I hear someone's noise from downstairs. Yup. It's Lee alright. We get to the front door and open it. "Hi, Todd, Happy Birthday. Hey Vi." "Hi Lee. What're you doin' today?" I ask. "I don't have anything planned, maybe I'll go for a swim in the lake, but I need someone to come with me." "Ya, sure. Why not? Viola?" "OK, sure." she says. "When're you thinking Lee?" "I don't know. Meet me by the end of the hedge, on the footpath, in, and hour, maybe?" "Sure. We can do that." "Oh, and Todd, I wrote you this." He hands me a card. Writing's the one thing that's still hard for Lee, since he has to try to synch his hands with someone else's view. So this is a big deal for him. "Wow, Lee. Thanks." "Don't mention it. See you in an hour." He leaves. He doesn't need me to see for him: he's memorized the path from both our houses by now. I watch him go, though, just to make sure, like I always do.

When I turn around, Viola's gone. I go upstairs and she's sitting on her bed like she does, waiting. For me. "Anyway, I was going to say that I've been thinking," she says, patting the space next to her as I sit down by it. She starts again, for clarity or whatever. "I've been thinking about when you told me you wanted to go back to Prentisstown," she says. The memories of that night come rushing back. I think about the things I thought, and my face warms up a little and turns red. "Vi, I was still a bit shaken about not saving Simone and saving the Mayor instead and you not–" "So was I. But I think that maybe going away might be a good idea." "But Vi, we've just started here–" I didn't say now, just later. We can't live with Ben forever." "Ya, I know, but I think we should, you know, settle down." "Todd." And she just stares at me, with her beautiful eyes.

And then she does it again.

And I feel like such and idiot.

I didn't see it coming.

She kisses me.

And just like the first time, all I can think is I love you, Viola.

[Viola]

I did it again. And it felt so,

what's the right word?

Even if it was weird and out of place. I step out behind the screen in out room after I finish putting on a large t-shirt over my swimsuit. "Your turn," I say to Todd as I emerge. His face is still red. His noise is still swirling the way it did the first time. I can tell that he loves me. I know he does. He thought it just like he was speaking to me. I don't know why he feels so embarrassed about it though.

I watch him go behind the screen. I can hear him from behind it still. His noise has been going Viola? Viola? for the last hour.I can tell he's not asking a question to me, just sort of throwing it into his head, trying to decide if it's really. He's using my full name again. I didn't realize how much I missed it, though. I guess it's the thing that flows the best in his thoughts. And I don't mind. I'll give him whatever time he needs.

He's finished quick. He steps out just as he puts his left arm through the last of his sleeves.

We leave the house and Todd shouts to Ben inside that we're going for a swim. When we left we were 5 minutes early, and the walk down to the lake is just under a minute. We arrive, and Lee's already there, leaning against a small tree. "Hey, let's go." "Hi Lee," Todd says. "Hey," I say too.

Lee stands up straight and we walk off. He sees through Todd's eyes, but he still moves his head around, like he's looking for something. We reach the small dock that Wilf built on his side of the hedge. Todd and Lee both take of their shirts and instantly do running cannonballs into the water. I'm not so quick to get in though. By the time I take off the too-big t-shirt and drop it by the boys', they've already emerged form their dive and are splashing around with each other.

I'm not as comfortable in the water. I've only learned to swim after we moved here. I see Todd look at me. Seeing through him, Lee gestures and calls for me to come in. so I do. I take a dive off the edge of the dock and into the water, but I've still to master the whole "hands first" thing, so I end up pulling a belly-flop instead and curl up in pain as soon as I hit the water.

Todd and Lee, laughing, swim up to me and help me out. "You really gotta get better at that, Vi," Todd chuckles, the awkwardness from earlier gone by now. We all start messing around in the water. We've become good friends this past month, and it's good to see that Lee's gotten over, well… his crush.

"Hey, you know," Todd says, looking at the cathedral, "We're a bit underprepared, but tomorrow maybe we could take Ben's inflatable boat over there." "That's a good idea," says Lee. "Ya, that would be cool. We could bring some food and sort of have a picnic," I say, pointing to a small section of the steeple. "There's a section there that's tilted almost flat." "Ya, make an afternoon out of it–anyway. I don't know about you guys, but I'm a bit thirsty. Should I go back and get some water?" "No, Todd," I say, "I'll go, Lee needs someone to stay here and see for him." "Alright. See you soon." He and Lee stay there treading water and start up a splash fight again.

I swim weakly to the bank of the lake and run back up to the house. I come back with three tin canteens. I walk down to the end of the dock and put two of them down by the edge, Todd and Lee a bit further out than they started out. Before I even get to take a sip, Todd and Lee are already racing each other towards me. They both arrive at about the same time Lee ahead by just a few feet. He shouts "Ha! I won." to Todd. They both put one arm on the dock and grab for their canteen with the other. Todd takes a big gulp and says "Ya, ya, this time," his silly crooked smile creeping across the right side of his face. We put down our canteens and I back up a few steps. I take a running start and attempt a dive into the water. And I belly flop again. Oh well. They both laugh at me and I start laughing too, realizing how ridiculous I must seem. We spend the rest of the day messing around by the dock, discussing details for tomorrow.