Summer arrived; Nell withheld the truth from Mum. It wasn't like she cared. She wouldn't fight against Luís due to her Vernish convictions – all she would do was tell Nell he had to avoid riling his father up. He was sick, and not right in the head, and...

Nell unclenched his fists. Looking out the carriage window, he sighed. "Sorry that I'm not talkative today."

Light Spinner shrugged from across him. "I don't see an issue with it. But if you're still upset at her –"

Nell shook his head. "I'm not." Sember was in the front seat, driving the carriage to Plumeria's capital. The three-month vacation was the one time of year when Nell was away from his father. He'd invited both Light Spinner and Sarah to come, but Sarah was going back to Tropicilas to be with her husband and son. But at least Light Spinner accepted his invitation.

Light Spinner sat next to him. "Are you sure you're not mad? I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset at you," he said, turning toward her.

"I hope not. What should we do once we're there?"

Nell blushed a bit. "I reckon a canoe ride would be...nice. Mum will be setting up the cabin, so we'd be alone. Is that...alright with you?"

"Why wouldn't it be? Sarah's not always around when we're together."

Nell blushed. "A canoe ride? It sounds, um..."

"Romantic?" A strange glint rested in her eyes.

"Uh..."

"Don't overthink it," Light Spinner said with a shrug. "It'll be a nice way to unwind. Are there fireflies here?"

Nell nodded. "Too cold for them in Mystacor, but Plumeria's got plenty. They'll probably be out tonight."

Light Spinner smiled. "Then, a canoe ride it is. I don't know how to swim, though – you'll have to be an expert rower."

"I could teach you how," Nell said. "Then if I rock the boat, you'll..." He trailed off, noticing her bright-pink face. "What?"

"Nothing. Nothing."

"Oh, come now. It's something."

She looked sheepish – and adorable. "It would be...odd. What would it look like if a man wearing only swimming trunks was helping a pretty girl in a skimpy dress learn to –"

Nell's cheeks burned. "You have a modest swimsuit, right?"

"Modest by Mystacorian standards," she replied primly. "Delvalian culture frowns upon ladies showing their legs – those are to be saved for one's husband."

Nell's cheeks flamed harder. "Oh. Um...moons, I..."

"It's alright," Light Spinner said. "Forgive me – I can be a bit too stuffy for the liking of Mystacor."

"I think cheeky is the word you're looking for."

She snorted; with a grin, she pulled out a book – The Princess and the Pauper, a story they had been reading together. "How long till we get there?"

"I reckon, maybe two hours."

"Good," she said. "Then you have time to read to me."

"So you like my voices?"

"They're so horribly exaggerated that they border on hilarious." She leaned against his shoulder to see the text. "Now, where were we?"

"Chapter nineteen," he said, opening to where their bookmark was. And Nell began to read, the scent of her hair a welcome aroma.

...

Nell hoisted the canoe toward the water. He'd changed into a sleeveless white shirt; it took great strength to move, but Nell learned that exercise was key to being able to lift immobile patients. He barely broke a sweat by the time he got the boat to the edge of the river.

Light Spinner exited the house, wearing a fancy halter-top dress that exposed her shoulders and back. The sleeves, beginning at the elbows, trailed down to cover her hands; her hair was braided around the back of her head. Nell blushed as he gazed at her array. "Don't make me feel underdressed."

"This dress was best for the weather," Light Spinner said, though she averted her eyes briefly in kind. She lifted her skirts and stepped into the canoe, and Nell pushed it into the water before joining her.

He rowed them gently down the river; the daytime moons were going down, and in the twilight, ambient sounds of nature surrounded them. Crickets chirped in a quiet serenade, and in the warm evening, Nell glanced at Light Spinner.

And found he couldn't stop looking. Not at her bare shoulders, or her hair, or her glittering emerald eyes.

For a brief moment, Nell imagined kissing her. What would it be like for the whole world to fade away, for everything to narrow down to the softness of her mouth...the scent of her skin...his tender grip around her slim body...

Light Spinner cleared her throat, jolting him out of his fantasy. "This is such a beautiful place. It's so...peaceful." Her eyes adopted a sad glimmer as she gazed beyond the trees.

Nell leaned forward. "You've got a...melancholy look."

"Don't I ever," she sighed. "I'm just looking toward home. Turn your eyes that way. What do you see?"

"Maybe a clock tower?"

