Chapter 2

Charlotte sighed deeply and glanced away from her book and towards the sky. In the middle of the jungle, lying in her favorite meadow everything seemed perfect. The perfect green grass, the perfect songs of the exotic birds and the perfect blue sky with the perfect little cloud whose shape reminded her of a ball or ... no... not a ball...more like ... a heart. Thinking about hearts, she smiled and closed her eyes to recall that perfect moment which was the cause of her perfect mood.

She saw his face, than felt his nearness and his lips as he came closer... and closer...but why had it become so dark suddenly?
She quickly opened her eyes to see and found Richard above her. He looked down at her with a serious expression on his face and she didn´t know why but she blushed.

"If I were John, you know what I would say?" He said.

"Yes. That I am not cautious enough, but luckily you are not Lord Roxton and that´s why I can escape his censor." She smiled as she held up her hand to shield the sun from her eyes.

"What are you reading?" He changed the topic quickly and as quickly grabbed her book from her hand. "Romeo and Juliet? Haven´t you read it?"

"Of course I´ve read it" She answered almost offended as she tried to grab back the book. But she wasn´t successful, thanks to the man´s quick and talented movements and much too long arms. "But I was in the mood to read it again."

"What kind of mood?" He asked with a grin as he held the book out of her reach.

"Shakespeare-mood." She answered shortly, than stopped trying to snatch back the novel and sat up straight. "And now, would you be so kind and give it back to me, please?"
The smile from his face slowly disappeared and he handed her the book without a word.

"Charlotte, I didn´t come to criticize your taste in books." He said after a while.

"I´m glad to hear that."

"I would like to speak to you..." He continued. Charlotte´s heart hammered in her chest. "...about, what is between us. Or what happened between us. You know about... about that kiss."
If she wasn´t nervous before, she was now. Could it be that she´s waiting for him to confess his love? But she was escaping from that! But why is it so different now? These questions flied quickly trough her brain and she still couldn´t look at him as he continued to speak.

"You know, I don´t want you to misunderstand my intentions. Do you understand me?"

"Of course." She said softly.

"That can it be..."

"What?"

"That we´ll...:

"We´ll..."

"Forget that kiss?"

"Forget?"

Forget? Forget? FORGET? Charlotte´s perfect day, perfect surroundings and perfect thoughts shattered to tiny peaces in that moment. She looked up to the sky and what once was light blue, now seemed to be gray, and that certain heart shaped cloud dissipated before her eyes.

"Charlotte? Charlotte! Did you hear me?" He touched her shoulder lightly. His touch jerked her back from her thoughts and she answered hesitantly.

"Oh, yes, yes, I heard you... I´m sorry, I let my thoughts wander a bit... Of course. I agree with you. Perfectly. " She answered nervously. "But...but it occurs to me, that I left my bookmark in the treehouse, I have to go back. Yes. I´ll read a bit more before dinner. I would like to finish it if you don't mind."

"Well, yes."

She nodded and left. Richard stayed and gazed after her for a while. He wouldn´t have to worry so much about this conversation. She clearly agreed with him. If only he told her earlier... Not that he didn´t like that kiss, but he didn´t see a future with her. At long last he told her, but in spite of it he still felt a rock in his chest. Slowly, he stood up to go back to the tree house and as he dusted off his clothes he suddenly caught sight of her book in the grass. She surely would not finish it before dinner...