happy to oblige. It wasn’t long before she had to go. The shrill call of her whistle was all it took to end our day together. As before I waved frantically at her as she left, but this time, I was blushing furiously.

Before I left the island, I took one last look at the tree. It would stand the test of time; I hope what we have will do so too.

“D+E Forever…”

Then again, I think I shouldn’t have done this. It’s too early, too fast and more importantly too unstable. I pick up a sharp stone from the beach and I look at the initials on the tree. Some things are meant to happen slowly… It was the only thing that was on my mind as I slowly returned to myself.

==**==**==//==**==**==

Well, that was a mouthful. Oh noes, what is Dave going to do? Why am I so hooked on cliffhangers? We may never know.

Here's Chapter 3: Confusion Rules my Life