"Yes. That's Luminara, one of the biggest cities in Delvala."

This must be a personal topic for her. "I've never been," Nell admitted. "But I've heard that in Delvala, the moonlight makes the buildings sparkle."

Light Spinner smiled. "That's an accurate depiction."

Nell returned her expression. "Are Meyan Delvalians kinder than the ones in Cindel?"

Light Spinner nodded. "I knew a boy in my hometown, a Southern human. Dark hair, skin, eyes – very handsome. His name was George." She paused. "I thought I would end up marrying him."

"Didn't you arrive in Mystacor when you were fourteen?" Nell chuckled.

"Yes. I was a foolish child – I remember trying to kiss him when we were nine. He didn't take well to it."

"Did you try to reconnect when you were older?"

"Once. When we were eleven, I professed my undying love to him –" she rolled her eyes at this – "but he told me he wasn't...into girls."

"Oh. That's awkward." Nell cleared his throat. "You seem to miss Delvala – maybe we should go there sometime. Do you ever visit your family?"

Light Spinner's smile melted, and she gazed off to the side. "No," she said softly. "And I don't want to go back."

Nell frowned. Didn't she want to visit her parents? "Why not?"

"There's pain," she said. "Pain that I can't speak of."

"You can talk about anything with me."

She fingered her silk gloves, and for the first time, Nell wondered why she didn't take them off. "I...no," she stammered out. "I can't lose you as a friend."

"Why would that happen?"

"It's complicated," Light Spinner said, shaking her head. "Nell...I don't want to hurt you. I do trust you, but I need you to trust me. Even when you don't know the whole picture."

Nell stopped rowing and took her hand. "I do trust you. But I want you to know that you can trust me. You don't have to hide from me."

She looked down, not fully convinced, but Nell didn't know what else he could do. So he continued to row the boat silently down the river.

...

The next day, Light Spinner and Nell went on a visit around Fernosia. The atmosphere in Mystacor was worrisome – people feared their own power. In Delvala, solemnity rang, but in the most positive of ways.

In Fernosia, joy overflowed. Satyrs and humans alike danced, laughing gaily with streamers and ribbons. Though the people's clothing was too immodest for Light Spinner's taste, it was nonetheless beautiful – especially the saris the women were wearing. Markets sold ungodly quantities of fruit, nuts, and sweets. Flowers drifted down from the massive Heart Blossom tree, the plant that was said to blanket the entire city in shade.

Nell sighed. "This is what I came back for – I wish I could stay forever."

Light Spinner hummed softly. He stays in Mystacor for his father. And school. "Maybe you could live here once you graduate. They could use someone with your knowledge, rather than their pseudo-intellectual healers."

Nell shook his head. "I couldn't leave Mum. Or you." He turned away with a sheepish expression. "It'd be less difficult to make friends here, though," he added. "The Verns love everyone."

"If this is where you'll be most happy," Light Spinner said, "you should be here."

He stopped beneath a tree. Then he turned to her, cupping her veiled cheek in a hand. "But what if staying with you is what makes me most happy?" he said softly.

A flare of heat rose in Light Spinner's chest. A part of her felt ashamed that she cared for him this much, that a boy barely of age captivated her in this way. But moons, his expression was so tender, and she couldn't resist his eyes...

She lay her hand over his. "Then," she replied in a murmur, "I'd...I'd like you to stay." Unable to handle the embarrassment any longer, she looked out toward the pasture, eyes widening happily.

"What?" Nell flinched. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, silly. I've never ridden a horse before – I have to try!" Light Spinner raced toward the pasture, thankful that she'd chosen to wear a dress that had leggings.

Reaching the stable with Nell on her tail, she spoke to the groom. "That's a gorgeous horse."

"Her name's Althea," the groom said as he petted the mare's neck. "She can be yours for thirty moons."

Nell's mouth dropped open. "You're going to buy the horse?"

"Of course not," Light Spinner said. "We can't bring her back to Mystacor." A shame, too, she thought. She would have bought Althea for Nell, but...

Sighing, she spoke to the groom again. "Can we ride her?"

"We?" Nell squeaked.

"Yes," the groom said hesitantly. "Just hand me fifteen crescents, if you will." Light Spinner fished in her pocket for the money, then handed the crescents over.

Nell pulled her aside. "This is insane."

"Nell, dear," Light Spinner cooed, "have you learned nothing? New experiences. Fun times."

