Even though she's like a child, he's fascinated by her. She walks the beach often, splashing and playing in the sand with a gleeful joy that he envies, almost. He leans on his elbows and watches her, ignoring the self-conscious part of him commenting on how creepy he must look. But he can't help staring at her, long hair slowing drenched by the water, laughing and smiling in the sun like a child seeing the ocean for the first time.
It's that quality he envies, he supposes. Not her lack of maturity - he'd almost rather shoot himself in the foot than be as naïve as she can be sometimes. But that carelessness she has, that carefree fervor for living… That, he envies. He's always been so in control of his life, always intently aware of his surroundings. He knows exactly what to say because he thinks about his words too much, thinks too long about what will happen when he does this, when that occurs. He can't let go like she can.
And it's that quality she envies in him. Glancing over her shoulder as she plays in the surf, she meets his eyes, meeting the maturity in them. No one treats him like a child, like they treat her. Everyone knows he's intelligent, mature, thoughtful, kind…
Through this mutual envy, they grow to love each other.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Okay, so down here, at the bottom of the page, try to guess which couple the above little snippet is describing! I've actually rewritten this couple; the chapter I used to have for them wasn't really up to my current standards, so I replaced it. It's Kai and Popuri, from Mineral Town! I love these two; they're so adorable together *and* separately!