A/N: Okay, now Spring has passed and we are into the first months of Summer and the second arc of this story. Let me know what y'all think so far. Or don't. Either way, I hope you enjoy!
Cheers,
Mer
SUMMER
1.
"Wait, hold that pose!"
"Leah, I'm kind of trying to catch dinner here."
"Ah the but the lighting looks so good right now, I'm gonna take a picture okay?"
Rei sighed and ignored the tug at her line as Leah snapped a few Polaroids. A few more months of spring had passed, and it was the first day of summer. She had spent the morning clearing her land and setting up sprinklers that she bought from the Traveling Merchant.
The Flower Dance had come and gone, and she enjoyed watching the villagers in their cheesy costumes perform a traditional dance. She couldn't help but giggle at Sebastian and Abigail's faces as they were forced by their mothers to partake.
She had met the writer Elliot there, although he seemed preoccupied with staring at Leah in her dress to really make much conversation. Rei noticed, and after hanging on the beach with him fishing one afternoon, promised to figure out how to bring them together. She never was much of a matchmaker in the city. But Leah and Elliot seemed…right.
So that's what brought her here, on the pier of the lake with Leah on the first afternoon of summer. Leah was in full artist mode, sketching and pulling out her watercolors when Rei decided to broach the subject.
"So, I'm normally not one for gossip, but I have to ask. I've gotten to know most people in town, but who's taken?"
"Are you interested in anyone?" Leah giggled.
"No!" Images of a certain 'Sad Boy' were abruptly pushed out of her mind as she focused on her mission. "I'm just curious!"
"Okay, well not much of a gossip either, but some people are more obvious than others. First up Alex and Haley. Then maybe Penny and Sam? I'm not sure, they just always dance together at the Flower Dance. We all know that Clint has a thing for Emily, but she likes someone else, you can see it in her eyes…..and I think Abigail and Sebastian."
Knowledge was a double-edged sword. Remember your mission Rei, she told herself, Besides, you just got out of a horrible relationship. Flashes of Jake flew her mind and she struggled to swallow them down.
"What about yourself?"
"Are you asking me out?"
"I meant, what's going on with you and Elliot?"
It was Leah's turn to sigh wistfully. "I don't know. We both have our art to focus on you know? And I mean, he's so cultured. I would think he'd be into someone more like you, truth be told."
"Don't sell yourself short Leah, I saw how he was looking at you at the Flower Dance."
Leah blushed, but stared at her painting. "I just wish that I could tell him how I feel."
Rei pondered for a moment as she cast another line out.
"I'm the worst with words myself, but maybe you could show him?"
Leah looked up at her, bright green eyes inspired. "How do you propose that?"