Circa 2004

"There are a troubling number of Wrackspurts buzzing around your head Rolf. Is everything all right?"

He glances up at her, then quickly away, ears burning.

"They are attracted to complex minds sometimes too you know, more thoughts to muddle. You must be uncommonly intelligent to attract so many."

'Or uncommonly preoccupied,' he thinks, his heart racing and palms sweating. With a defeated sigh Rolf slumps forward, gazing up at her from his seat. "You always do this to me Luna."

Quirking an eyebrow she enquires "What? Make the Wrackspurts swarm? I'm afraid I have no control over their mysterious ways." She gazes upward in inspired rapture, pulling off her spectrespecs and offering them to him. "Look," she commands.

He complies wordlessly, slipping on the glasses and staring at her distorted form. "You look like a rainbow," he states, "but I don't see any tiny magical beasts." She giggles, (which makes him feel better,) and pulls off the glittery lenses, her fingers barely brushing his cheeks, (which makes him feel great,) smiling a secret smile.

"See," she says, "You've taken all of mine. Such clarity of thought! You're my diadem." She pauses for a moment, beaming, before plopping down beside him. "That's what's so nice about you Rolf, you make my brain happy."

He can't help but chuckle at her phrasing, but after a moment his face turns serious. "You make me happy too Luna. When I'm around you I'm so incredibly happy I don't know what to do with myself. Everything you say makes me smile, everything you do makes me laugh." His face has grown quite red and his fingers are fidgeting nervously in his lap. "You're amazing." There is silence as he waits for her reply his heart beating erratically in his chest. When he can take it no longer he peeks at her face and to his great astonishment she is crying.

Meeting his eyes, wide with shock, she forces a watery grin, then suddenly throws her arms around his, burying her damp face in his chest.

"Oh Rolf," she sniffles, "You are such a wonderful, wonderful friend. Let's make each other happy forever."