Chapter 1:3

1766, September 3rd

We finished our supper by nine and my aunt followed Alex home… which was kind of stupid since we anyways met outside my window as soon as she fell asleep. I would whistle our secret melody and he got up by climbing a ladder we had found a couple of weeks ago. The nights were spent watching the sky, talking and maybe eating something. The phenomena of a shooting star never stopped amazing me and I wished dearly every time I had the luck to witness one. I wished that my life was going to be more than just this.

She was for once at home this night, not going to the bar getting overly drunk and sleep with some stranger, which would make things a bit trickier but I told myself that an hour extra wouldn't hurt to wait. When the grandfather clock in the hallway ticked half past ten, I sneaked outside my room to get my coat. Some nights were chilly and I had a feeling that this was a night of such.

"Auntie?"

When she didn't reply, I advanced to the hanger above the timeworn shoe-rack and grabbed my peach-colored coatee. I had gotten it as a "move-in-present" from Alex's mother and I loved it very much. It was skillfully stitched and the color reminded me of strawberry bubblegum. When Alex first had given me the garment, I had been suspicious. What kind of people gave a coatee to a little girl? But his explanation and kind words had gotten to me at start and they had warmed my heart to the core.

"I heard you got out of a burning building all by yourself! You must be as brave as a lion! Here, a gift from my family and I; we thought nothing less than a general's uniform would suit you! My name is Alex and I live next-door. Let's hang out sometime, aye?"

I hurried back to my room and unlatched the window. The night was cold indeed and I cursed at the forthcoming winter. Damn, it would be cold.

"Ouch!"

I had barely opened it when Alex's familiar voice disrupted the otherwise quiet of the sleepy city.

"Gosh! Not so loud!" I hissed at him and quickly slid through the small opening. My aunt had let install a kid-safe that limited the angle which the window could be opened, but that didn't hinder me from getting out. "I think even the Indians heard you from here."

Alex grimaced and caressed his arm. He was also wearing a coat.

"You worried me," he said and rose from his crouched position. "You weren't whistling at the usual time so I thought something had happened. I came to check."

I smiled at him.

"Thank you, Alex."

He shrugged and quickly turned away but I could see his smile.

"Come on, let's have a challenge," he suggested and walked to the other side of the sentry. "I have a prize."

I glanced back into the apartment to assure myself that my aunt wasn't awake. No lights were on and I couldn't apprehend any sound from inside.

"Sure," I answered and gently closed the door. I didn't want my room to be cold by the time I came back from my nocturnal adventures but if one would shut it too hard, it wouldn't budge open and thus lock me out. I promise you, my aunt was less than pleased whenever she discovered me on the roof.

"What's the prize?" I wondered. Alex was holding something in his right hand. "And what kind of competition is it?"

He showed me a gigantic blueberry-muffin and grinned mischievously.

"Did you steal it?" I exclaimed, my voice both angry and surprised. This isn't like him.

Alex shook his head and hid the muffin inside his pocket. My eyes widened and I gasped.

"You stole it!"

"No, I bought it from the baker."

I frowned and approached him with my arms outstretched.

"Give me it," I commanded and glared furiously at him. "You bought it with Auntie's money!"

He grinned even wider and vaulted over the wooden fence surrounding the old guard post. I hurried after.

"Well, yeah," he replied and took another step backwards. "You can have it… on one condition."

I sighed.

"Sure," I said and crossed my arms over my chest. "Tell me."

Alex giggled and leapt off the roof. Instinctively, I reached for him but didn't get any hold of his coat. He landed in a bale of hay and tumbled out of it.

"There goes the prize!" I yelled down at him. "Wow, you're stupid."

He laughed and ruffled up his blond hair. I saw him search his pockets and he held up a seemingly undamaged muffin.

"Who do you call stupid?"

I rolled with my eyes at him and started to climb down the wall.

"Wrong way," I heard him say and turned my face to look at him.

"What?"

Alex pointed at the hay bale.

"You have to land in that," he instructed with a grin. "Or are you too afraid?"

I quickly climbed up on the roof and looked down at the street. It was far down. So far down that it made me feel slightly dizzy.

"Come on! I know you can do it."

Alex's voice suddenly sounded supportive. I immediately realized that he wanted to teach me this. And he was poking my manliness to trigger the recklessness that was such a big part of my personality. Or excuse me, femininity. Wait, does that even exist?

"Today, please; I'm positively buzzing with energy. Let's go to the harbor!"

I took a deep breath and focused my gaze on the heap of hay. I can do this.

"Does it hurt?" I asked and couldn't even cloak my fear. "It's really far down."

He smiled warmly at me.

"Do you think I would ever hurt you in any way?"

I smiled back at him and shook my head.

"Never," I answered and jumped.