ˈmēdiNG: to make the acquaintance of someone for the first time
Moments passed as Lilly was rooted to the ground from the boy's arctic glare across the room.
Thawing, she blinked and gulped. She backed away, slowly turning the knob as she quietly shut the door in front of her.
"Hey, I was talking to you!" A muffled voice called from inside the room.
Just as she was about to turn and run back down the hallway, rapid footsteps resounded and the door flew open.
The boy stood directly in front of her, appearing to be around her age– maybe older by two years at most. With pinched eyebrows and a downturned mouth, his eyes flashed as he regarded her, eyes that she found to be rather…captivating.
They reminded her of the ocean on a cloudy day, a sight she had witnessed a handful of times whenever Papa had taken them all to the beach. Matching the colour of the water, the boy's eyes were a peculiar shade somewhere between blue, green and grey. The longer she stared at them, the more she was fascinated, especially with his dark gaze intently trained on her.
"Excuse me, I asked you a question." The boy scowled.
Lilly snapped out of her reverie and focused her attention fully to the matter at hand. "W– what?"
"I asked you: who are you? And more importantly, what are you doing here? Do you make it a habit to spy on people?" He demanded.
Lilly blinked at him owlishly a couple times. Then she remembered why she was there in the first place and grinned.
"Hello! My name is Lilly– Lilly Linton– and I really like piggies, especially yellow ones! I heard noises from here. Are you Lady Samantha's son? Do you want to be my friend?"
The boy stared at her for a few moments longer and– slam! The door flew shut right in front of her. The sound of footsteps receded until they stopped, only to be replaced by the same clanking sounds from earlier inside the room.
It took Lilly a few seconds to process what had just happened. She scowled and rammed the door open, stomping towards the boy.
"Hey! I asked you nicely! Why are you so rude?" Planting her hands on her hips, she glared at the back of his head.
He paused but did not turn around. "You didn't answer my questions, so why should I answer yours?"
"What ques– oh." She rapidly blinked. "Well, uh, your mama invited my mama to tea and my mama decided to bring me and I heard some loud noises so here I am."
She smiled broadly and widely spread her arms, although it was not of much use. The boy's back was still facing her, his position unchanged.
He grumbled something under his breath too low for her to distinguish and then said, "I see. Yes and no."
"What?" Lilly frowned.
"You that word a lot, do you have a hearing problem?" The boy enquired.
"No." She asserted. "And why are you saying 'yes and no'?"
He slightly turned his head and sent a sidelong glance at her. "To your questions from before: yes and no."
"Oh." Lilly blinked rapidly before her eyebrows knit together. "But why don't you want to be my friend?"
"Well, we just met. Also, I don't want to be friends with someone who spies on others."
"I didn't spy! I told you, I only heard some loud noises!"
With the immense willpower of a four-year-old, Lilly resisted the overwhelming urge to huff and stamp her foot. That would have been most unbecoming of a proper lady such as herself, of course.
"Indeed?" The boy did not seem to be paying much attention to her anymore, head tilted down distractedly at something in front of him.
Lilly's curiosity got the best of her. Bewildered, she stepped closer to stand next to him and looked at what he was so intently focused on, realising it was the source of the noises that had drawn her there to begin with.
Scattered on the floor next to the boy lay wooden blocks in an assortment of different shapes. In front of him sat a wooden box, with perforated slots cut to match the shapes of the wooden blocks.
She stared unblinkingly for a few moments, unsure of what to think.
"Uhhh, that's an interesting toy?" She finally offered.
His lip curled and the smallest finger on his left hand twitched.
"'Interesting'." He scoffed. "What is the point of it being 'interesting' if it cannot work properly?"
"Huh?" Lilly failed to see any problems with the box.
"Look," the boy impatiently pointed out as he forcefully dropped the different blocks into the box through the corresponding slots. When all but the last two blocks were gone, both rectangular shaped, he pointed to the slots. "They don't fit in any of the slots and can't go through," he huffed in explanation as he lined up the two blocks next to each of the slots.
"Oh. That's the big problem?"
Slowly turning his head, he icily glared at her. "Pardon? What exactly do you mean by that?"
In that very moment, Lilly was internally grateful that looks could not kill. Otherwise, she would have instantaneously solidified into a human-flavoured popsicle.
She smiled, her chin tilting upwards. "I think it's easy to fix your problem."
His expression melted into one of incredulity. "How so?"
"I will show you." Her smile widened as a glint appeared in her eyes.
His expression then promptly morphed into one of scepticism. Nonetheless, he graciously moved away from the box.
