She kissed me. Sure it was just on the cheek but she kissed me. I sat there in the grass for what seemed like no time at all. Then slowly like waking up from a dream I wander on into the temple towards my room.
"Clay, are you sleeping as you are walking?" Omi noticed how strange I was acting.
"No, little pardner I'm alright. "I say as I nearly walk into my door frame, smile, and then finally make it to my room in one piece.
"Very well then, I will wish you a good night. We have training tomorrow." Omi left to go to bed but it was several hours before I drifted off still smiling I bet.
The next day, I was up as early as usual, washed my face and headed outside. Only to nearly be run over by a giant horse. Sage laughed and backed him up.
"Sorry, Cowboy, he's a little wild today" She winked and clucked to Mage and they were off. She sent the horse racing towards the dawn, her long blonde hair streaming out behind her. She looks like something out of a fairy story more than a living breathing girl. I watch her for a few minutes before heading over to my garden for my daily chores. I love gardening, watching things grow from a tiny ugly little seed to a bright colorful bloom or fruit. I don't know if my love came from my earth affinity or the other way around. I didn't realize that breakfast time hand crept up on me till two small soft leather boots stepped up on my left. I straighten up on my knees and look almost directly into her eyes, which causes her to giggle softly.
"You have just enough time to clean up before breakfast, Cowboy." She reaches over and wipes a smudge off my nose and winks. I turn bright red once again, thinking people shouldn't blush this much in a short time. Either way I stand up towering over the petit blonde. I never paid attention to how much taller I was than Omi or Kim, but I must look like the Jolly green giant to them. Sage didn't seem to mind at all she tugged my sleeve and took off towards the dining hall. I guess she had more time around people our age a light cheek kiss doesn't mean all that much to her, she's acting like nothing happened. Or is she, she looked back at me and her cheeks were pinker than normal. I felt something inside me melt and feel all warm and fluttery. I grin and follow her in to breakfast. She once again ate nearly as much as me with Kimi and Omi looking on in mild disbelief. This time though Sage just grinned, and gave me another wink.
"That was a great breakfast, so when's lunch again?" Sage asks as we leave, to which Omi gapes at her and Kimi turns a little green. Sage starts laughing "I was only kidding you! I'm good for 3, 4 hours tops." We each head to our individual chores, Sage follows me, when I get to the garden I expect she'll head on by but she follows me in.
"Top o' the mornin to ye, I am Sage O' Banyon, and I'll be your shadow this day." She says laying on the Irish accent as thickly as possible, then couldn't keep a straight face, causing me to laugh. "Master Fong says the easiest way for me to learn the chores is to follow each person around for a day so I can just enter the rotation when it moves again. So, Cowboy, where do I start?" I showed her a bed I hadn't weeded yet and set her to it. It was the best day of chores ever. We talked and laughed about our lives, our hopes, and what we wanted to do after the world was safe again. I had never met anyone so open and full of warm happy thoughts. She shone like the sun, even when covered in mud.