Squea!

Chapter 6

Annalaya could still feel his lips on hers and the feeling of his hair through her fingers.

She watched as Galian made himself transform back into a sparrow and then into a human a few moments later. She was amazed at how he could change just by thinking.

It looked like they didn't have to go find answers. He had already found them.

Annalaya was very happy at this outcome but she was scared. Galian knew she had feelings for him even if they were unspoken. He had responded to her kiss, but that didn't mean he felt for her. He could end up rejecting her. It complicated matters now that he was no longer just a sparrow.

Annalaya sighed from her spot on the bed. Galian the sparrow flew out to his favorite branch after saying good night in his human form. He hadn't said a word about their kiss. It was as if it never happened at all. This hurt Annalaya but she didn't show it.

She couldn't wait to get her raggedy clothes off. She was happy to get her leaf clothes back.

That night she dreamed strange dreams. By morning she felt like she hadn't slept at all. She was awoken by Galian buzzing around her face like a hummingbird.

"Galian!" Annalaya tried to flick him away, but it was no use. This was like old times.

She groaned as he landed on her face and gave her a peck. "I'm up I'm up!" She rolled over until she fell to the floor with a thud.

Galian flew away before he got smashed. There was laughing, and she looked to see Galian in his human form bending over laughing.

"I'm glad you find yourself so amusing," Annalaya grumbled, but secretly inside she was brimming over with happiness at the sight of him.

Galian gave her a grin, "I could get used to this."

"No more falling from trees?" Annalaya teased.

"I'll try my best."

The two stayed in companionable silence the rest of the day. No one spoke of the kiss and it remained that way. Annalaya found herself very disappointed.

Galian had kept himself as sparrow most of the day. His favorite resting spot being Annalaya's shoulder.

She was almost thankful that he kept himself in that form. She thought about the kiss a bit less. His presence did little to keep her from thinking of her feelings for him though.

Annalaya found herself hours later from that morning sitting against a rock at the very stream that had turned Galian into a human. Her fingers glided through his feathers mindlessly. It was always a habit of hers to stroke him. He always appreciated the massage.

Annalaya stopped when she realized she was doing it. It seemed an awkward thing to do.

The sparrow rubbed his head against her cheek affectionately and Annalaya thought she would lose it. Did he not see what he was doing to her?

Sighing, Annalaya lifted the bird off her shoulder and cradled him in her hands. She lifted him toward her face and gave him a chaste kiss on the head. He gave a chirp and cocked his head.

Annalaya put him down without a word and walked toward the water.

"I wouldn't go in it. I don't trust it," Galian said right in her ear.

Annalaya screamed, losing her balance. She pitched forward and would have landed in the water if Galian hadn't pulled her backward.

Her back rammed into his chest and she heard the breath knocked out of him.

"That was close," Galian wheezed out.

Annalaya laughed at their predicament.

Galian arms were still wrapped around her and he let go, "I've never heard you laugh before."

Annalaya turned around to look at him, stifling her laughs. She didn't remember the last time she laughed.

"It was beautiful." Galian touched her cheek before kissing her softly on the lips.

Annalaya kept a gasp at bay from surprise. She wrapped her arms around the sparrow man's neck and kissed him back. Unable to help herself, she slid her hands to the back of his head into his feathery like hair. As the last time, it was the softest thing she had ever touched in her life.

Galian released her and Annalaya stumbled back in shock. He had just kissed her like she had him. Was this payback? Did he realize what he was doing to her?

She sat back down by the bank on a rock overlooking the stream. Galian flew over her head and over the water landing on a tree where he singed like the songbird he was.

Annalaya laid down on her belly and stared down into the water. She closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the sparrow's song.

It was one of his special tunes he only ever sang to her. It was often one he used to call her before he had been turned into a human.

Annalaya wished she knew the words he sang. She hoped someday he would sing it in his human voice. Galian hadn't sung as a human yet but she knew his voice would be beautiful. His voice was musical and sweet and smooth as honey. She very much wanted to hear him sing with it.

Annalaya's eyes were drooping, and it wasn't long until she succumbed to sleep, lulled by Galian's song.

When she awoke she realized she was lying on her bed, covered up.

Her eyes traveled to the male figure sitting against the wall, his eyes were closed as if he were sleeping.

He had carried her all the way back to the tree house? She felt her cheeks go red at the thought.

Annalaya, stop being such a girl. She told herself in her head firmly. It was silly of her to have girlish fantasies.

She felt herself being stared at and her eyes met the sparrow man's.

"Have a good nap?" Galian stood up from his position on the floor.

Annalaya felt her cheeks flame up, "I did."

He walked toward her and she felt her heart skip a beat.

Quit this nonsense, Annalaya!

Galian sat down next to her and stretched. He looked thoughtful for a moment, but then he sang. The tune was a similar one he would sing as a sparrow but now words were pouring from his lips.

Annalaya knew she had just lost her heart forever.

Awwwwww...

What should happen next...