ANGELINA

Angelina Barrings sighed at the beauty of the meadow. She found herself there often, her book in her hands, a blanket laid underneath her petite frame. She listened to the song of the birds, reading the black text stamped on the crumbly pages of the book that had fully engulfed her. Angelina recognized the smell of berries in the air, sending her nose hairs dancing. She flipped to the next page and began to read the beautifully written words.

A branch cracked behind her, setting her senses haywire. She whipped around, looking off to the dense area of trees, scanning the forest. Her heart had a double-take as she made out the dark figure of a person, standing cautiously just enough to where she couldn't see who.

"Who's there!" Angelina demanded, slipping a bookmark in her book then setting it on the blanket then grabbed a sturdy stick.

No answer.

"I said who's there?!" She interrogated, glaring at the shadowy figure.

The person moved slightly, nervous, afraid.

"Come out! I know someone is there I can see you!" Angelina called, scanning the area again.

This time the figure walked out of the shelter of the trees, a boy. The boy didn't look familiar. He had blond hair that looked like he had never brushed it.

"Who are you?" Angelina asked.

"Um..." The boy replied hesitantly.

Angelina lowered the stick and tried to soften up her look, but she could tell if it wasn't working. The boy looked about Angelina's age but she couldn't be sure. He stood there nervously. Angelina noticed him pinching his wrist, a sign of anxiety.

"What, do you not talk?"

"I do." The boy answered.

"Are you shy then because I would like to know what you want?" Angelina asked.

"Sure." The boy answered. "I just came upon you I guess... I'm... new to this area."

That grabbed at her. She became curious.

"What's your name?"

"Oliver." The boy replied.

"Nice to meet you." Angie emphasized.

Angelina gave Oliver her name and his facial expression slightly flashed. The boy looked at her, clearly he had heard the name. "Angelina..." He slowly caressed.

He looked up, his face becoming gleeful. "Angelina Barrings?"

"Right on."

Oliver smiled, sighing. "I've seen you on the news..."

Surprise flooded through Angelina as she listened to the strange boy. "The news?"

"You are all over. Everyone knows who you are."

"That's strange... I didn't think anyone would care."

"It's good to see someone here. It's weird here. I don't understand it here."

She laughed. "I get that. You'll get used to it."

Another nervous chuckle came from Oliver as the two stood there awkwardly in the middle of the meadow. Angie sighed and continued her questioning.

"Where do you live, Oliver?"

"Idaho. A small town in Idaho. Montpelier, Idaho."

"Idaho... I haven't met anyone from there."

"Yeah, it isn't a very popular place. You live in New Jersey?"

"Yeah. You want a scone?" Angelina ushered to a bag of treats.

"No... No thank you."

Another twig broke in the same place Oliver was. Angelina made out Victor's figure. The girl greeted her friend with a bright, warm smile as he came closer to the two. Angelina saw he was confused.

"Hey... Aria."

"Aria? I thought you were Angelina?" Oliver gawked.

"Sorry, it is Angelina. I just gave myself a fake name here. This is Victor, a close friend of mine."

Victor gave Oliver a weird look and shook his hand. "I'm Oliver."

As Victor pulled his hand away they exchanged an awkward smile. Angie held back a laugh as the uncomfortable tension grew between the boys.

"Oliver lives in Idaho." Angelina grinned, breaking the silence.

Victor laughed. "Leave it up to Angelina Barrings to break the silence."

The brown haired boy bent down and grabbed a scone, taking a large bite. He seemed satisfied with it, ate the rest, and grabbed another. Oliver chuckled nervously again. Clearly, Oliver was the type that got nervous fast and Angie could somewhat relate, leaving her approving of him more.

Angie giggled profusely before once again continuing. "Oliver, do you have a place to live?"

"Uhm. No."

"Figures." Angelina sighed. "You are going to have to get that figured out."

"So... Victor, tell me about yourself?"

"With someone with anxiety you are quite bold."

"How... How did you know?"

"It is quite obvious. When you get nervous you pinch yourself." Victor motioned to the boy's arms.

Oliver rolled his eyes, already not enjoying Victor's company.

"Are you done being FBI agents?" Angelina smiled teasingly.

Victor rolled his eyes and punched Angie playfully. Oliver chuckled. "Is your accent British?"

"French."

"Where did you live in Europe?"

"Paris."

"I live near Paris."

Victor looked confused.

"Paris, Idaho. It's like ten minutes from my home." Oliver chuckled.

Victor eyed the new friend suspiciously, his eyes beginning to form a glare.

"Are you guys done chit-chatting?" Angelina teased again.

"So are you guys dating or something?" Oliver wondered, ignoring the question.

Angelina and Victor immediately turned red, their faces telling a story.

"No. We are just friends."

"'Just friends.' Ouch." Oliver laughed.

Angie stared at her feet, trying to find another subject.

The sun blazed above them. It was most definitely a hot day. The three sat in the meadow and talked to each other about themselves and their lives. Angelina found out Oliver moved to Montpelier when he was just three from a small town in Montana called Whitefish.

Angelina told the two boys all about her and her life. She told them that her mother Cindy and her father Marshall had split up when she was five. Then, that she lived with her dad in Clinton, New Jersey, just around a fifteen to twenty-five minute drive from Walton every other week. At her dad's house they had a barn and had five horses; Opie, Gypsy, Prism, Monte, Napoleon, and Flopsy. Angie told them about her five siblings, Celeste, Maci, Avery, Ellie, and Lily. Angelina usually talked about only Celeste and Maci because Avery was at college, Lily was in high school and practically lived in her room or was working or hanging out with her boyfriend Wyatt, and Ellie was only three and lived with her dad and Mia (her stepmother.)

It was then Victor's turn. He told them that he lived with his single mom in a house near Angelina's mom's house in Walton. His father had died in a car accident in Paris when he was only six at the time. Then, Victor showed them the scars from that night in the car accident. Angelina couldn't help but feel terrible for him, he had to watch his father die, how painful that would be.

Victor told them about Paris and that he had a beautiful view of the city plus the Eiffel Tower from his bedroom window in the apartment he and his parents shared. He told them small details about Paris's busy streets and large details about the shops and all the food.

When Victor looked up from the ground after telling his story Angelina pounced on him, giving him a bear hug.

"I'm so sorry, Victor." She cried, still hugging Victor.

Victor didn't know what to say. Angelina squeezed him tight.

"Too tight... Hard to breathe." Victor blurted.

Angelina let go, "Sorry."