TEN
The sun had undoubtedly come to set right over the grass mound that Annabeth sat upon that fateful evening. Her mouth gaped open in wonderment as both of her jade pupils, though stricken with bewilderment, scanned him delicately.
"Eric?" She hummed in her small voice. "You ... came." She added.
The young man was awestruck for a while but it wasn't surprise she'd seen in his face, it was something else. Something like ... hurt?- or was it disappointment? Her heart suddenly sank into her stomach as she took in his facial expression.
He walked closer to the grassy mound where she sat and roughly ran his hand through his dark hair as he looked straight into her eyes, still wearing the expression that sent chills down her spine.
There were no words spoken and neither was there any bond or promise, but Annabeth couldn't help but feel like a debtor or worse, a cheater who had played him with his feelings ... or where there even any to begin with?
"I've been looking all over for you. The last time we met you said I should be at fellowship ... at your house but when I got there, brown-haired- sorry, I meant your sister said you had gone out." He took in a deep breath as he paused. She felt awestruck– he didn't even sound upset in anyway. His voice was still the sonorous murmur it was half the time. He continued; "I looked for you at school but ... it seems you don't go to school?- why is that?" He asked as he pocketed both palms into his black jacket.
"Home school," she muttered, averting her eyes as the wind took her hair and made a little mess of the locks.
"Okay. That's understandable but ... why weren't you at regular fellowship at church and on Sundays, you're always too busy to even stay in my sight." He explained as his sad hazel eyes darted around to finally lock onto her startled jade ones.
"I'm sorry, Eric "- it was all she could bring herself to mutter afterwards.
"I don't want your apology, Beth." He hummed in a soothing tone. "I just ... missed you." He added as his gaze softened into that of subtle longing.
Annabeth buried her gaze in the grassy mound below to conceal the mass of red on her face. She felt some movement and as she raised her head, he was seated right before her on the grassy mound. "Okay. Let's see what you've been reading," he muttered and softly pried her dainty little fingers off the page she was reading.
"Huh." He hummed under his breath as his eyes read through the cover. It read- The Holy Bible. Eric raised his head and peered at her with a look of amusement, intrigue and strangely ... satisfaction.
She was forced to beam with smiles and even giggle a little. "I like to read here." She muttered as she stared into the sunlight. He nodded with eyes fixed to her face.
"Can I?..." he asked. "Yes," she replied and turned the pages to the beginning for him. "It's the best book I ever read," she remarked with a serene smile.
"Oh yeah?" Eric added as he gazed down at the crisp brown pages in wonder...
●●
Eric and Annabeth grew closer over the weeks that passed- but only as friends. Whatever they thought they felt or didn't feel towards each other was beter left unspoken.
She was like the sister he never had and him, like the brother she never had. People of God's church were meant to be brothers and sisters ... right?- well, they maintained the sibling zone; the dreadful, agonising sibling zone. The reality of that individually hurt them so deeply that it didn't even show, but what was more than a consolation to them was the existence of the other person.
There was the test of distance, but then came the test of enclosure...
●●
It was a regular afternoon in Scothbury. Eric had been busy helping his father with a truck at the workshop when a call came through.
When his old man told him it was for him, he ran all the way to the receiver in his bedroom so he could answer the call privately. He knew it was Annabeth that had called because there was no one else with his number since the young man wasn't the most social person and didn't have friends.
"Hi." He greeted with enthusiasm in his voice. "That's weird- you never call." He spoke as he wiped his hands off his diesel-stained apron.
She chuckled on the other end of the line. "It's because it's important this time." She replied in her soft voice.
"Oh, so other times weren't?" Eric teased as he played with the telephone cord.
"I didn't say that, Eric." She muttered amidst faint giggles. He'd made her laugh– the young man pursed his lips in satisfaction. Annabeth continued; "Well, I called to tell you that I'm going to start regular school very soon." She explained.
Eric felt his heart erupt with joy as he clutched the telephone, feeling short of words. "Hello?" She mused at the other end of the line.
"I'm sorry," he apologised and cleared his throat before speaking; "That's ... the best news I've heard all day, Beth." He confessed.
A long silence followed. "Okay, goodbye." She broke the ice and hung up. He hummed his goodbye and put down the telephone. "Regular school," Eric mused to himself as he sank into his thoughts. He knew too well that Scothbury High wasn't for the weak ... and in no offensive manner, he thought Beth was well, the weak!
She would have a lot to deal with ... especially his dreaded numerous stalkers ... females to be precise.
