"The leaves are beginning to change color," Machiavelli observed. He twisted in his chair to look back at the trees lining the lake. Billy the Pup was snuffling around the edge of the woods, obviously tracking something.
Billy glanced up from where he was lying on the dock. He set his book on his chest. "Trees always change color quicker around the water," he mumbled.
"I wonder why." The American shrugged and Machiavelli frowned at his counterpart. He leaned over the American so their noses were practically touching. "I thought you were a curious person like me."
The outlaw yawned loudly before answering. "Listen, Mac, with the schooling I got, I'm just lucky to be able to read and write properly." He sat up and kicked his legs slightly. The water of the lake rippled and made waves. "Do you know that one time, the roof on my school collapsed?"
"Mah! What?" Machiavelli asked, scandalized. "Where on earth did you go to school? I got a better education than that and I'm three hundred years older than you."
Billy grinned and rubbed his palms together. The book fell off of his chest as he sat up and he caught it and set it aside. The Italian recognized the beginning signs of one of Billy's stories. The American immortal had several cues he gave off when he was about to share something he thought was funny. "I went to school in Silver City," the outlaw began eagerly. "And my education was very fragmented, you might say because back then the government did not pay teachers and so it came down to what the town wanted to pay. The town usually didn't want to pay anything, so we spent a lot of time roving the streets." Billy's eyes glinted with excitement. "Anyways, on one of the rare occasions that we had a teacher, we got a very rare downpour. Now most of the buildings in Silver City were adobe clay which gets heavy when it is wet. So you can imagine that our little school house with its clay roof didn't stand much of a chance."
"But it just collapsed," Machiavelli asked incredulously. "Did it collapse on you?" he asked suddenly.
"Yes, Mac, but I managed to dodge it all," Billy said sarcastically. The Italian felt a little bit stupid and he scowled at the blue eyed immortal. He didn't like it when their roles were reversed. Billy continued as if Machiavelli hadn't interrupted. "The roof collapsed in the middle of the night. We went to school the next day and found this huge mess." He swept his hands wide, as if the mess was still before them. Machiavelli wondered if the American could actually still see the mud. Billy seemed to be done with his story however, because he shifted the direction of their conversation. "You're much smarter than me, Mr. Machiavelli. Maybe you can teach me some things."
"I did promise I would," Machiavelli acknowledged. "And I'm going to learn from you, too." The Italian slipped out of his lawn chair and settled beside Billy on the end of the dock. "Why don't you pursue higher education? You have innate intelligence."
The outlaw shrugged. "I've never been that smart, Mac. You just wish I was smarter so that you wouldn't be embarrassed to be around me," he teased.
Machiavelli looked scandalized. "I'm never embarrassed to be with you!"
Billy smiled slightly. He bumped shoulders with the boy. "Fine. But I'm still incredibly lazy. And I've always had a bit of an issue with authority. So I don't think I'd enjoy being in college now." He grabbed up his book again.
Machiavelli wanted to say more to the American on the topic, but let it go for the time being. He stood up. "I'm going to go put on my bathing suit." Billy nodded, not lifting his eyes form the book.
The Italian ran back to the house. He passed Perenelle in the living room and waved, before pounding up the steps. He pawed through his clothes, looking for a pair of swim shorts, and finally found one tossed in the corner of the bathroom. The shorts were a light gray that Scatty had picked out for him, having matched them to his eyes apparently. He pulled them on quickly and looked at his reflection critically. Scrawny, I've always been scrawny, he thought to himself and shook his head. Machiavelli ran back to the docks, briefly considered jumping off, but decided that he might get Billy's book wet and skidded to a stop instead. He climbed down the ladder and into the water.
The water was incredibly cold. Machiavelli took a deep breath, pinched his nose, and sank under the water. He began to dog paddle towards Billy, coming up around the American's' legs. He grabbed at the legs, pulling jokingly at them. The Italian gasped when Billy straightened out his legs suddenly and he was abruptly pulled out of the water. Billy dropped his legs as he sat up and Machiavelli plunged back into the water. "Aren't you going to come in?" the Italian immortal asked, spitting out a mouthful of water.
"Mm?" Billy looked up. "I could," he said thoughtfully. Then the outlaw brightened. "I shall," he said decisively. He stuck his book into a Ziploc bag and tossed the book onto Machiavelli's lawn chair. Likewise, he pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the chair.
"Aren't you going to go change?" Machiavelli asked, treading water and trying not to stare too much at Billy.
"No." Billy left his shorts on and jumped into the lake. The water came down on Machiavelli in a huge wave. "Changing takes time," the American remarked as he resurfaced. He shook his head and wiped at his eyes. "Wet, isn't it?"
The Italian ignored Billy's last comment. "You're too impatient, just like all Americans." But he allowed himself to be pulled out further into the lake.
Billy bobbed up and down. "Yes," he agreed affably. He turned Machiavelli so that the Italian could see the center of the lake and not the shore. "But I have a good time." He flipped around so they were facing the same direction. "I'll race you to the raft out there." And he took off. Machiavelli looked after him for the briefest of seconds before his reflexes kicked in and he began to frantically paddle after the outlaw. Billy made it to the raft long before the Italian. He pulled himself up and grinned happily. "I won!" he crowed. "We should have made a bet."
"What would you have bet?" Machiavelli asked curiously. He held out a hand to the American. Billy grabbed it without hesitation and hoisted the boy up. Machiavelli instantly regretted exiting the water. Goosebumps formed on the surface of his skin and he shivered slightly as he looked over at the American.
Billy rubbed at the stubble on his face. "Hmm," he drawled, thinking hard. Probably would have me wash his car, the Italian decided. "I think a moment of honesty," the outlaw decided and Machiavelli blinked. Billy leaned in closer. "I think I'd like one moment where we have to be honest, no matter what."
"Why, you think I've been lying to you?" Machiavelli asked. The idea stung him slightly. He slipped back into the water, feeling some of the coldness leave him.
"No," Billy said immediately. The Italian felt better instantaneously. "But wouldn't it be nice to have this kind of thing to rely on?"
"Sure," Machiavelli agreed instantly. He floated on his back, thinking of the possibilities. What would he ask Billy if he knew for one moment that the American could not lie? And what would Billy ask him? He flipped back over and tread water. The idea was dangerous and yet intriguing. "Billy, I'm going to let you have it."
"Let me have-?" Billy slid back into the water himself. He wet his hair and waited for the Italian's answer.
"The bet," Machiavelli said earnestly. "You can have it. Someday, you can force me to tell you the truth even if I don't want to." Machiavelli felt faintly pleased with himself. It was a peculiar feeling. He felt that he had opened himself up for something unknown and potentially dangerous, but he was gambling that the unknown thing would ultimately be good.
"Huh," Billy said, surprised. "And you don't mind if I save this for later?" Machiavelli tilted his head and hesitated, then nodded. A grin unfurled on the American's face. "I accept your offer. In fact," he paused, "let's make this an equal trade. You can ask the same of me, anytime."
Machiavelli shook his hand formally. "Deal. Now let's race to the dock." And he took off.