Chapter 3

Adella tossed the blanket that Sanji had given her into the crow's nest, then climbed in herself. "Wow, it's really beautiful up here…" She stared off into the distance. Her eyes popped and she fell to her knees. "But it's freakin' cold up here!" She wrapped the blanket around herself and huddled in a corner. "I'm glad there are shifts. I couldn't see myself sitting up here all night!" She managed to laugh. "I'd be dead before sunrise."

The sound of someone climbing the ladder of the crow's nest began to grow as the person got closer to the top. "Sanji you lazy bum!" It was Zolo. "You forgot your stupid thermos!" He finally reached the top. "Sometimes I-" He finally spotted Adella. "…Uh…"

She gave him a curious look. "Zolo? What're you doing here?"

"I-Is Sanji up here?" he asked, feeling just a little bit embarrassed.

"No."

"Damn! Don't tell me he got you to do this for him. I'm gonna-"

She grabbed the thermos. "Thanks." Now it was Zolo's turn to give curious looks. "I volunteered to do this. Sanji was so tired. Don't you guys give him any recognition around here? After all, he's the one doing all of the cooking."

Zolo was taken aback. "So…you really care for Sanji, huh?"

"Well, he seems like a nice guy and all. I just want to be friends with him."

"Oh, okay." Zolo held onto the ladder of the crow's nest still. There was an awkward moment of silence. "So uh…can I join you?"

"H-Huh?" He wants to join me!

"Well, I don't want you to feel all alone or anything…"

"Oh, okay. Join the fun." She moved over a bit so Zolo could sit next to her. She brought her knees up to her chin and put the thermos against her cheek. Maybe I should pour myself a cup. She unscrewed the top and poured the warm coffee into the top. She could see the heat rising.

Zolo tried not to shiver from the cold, so he also put his knees up to his chin. His foot touched something hard. "What's this?" He grabbed it and traced the edges. "Adella, is this yours?"

She looked at the black thing Zolo was holding. "Oh yes, that's my flute."

"Sooo, you take that thing everywhere with you?"

"Pretty much. Except to the bathroom and places like that."

"Oh." He put it back. "So why are you traveling around? I thought a diplomat like yourself had to stay home."

"I got tired of it all."

"But you had everything. Money, power, fame. I would sure like to have that." He was just joking.

"I didn't have everything."

"Oh really? What didn't you have?"

"Happiness and--" She stopped herself. Can I say it now? Do I dare tell him?

"And what?"

"…N-Nothing. It's nothing." She looked at him. He was trying his best not to shiver, but it wasn't working. "You know, if you're cold, you could have said something."

"Cold? Me? I'm not cold." He tired to be tough.

Adella saw right through his act. "I can see you shivering."

"I'm not shivering. I'm..." He had nothing. "I'm cold."

"Then why don't you go back inside and sleep?"

"No thanks. I want to stay out here with you."

"With…me?"

"That's what I said, isn't it?"

She smiled. "Oh, thank you…" Suddenly, she was cold herself. "Why don't you get closer to me? Maybe then we can get warmer."

"Get…closer? Uh, okay." He scooted closer to her, but there was still a small gap between them. They were both still cold.

She looked over to him. He was still shivering. She opened up her blanket to him. "Why don't you come in?"

He nodded and got even closer. "It's pretty warm in here." Yet, there was still a small gap between them.

Sometimes, he can be such an idiot! Adella decided to take the initiative and got so close to him that is seemed as if she was sitting on his lap. "There! This is what I meant by 'get closer'. That way we can be warm in no time."

She's really close to me… "Oh, sorry then." Another moment of awkward silence. "So what were you and Sanji talking about?"

No, this isn't what I wanted to talk about… "We were just discussing a few things."

"Like what?"

"Just stuff."

Zolo smirked. "Not for common ears?"

She returned his leer. "Exactly."

"Fine then, I understand. Are you still into diplomacy?"

"Zolo, that's just one of those skills that if you learn it, it stays with your for life." She sighed and looked down at the empty thermos top. "Do you want some?"

"Some what?" He blushed.

"Coffee." She looked at his face. "Wait, why is your face red?"

"I'm not much on coffee, but I'll try some."

"Wait, I want to know why-"

He took the thermos and the top and poured a drink. He drank it quickly and put it down. "That was okay. Maybe if it had some grog in it…"

"Zolo, why won't you tell me why your face-"

"Are you tired? I'm kind of tired." He was avoiding her question.

Adella raised one eyebrow. Wait a second…does he have a dirty mind! What did he think I meant! "Okay, okay. Never mind." I've got to tell him now! "Zolo, do you want to now the real reason why I left my home?"

"Sure."

"Well, after you left, I wanted to find you."

"You wanted to find me?"

"Yeah. I needed to tell you something…"

"And what do you want to tell me?"

"I want to tell you that…" This is it! Now or never! "That I…That I wanted to travel with you! Yeah, that's it!" Stupid, stupid! Why couldn't I tell him? Just three little words: I love you. She put her head down.

"Oh…Well, now you're traveling with me." Zolo smiled.

She smiled back, but it wasn't real. "So why did you decide to stay with me?"

"It's your first time up here, so I thought you could use some company."

"Thanks Zolo. You're always looking out for me."

"Excuse me? I didn't quite hear that."

On my God! Did I say that out loud! She covered her mouth, then whispered. "It was nothing." Her eyes began to slowly close, then open quickly again. She was falling asleep. Of all times to fall asleep!

"You know, if you're tired, just rest. I won't mind."

"That's okay, I'm not tired." She closed her eyes again, but this time, they didn't open. She fell over and her head gently hit Zolo's shoulder.

Zolo chuckled quietly. "I guess you were tired." He pushed a loose strand of Adella red-brown hair behind her ear. "Adella, I missed you, you know? I missed our time together. It was fun, our little adventure two years ago." He felt her wrap her arms around his waist. "H-Huh?" He blushed a little. "This is…very awkward…" He ended up smiling and holding her with one arm. "You're just like a little girl…" He yawned deeply. "Now I'm tired…" His eyes slowly closed. So tired…