She knelt down where he had and set down her doll in the space between them. She picked up one of the blocks and held it up to her eye to examine it. She heard a sigh from next to her and a few moments later, a voice spoke up dryly.
"Are you done yet?"
"Almost." Lilly smiled, still studying the block. She then leaned in to examine the top of the box, or more specifically, the slots. She heard a loud sigh and ignored it completely, nodding her head as she stared down at the box.
She set down the block on the box, lining it up with one of the round openings. She raised her arm and curled her hand into a fist.
"What are you doing? I told you, it will not go–"
BAM!
The sound was loud enough to make the boy next to her spring to his feet, completely interrupting him mid-sentence as the bottom of her fist made contact with the block.
"What are you trying to do?! Don't break the–"
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
His yelling was drowned out as Lilly pounded on the block with her fist over and over again, the other blocks in the box rattling every time from the impact. With each hit, a bit more of the block went through the mismatched opening.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Almost…Almost there,Lilly encouraged herself.
Bringing down her fist with resounding finality, the rectangular block pushed through the mismatched opening, crashing onto the other blocks within the box.
Grinning wildly, she turned and looked upwards at the boy standing next to her– her breath coming out in pants and the side of her smarting hand blotched red.
"There! That's how you do it." She triumphantly exclaimed.
The boy just looked back-and-forth between her and the box, his expression a mixture of incredulity and horror. His mouth opened then closed, only to open again and struggling to form words.
"What? What happened?" Lilly demanded, confused.
"The box…you broke the box." The boy merely whispered, sea-coloured eyes widened.
Well, a part of it. It was mostly intact, save for one particular area. From the slot, pieces of wood had splintered off with cracks appearing in the surrounding space. The outline of what had once been a perfectly annular groove now looked like an attempted circle carved by an inebriated chicken.
"Oh…" She shrugged, sweeping aside wild, chestnut-coloured strands of hair from her face. "But see? Now both blocks go in the box." She simply dropped the second rectangular block through the altered slot.
The sharp look of disapproval the boy wore and accusing silence he wielded effectively expressed that he did not share her enthusiasm. His left pinkie twitched.
Lilly's smile faded from her face.
She exhaled. "Fine, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your box. Honestly." Lilly gritted out.
His expression did not waver as his glare switched to the box. His pinkie finger twitched again.
"I mean it." She continued, her voice growing smaller as she looked down. "I– I just wanted to help you. You looked really mad. I thought I could make you happy." Her hands clasped together in her lap as she twiddled her thumbs.
More silence.
She looked up at him, her widened eyes glistening and bottom lip quivering. "Please don't hate me."
He glanced at her and sighed deeply, finally breaking the silence. "It's all right. I know you didn't do it on purpose."
He sat down again, next to her.
She looked at him, still doubtful. "I want to make things better." She reached between them and picked up her nearly forgotten doll, offering it to him. "Do you want to have this too?"
He recoiled. "No! No way. Father says men don't play with dolls."
Despite his vehement refusal, Lilly saw something flash in his eyes. Longing? However, it vanished as just quickly as it had appeared. She probably had imagined things.
"Are you sure?" She still held out the doll to him. Better to be safe than sorry.
The tips of his ears were tinted red and his pinkie twitched twice.
"I'm sure." His tone booked no room for further discussion on the topic. He was not looking at her anymore but downwards instead, burrowing crystals into the carpeted floor between them with the force of his eyes alone.
"Very well." She pouted and set the doll back down on the floor. Silence wrapped around them like the chilly spring air.
Lilly shivered. Mustering courage, she asked him a question.
"Um…you know… I told you my name. What is yours?"
He looked up at her and slowly blinked, pulled away from his thoughts.
"Rikkard. My name is Rikkard Ambrose." He said softly.
"Can I call you Dick?"
"What? No! Of course not!" He looked as if she had asked him to wear a ballerina's tutu and perform en pointe for her.
Lilly frowned. "But why not?"
She once overheard Papa call his friend Richard by that nickname, in a rather teasing tone when he said it. However, judging by the annoyed expression on Richard's face in response, he did not seem to have appreciated her father's sense of humour. To this very day, Lilly still could not figure out why for the life of her. She thought the name was cute.
"It sounds thoroughly undignified."
She wrinkled her nose. "Undiggi-what?"
"Undigni– never mind." He waved his hand in an offhanded manner while shaking his head. "You do realise you're supposed to address me as 'Lord Ambrose'?"
"Well yes, but…" She bit her lip. "It just sounds so…formal. And stuffy."
"Ah, stuffy." He said slowly, as if tasting the word on his tongue. "I see."
"So…I can call you Dick then?"
"My answer is still no!" He vehemently insisted as his left little finger jerked.
