Anne sat down in the shade of the tree and snuggled herself in the grass. Sighing, she picked up a stone and chucked it into the nearby river. She watched it bounce several times before it disappeared into the water. She thought for a moment before leaning back into the tree.
Anne thought of what she had done. Richard would be so worried about her, wouldn't he? No, he wouldn't, he hates her, he must do...
But Isabel had told her that he cares for her. After all, he was heartbroken when she ran off, but that was her fault.
Anne picked up another stone and chucked it into the river again. "Who am I kidding, Richard doesn't even care for me, not in that way, anyway..." she mumbled.
"I knew you'd be here..."
Anne didn't move, she knew who it was. Instead, she stayed still. "Of course," she replied, "Where else would I be? You know I like to relax here."
"I know."
She heard a sigh, then the sound of light feet on the mud before he sat beside her. She felt a hand place itself warmly on hers. "Anne..." he mumbled.
She didn't turn to face him.
"Will you listen to me?"
"I am listening!"
"Well, will you at least look at me?"
She didn't do anything.
"Anne, please!"
Anne could feel her heart strings pull. She couldn't bear to hear him, let alone, see him this sad, this desperate. It made her die.
She slowly turned to face him and gasped. His eyes. They were the most dark, yet most beautiful, eyes she had ever seen. She could feel herself falling right into them.
"What is it?" he asked, seriously.
"Your, your, your eyes!"
"What about them?" he mumbled.
Anne stared at him, trying to figure out what to say. She leaned forward, searching for the answer in those dark eyes. Not finding any, she leaned backwards slightly. She looked up at him.
"They're, they're, they're..." she stuttered.
"They're?" he persisted.
"...Beautiful."
As soon as she said it, Anne turned her head away. She didn't want to face the rejection. She didn't want him to see her heartbreak in front of him.
She waited for the words that would end her life.
She could hear him snort. So he found this funny! He found her emotions funny! Anne frowned, the sadness changing quickly to anger.
"It isn't funny!" she yelled.
"I didn't say it was..."
"Well, what is it then? If it's not funny, what is it?"
"It's interesting."
"INTERESTING!"
"Yes. Interesting."
"Anything else?"
"No."
Silence. Anne huffed in annoyance and sadness. What did he mean, interesting?
"Anne?"
"What?" she snapped.
"My eyes aren't beautiful."
"No, obviously not."
"I know something that is, though."
"I don't want to know what that is." she snapped.
"Of course you don't. You wouldn't."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You know what it means..."
Anne sighed. She turned round to face him. He was sitting cross-legged, looking at her with his dark blue-grey eyes.
"Looking at me now, are you?" he said, raising an eyebrow in surprise and annoyance.
Anne frowned at him. "Yes, I am, actually."
"Not much of a surprise then, is it?"
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Like I said, you know what it means."
Anne frowned even more. "Why did you follow me, Richard?"
Richard looked up at her. "Followed?" he asked.
"You know I don't like being followed."
He looked down at the stones he had been playing with.
"I didn't follow you." he stated, simply.
"More like stalked!"
"It's dangerous at night, you shouldn't be here."
"Neither should you."
They were silent for a moment, neither looking at each other, then Richard turned his gaze to her.
"I was trying to protect you."
"I know..."
Anne turned her head away again, blinking back tears.
"What's wrong?" Richard asked, concerned.
"Nothing!" Anne snapped.
"Doesn't look like nothing!"
"Shut up!"
"No."
Anne frowned at him. "Why don't you just leave me alone, Richard!"
"Why should I?"
"Go away!"
"No."
"Then I'll leave!"
Richard stepped forward. "You wouldn't dare..."
"Watch me!"
"You need me to get home."
"I've been here many times, Richard, I can easily get back."
"In the dark?"
Anne opened her mouth and closed it several times before sitting down on the ground again in defeat.
There was silence for a moment before she could feel Richard sitting down beside her again. "Anne..." he mumbled.
"Go away..."
He placed his hands on hers. "I'm not going to laugh at you."
"Leave me alone."
"Not on your own, not in the dark."
"I don't care."
Silence again. Richard sighed before getting up and walking away. Anne turned her head round at him. "Where are you going?" she snapped.
"Home..." Richard said, not looking at her. He mounted a horse he had parked nearby. "You can get back on your own..."
Anne quickly rushed to her feet. "You can't be serious!"
Richard didn't look at her. He looped his hands in the reins and glanced at her briefly.
"You don't want my help, you want to be alone, go ahead, I'm not stopping you."
He kicked the horse lightly, turned and trotted away.
Anne was gobsmacked, shocked. "I didn't mean it! Richard, come back! I'm sorry!"
But Richard was gone.
