Daisies

What's his problem? The boy was glaring at me as though I'd spat in his food. I couldn't see what I'd done to make him so mad. Befriending children should be easy, I'd thought, but this boy was disproving my assumption. Maybe I could befriend the girl instead? One was better than neither.

I looked across the table to see a stoic expression on the girl's face. She ate her food in silence. I thought about starting a conversation but I couldn't start by introducing myself again. I considered asking her name but in the end, I resigned to eating my meal with my head down. Mr.Adler had been drilling etiquette into my head for the past years so I focused on that. Even with my matured mind, table etiquette was just the worst. I understood that it was important in high society but it was impractical. It was a huge waste to have so many different utensils and it wasn't even more efficient. Despite my views on etiquette, I made an effort but I didn't push myself farther than a four year old would have to.

The adults spoke during dinner but I couldn't pay attention because of the boy's glare. When I finished my dinner, I was relieved, thinking that I could leave. But no, I'd been asked to entertain the children while the adults spoke. I couldn't very well reply with no but I hesitated before agreeing, which I'm sure everyone had picked up on.

Giselle had come and led the children and I to a sitting room. There was a large red couch and two red armchairs surrounding a coffee table. Windows on the back wall of the room, looked out into the night. I sat in the middle of the couch as both children had already taken the armchairs and watched Giselle leave the room to get some tea.

Tension settled over the room like fog. The girl remained neutral but the boy's glare had only intensified. I acted as though I couldn't see it though and asked the girl "What's your name?" "Madelaine, and he's Levi" said the girl curtly. I glanced over to the boy at the mention of his name to hear "Why are you so tall?" Levi's words were peppered with disdain but I ignored it so that I might better defuse the situation. "I don't know, I've always just grown very quick. I'm sure you'll surpass me." Though embarrassing, this answer seemed to please the boy as I saw a grin grow but I worried that I'd set a precedent of conformity. "Yes, that's right I'll be much taller" said Levi while not looking at anyone in specific.

Seeing that I could get answers from these children who were no longer being problematic, I asked "Where are you from?" Levi flicked his head back to face me and said "We're from the forest" with a mocking grin on his face. So much for learning who they were but I did notice that like their parents, Levi and Madelaine had pointed ears.

Levi had seemed to notice me looking at their ears and spat "What're you looking at?" Goddamn this brat. He was only a child but so arrogant. "I'm sorry, I've never seen pointed ears before" I said, again trying to defuse the situation. Luckily, Levi didn't get a chance to respond as Giselle returned with a set of tea. Giselle placed cups in front of each of us and served tea before leaving the room once more. I decided that I'd wait the situation out, using the tea as a shield from conversation.

Just as I was about to grab my tea, Levi got up from his chair and stood up next to me on the couch. He tucked my hair behind my ear before inspecting it with his hands. He lightly pinched the helix of my ear between his index finger and thumb. All this time, I'd been frozen in place, unsure about what to do in this situation. On one hand, Levi wasn't being a dick, just a bit pushy; but on the other hand, this was embarrassing. I decided that I'd endure his behaviour since I was meant to befriend him.

After inspecting my ear, Levi sat down next to me and leaned his head away from me. I looked at him for some time, confused as to what he was doing when I noticed that his face was reddening. "Go ahead, you wanted to look at my ear right!" asked Levi with more anger than questioning.

In compliance, I reached my fingers out and gently felt the pointed tip of his ear. I was actually very interested so there was no need to feign as I observed. As I moved my fingers over his ear, the skin reddened further and eventually a shiver was elicited. Levi suddenly pushed my hands away and scooted to the end of the couch, not meeting my gaze. Although his face was turned, I could see that his ears were bright red next to his pale hair. At any rate, he didn't seem mad so I let him be before turning back around. This time it was Madelaine who was looking at me. She seemed to have nothing other than curiosity in her eyes when she looked at me but it felt like there were levels to her expression that I couldn't read. Choosing to ignore Madelaine, I slowly drank my tea.

Eventually, Levi got up from the couch and left the room. I only watched as he left but I couldn't just let him wander around could I? I looked over to Madelaine who was looking right back with some amusement in her eyes now. Putting my tea down on the table, I got down from the couch to follow Levi. "You'll be alright Madelaine?" I asked before exiting the doorway. "Of course" she said with a grin that didn't match her age. What's with the kids in this world, such weirdos. I left the room and looked both ways without seeing Levi. Why couldn't it be easy.

—

After asking some staff, I learned that Levi had gone outside in the direction of the forest. He'd been running so no one had the chance to stop him apparently. It seemed more like no one had wanted to go out in the cold to retrieve a child who had gone out on his own accord but I didn't want to go out either so I understood. I wanted to get Levi back inside before something could happen so I stepped out without hesitation and went in the direction he'd gone.

I stopped when I heard mumbled words before approaching with practiced stealth. I was now on the edge of the forest, among thinner trees. Darkness had settled completely over the landscape, broken up only by moonlight. Following the sounds, I saw Levi crouched over the forest floor. I wasn't sure what was happening so I waited until his actions were revealed.

When Levi stood up, he revealed what looked to be around a dozen small daisies that he'd picked from the ground. Realizing that he might be embarrassed if I walked up to him like this, I moved a distance away before calling out his name and moving towards him loudly so as to alert him of my presence. When I again spotted him, he was standing in place with his head down and arms behind his back. The moonlight had chosen this exact spot to shine upon, caressing his hair and skin, giving him an ethereal aura. He outstretched his right hand without meeting my gaze, revealing the daisies he'd picked earlier.