"Then…what can I call you?" She huffed out. Her eyebrows furrowed as she glowered at him, her mouth downcast.
He briefly regarded her, contemplating while he tapped his chin.
"Hm. I guess you can call me Rick if you don't want to call me by my title." He finally answered.
"How about Ricky?"
His mouth thinned, his expression a warning to not push her luck.
"Mother calls me that, so absolutely not."
"Okay. Rick it is." A corner of her mouth quirked up. That was doable. Plus, Rick rhymed with Dick. She was sure she would be able to slowly call him Dick over time without him noticing.
For a few moments they regarded one another, attempting to piece together the puzzle of the other person in the manner that inquisitive children often had.
Suddenly, they both heard a voice from the distance.
"Lilly? Lilly, where are you?"
Lilly immediately recognised the voice as Mama's. She was the only person Lilly knew that could combine both motherly annoyance and worry when speaking.
"Ricky, are you there?"
Well, make that two.
Lilly ran to the door and opened it, Rick hot on her heels.
"I'm right here!" They called at the same time. Then they turned and looked at each other indignantly.
"Stop copying me!"
"Hah! Speak for yourself."
They glowered at each other.
Footsteps echoed from the corridor outside the door and they turned forward to see their mothers marching over to them. Rather, only just Lilly's mother. Lady Samantha glided gracefully in tow behind her friend, her expression cheerful when she noticed Lilly standing next to her son.
"Lilly, what is this I hear from Lady Samantha's staff?" Her mother demanded, hands on her hips. "You just rudely refused their help outright and wandered around the place all on your own?"
"Um, well. I…" Lilly squeaked at the glossy floor, suddenly unable to meet her mother's gaze.
"It's perfectly all right." Lady Samantha reassured her friend, arriving to Lilly's rescue. "Children are always curious. I'm guessing she was with you the whole time, wasn't she, Rick?"
"Yes," came the curt reply behind her.
It was then that Mrs Linton registered the additional presence standing behind her daughter.
"Oh! This must be…"
"My son, Rikkard." Lady Samantha introduced. "Rick, this is Mrs Linton."
He inclined his head deeply as he bowed and smiled politely. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Madam. My mother has spoken very fondly of you."
Lilly had to suppress the urge to drop her jaw. Was this the same boy she had been arguing with not even a minute ago?
"As am I, My Lord. She has done the same for you." She responded affirmatively.
And what amazing manners you have, Lilly imagined her mother's thoughts. Unlike a certain daughter of mine.
"Lillian is a very well-behaved guest. Isn't that right, Son?" Lady Samantha pressed on the previous topic.
Icicles formed in Lilly's stomach as she remembered the way that she behaved to the Marchioness's son could hardly be classified as well-behaved. Quite the opposite, in fact. Sweat trickled down the nape of her neck and she avoided eye contact as Mama looked at her with suspicion.
"Yes, she is."
Her head swivelled towards him, unable to believe what he had just said. Had he just…
He then glanced at her with amusement in his eyes and any previous thoughts of his sincerity were immediately doused. He was making fun of her!
That brat…! Lilly fumed. For her sake, she turned away from him and sniffed, suppressing violent urges before she did something that exposed his dishonesty.
"I'm glad to see you both are getting along." Lady Samantha smiled broadly, baby blue eyes twinkling. Lilly recalled her earlier words in the drawing room about her son's loneliness, and she looked away.
Is that why he was so sad before? She pondered, biting her lip.
Her thoughts were cut short when her mother spoke up. "Well, My Lady, my daughter and I have imposed on you and your son enough for today so we will be leaving. Thank you very much for your generous hospitality."
"Are you sure?" Lady Samantha protested. "I would hate for you both to leave so soon. Please feel free to stay a bit longer."
"As much as I would like to, My Lady, I can never be away from home for too long. Especially with five other daughters at home and one tired husband to tend to all of them." Mrs Linton smirked.
"Very well." Lady Samantha sighed in reluctant understanding. "I shall see both of you off then. However, I expect to see the two of you again soon. It has been far too long since the last time."
They both headed out and Lilly started after them.
"Miss Linton?" A voice behind her called. The three females stopped and turned towards the source.
"Yes?" Lilly hesitantly asked, perplexed.
"Your earlier offer of…friendship. Does it still stand?"
She grinned. "That depends."
"On what?"
"On your answer."
"And…if I were to accept?"
Her smile grew. "Then yes. It still stands."
In return, he smiled at her for the first time– the expression lighting up his face entirely, with the corners of his mouth turned upwards and dark eyes shining.
"That sounds…adequate."
The start of something new.