He frowned. "But what if you fall off?"

"I'm not as helpless as I seem," she said.

"You could break bones."

A shrug. "It's happened before."

"When?"

"Self-defense class. Don't worry. Come on, it'll be fun."

"There's no way I'm talking you out of this, is there?"

"I n'y a pas."

He sighed. "Fine. I'm coming."

The groom had already mounted the double-saddle, and Althea nickered as Light Spinner and Nell got on. "Now," the groom said, "you know how to steer her, my lady?"

Light Spinner shrugged. "Reins to the sides. To speed up, dig your heels in. Say 'whoa!' to stop."

"How do you know all this?" Nell asked, incredulous.

"Reading."

The groom nodded. "You're a smart cookie, lass. Now, if you fall off, don't worry. I'll –"

Light Spinner took off; Nell screamed behind her and gripped her stomach as she accelerated Althea. The horse galloped around the field, whinnying happily as the wind whipped Light Spinner's hair around. On the mare, she felt free. Capable of love, capable of undoing all her sins.

Althea bucked as they reached the fence; Light Spinner felt Nell's hands slip from her waist. He cried out as he tumbled to the ground, but before Light Spinner could see if he was alright, the horse took off again – without her command. She lost control, panicking as her gloved hands grew sweaty around the reins.

The horse took a sharp turn, and Light Spinner's foot slipped from the stirrups. The ground rushed up suddenly, and she groaned as she landed flat on her back. With the wind knocked out of her, she lay immobile for a few moments.

"Light Spinner!" Nell called as he bent down. "Are you alright?"

Light Spinner gazed up at him. His hair was disheveled, clothes stained by the grass. But riding Althea was the best time she'd had in a long while. And he was so wonderful, with his sweet blue eyes and that concerned expression...

Light Spinner grabbed Nell, pressing him against her and rolling down the hill she'd fallen on. He began laughing too, gripping her back. Light Spinner didn't care that her clothes were messy, or that her hair was falling out of its braid. All she could think about was how much fun she was having with him.

They reached the bottom of the hill. Abruptly, Light Spinner realized her veil had fallen somewhere while they'd been rolling. But for once, she wasn't embarrassed. Not as she looked up at Nell.

Nor, even, with the way he was gazing at her lips.

He's on top of me. This would have been horridly improper back in Delvala. But they weren't in Delvala – and Light Spinner was tired of following meaningless social customs. Moons...the way he touched her bare cheek with a hand, the way his face inched toward hers...

Though it had been only six months since they met, she had fallen for him. Light Spinner finally admitted it, there. Yes, he was eighteen, and she was twenty. Yes, he was a shy, innocent boy.

But moons. She wanted his mouth on hers so badly...

Nell's nose touched hers. But at the last moment, he turned away. "Um...I..."

Light Spinner blushed. Should I kiss him? But she wasn't sure. Nell suddenly looked very uncomfortable – had she done something to chase him away?

He rose, helping her up. "That was...uh, really something."

"Lass!" the groom called. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Light Spinner said, tossing her head. Don't think about it. There was only a small chance anyway...

"I'm sorry, my lady," the groom said; he was far too flustered. "Althea's still getting a bit of training, you see. I should have let you ride a different horse –"

"My lord," Light Spinner said stiffly, "I'm fine. Don't worry."

He swallowed. "Here's a refund. I'm sorry for your trouble."

Light Spinner took the crescents, confused. "Sir? I –"

But the groom was walking back toward the stable. Light Spinner put the coins in Nell's hand. "You take it. It was my fault you fell off."

"I'm fine. Are you fine?"

"You heard me. Take the money or toss it on the ground."

Nell shrugged, pocketing the coins, and Light Spinner frowned at him. Why had he hesitated to kiss her? Had Norwyn told him about her powers?

And then, shame overwhelmed her. She couldn't have Nell. If she was a monster...if she could hurt him...no. He was better off with a different girl. Better off not fearing his own friend...

She looked away, tears stinging her eyes.

...

Did you know...
- I based this chapter off of my own experiences trying to find a boyfriend. I tend to be very reclusive and shy, and thus even if I were somehow in a situation where someone liked me for who I am, I would definitely be afraid to seize the opportunity when it came.
- Light Spinner's self-defense class was definitely hardcore. But don't tell Nell.

Tell me what you think...
- Who struggles worse with self-esteem? Light Spinner or Nell?
- How will this affect them in the future?