AN: Hey everyone, sorry about the long wait. I've just finished my last term paper for the semester and Dragon Age: Inquisition recently came out so I've been pretty busy! Here is a short chapter for you all! I hope to update this weekend! Thanks!
I woke up to a loud noise outside and a startled cry. I sprang out of bed, grabbing my axe before running out the door. It was raining and then I suddenly remember I was wearing boxers and a tank top. The dogs were barking frantically and sniffing around.
"Hello?" I called out, "Who's there? If you're a robber, you chose the wrong home. I have no money and I am not afraid to protect myself." I clutched my axe.
"Lillian don't!" I heard a voice from behind a bush; "It's just me Dirk!" he stood up from behind the bush. His hat was missing and he had a bleeding cut on his cheek, "I was just looking at your crops then I tripped and landed in the bush!" He threw his hands in the air like I was going to shoot him.
I suddenly felt very self-conscious of what I was wearing. I put my axe down and approached him, "Jeez you scared me!" I gave him my hand and helped him out. He brushed the dirt off his purple jacket and gave me a smile, "I thought you were a thief! Well not that I have anything worth stealing. What are you doing here this early?"
He looked at me funny then at his watch, "Lillian…it's eight A.M. you must have slept in. I just came by to make sure you were stilling going to come over for dinner tonight! I've been looking forward to it for days now!"
"Right!" I forgot it was Sunday. My mind was still a bit foggy. I knew Dirk and I had talked but after a few more mugs of cider, everything became pretty hazy. I remember Kana pretty much throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me home since I had apparently forgotten how to walk.
"You must have had too much to drink last night." He teased me.
"Is it that obvious?" I sighed; I wasn't even sure how I got changed, "Dirk you're bleeding." I looked at his face. Blood oozed from the cut on his cheek.
Dirk touched his face absent-mindedly, "Oh I guess I am…"
"Come on, " I ushered him inside, "I have a first aid kit." The dogs barked happily as I pushed Dirk inside the house. I sat him down at the kitchen table as I went to the bathroom for the kit. When I came back out, Snowball was sitting in his lap while Athena was perched on his shoulder.
Dirk noticed me staring, "They just came over! I swear!"
"Look at you Mr. Popular. You've already won over the hearts of my animals. Well maybe except Lafayette." I looked at my small terrier in the corner. He just stared at Dirk and was poised to bark if needed. For a dog his size, I was amazed how protective he was. I pulled one of the chairs next to Dirk's and sat down. Athena hooted and hopped onto my shoulder. I grabbed Dirk's face and adjusted it so I could clean his cut.
"Okay this is going to hurt, I'm going to apologize right now." I said before taking the hydrogen peroxide wipe to his face. He winced as I gently placed the wipe on his cheek.
"Come on Dirk. Don't look like a baby in front of the lady." He grinned. I wiped away the blood and dirt from his face.
"You're not the one wearing boxers right now so you're doing much better than me." I shot back at him. Dirk grinned back at me.
"I can honestly say I'm shocked that you were sleeping when I stopped by. I thought you were the type to be up at the crack of dawn."
"Not by choice. Usually the dogs are up and want to be fed right away. Besides the more I get done in the morning, the less I have to do when I could by napping or fishing. I try to take my afternoons off. So I visit people in both villages or I forage around in the mountain. I usually just ride Byron till we're both exhausted but sometimes I have dinner with friends." I looked into his green eyes. Dirk looked back at me and our eyes connected for a second before I looked away. I took a large nude coloured bandage from my first aid kit and slid it onto Dirk's cheek.
"There." I said finished, "I wouldn't tell people that you hurt yourself because you tripped. You'll lose a lot of street cred. Say you got into a fight with a bear or something!" I went to my kitchen sink and washed my hands, "Or boar, boar would be much more believable."
"Can't I say I got into a fight with you?" Dirk laughed, "You were so feisty last night, you told Kana you could take him in a fistfight and when he did challenge you, you fell backwards over the log."
Well that was not my finest moment, "yeah…" I ran my hand through my hair, "We always end up having a bit too much fun at those bonfires. I'm amazed Rutger or Ina haven't found them out yet. It's like blasphemy to be around the Bluebell folks." I smiled at him, "I should probably get ready. What are you plans today?"
"Nothing at all. It's my day off and I'm not sure what to do." Dirk frowned slightly, "I actually was wondering if you want help on the farm! I could milk your cow or water your crops or something!"
My cheeks blushed slightly and I turned away from Dirk in shame, "Sure, since I slept in, I could use some help making sure everything is done for tonight. I'll go meet you outside." I went into my bathroom and locked the door behind me. I heard my front door close and I slid down to the floor. Why was he doing this to me? He didn't mean to, I know. But all these acts of kindness did nothing to lower my feelings for him. If anything they only continued to grow. I can't stand by and watch my heart break over him. He will be my friend and nothing more. I will help him overcome his heartbreak and in return, I will overcome mine.
I emerged from the bathroom, fully changed and my chair pulled back with a bandana. I walked outside and saw King playing with Dirk. I walked over and handed Dirk the watering can, "I really appreciate this Dirk, thank you."
"It's my pleasure Lillian. Truthfully there is no place I would rather be or no one I would rather be with."