Thank you for such an overwhelming response to the last 2 chapters!
He had regretted asking Lillian to go for a walk the second he did so- had he known their appearance together in the town square would have caused such a stir, he would have suggested a less conspicuous location. He could feel the eyes of every person they passed linger on them, Cam's gaze in particular burning a hole into the back of his neck.
"How are things on the farm?" He asked, more out of the need to break the awkward silence that had enveloped them, rather than out of actual interest. He didn't know what he was thinking, asking her to go for a walk; they could hardly have a normal conversation without wanting to claw at each other's throats. Granted, he hadn't exactly spent a great deal of time to her after what had happened on the mountain... However she latched onto conversation as eagerly as he did, her hands shoved deep into her pockets.
"Fine... You know I bought that lamb, right?"
He hardly had to think; his mother had told him about it nearly the second it happened. "The one you named Cardinal, right? How's she treating you?"
They had come to stop at the statue as Lillian shrugged. "Okay. I think she misses how many animals you have at your farm... I'm kinda scared that my one cow won't be enough for her." He was tempted to offer her help and changed his mind at the last moment. After nearly a season of her living in Bluebell village, he had come to know at least one thing about her: if she needed help, she would ask.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out."
She sent him a crooked smile as she sat against the edge of the statue, her russet hair gently wafting lavender against his cheeks as it was caught by the wind. "Me too." She paused slightly, her left eyebrow raising up under her bangs. "...Can I ask you something?"
He lent forward of his elbows, the cool stone of the statue pressing against his arms as he smiled. "Didn't you just do that?"
She ignored his joke, sending him a slightly confused look. "Why did you ask me to go for a walk today?"
He was caught off guard by her question, his cheeks turning slightly pink as he let out a nervous chuckle. "Uh, that's a good question." He paused, trying to ignore her eyes on him. "I guess... I don't know. Cam seems to like you, and Cam doesn't really like anybody, so I figured... yeah." He finished lamely.
She had opened her mouth to reply but was cut off before she spoke by a shout behind him- glancing over his shoulder he could see Cheryl stomping towards them, her cheeks burning the usual red that aroused itself when she was feeling bratty.
"Ash!" She had come to a stop beside them, her skirts whirring slightly as she latched onto his arm.
"How's it going Cheryl?"
Cheryl barely took any notice of Lillian's attempt at a greeting as she yanked roughly on his arm. "Ash, I've been looking for your everywhere!" She whined, her yanking becoming more insistent. "You promised to play with me today! You promised!"
He pulled himself from her grasp awkwardly, his cheeks burning red. "Cheryl, I'm with Lillian right now. Can you please just... Wait? For a bit?"
He could see Cheryl's cheeks flare up again, any hope of spending the afternoon with Lillian beginning to disappear from his mind. "But you promised!"
Lillian laughed beside him as she bent down slightly, her palms fitting on her knees as she tried to look Cheryl in the eye. "That's okay Cheryl, I've hogged him enough for one afternoon." She stretched back up to her full height and cuffed him briefly about the shoulder, the small touch sending heat through his whole arm. "I'll see you around, Ash."
He barely had time to watch her go before Cheryl was yanking on his arm again. "Ash! Ash! Let's go!"
He looped his fingers through her hair, giving one of her pig tails an affectionate tug, trying to ignore the lingering sensation of Lillian's hand against his shoulder. "I'm all yours."
And there it is! The more reviews I get the faster I update... and it's your only way to have a say in what happens next!