ANGELA
"So, he's a prick?" Vic asks as we pay for our lunches at the cashier, having just missed the lunch rush that was crowding the line and holding up the others. Normally we would wait for them but since my head has been killing me all morning, Vic came with me to secure a table instead. Maybe a meal will help temper the throbbing pain in my temples, though I sincerely doubt that.
"Yes." I said matter-of-factly as we made our way through the scattered tables and chairs leftover from the previous hoard of students. Vic chuckled just ahead of me, but while my response was accurate, it was oddly hollow all at the same time. "And no." I admitted, having gone over every word of my conversation with Simon over and over again in my head all morning. It was unusual, intriguing, aggressive, and coy; all the things my life generally lacks. Part of me was fascinated by the newest arrival to Middlebrook High, but another part of me was screaming.
"You keep this ambivalence up any longer and I'm going to start calling you 'Diana, Goddess of the Hunt.'" Vic said, a slight edge in her voice that made her momentary pause even more suggestive. I had poured over some of my exchange with her earlier, though I had been hesitant to ascribe a particular emotion to the whole affair. Vic smiled at me as I just gave her a nasty look and motioned towards a group of kids who were almost done packing up their things. Vic nodded at me and turned in that direction, which is when I realized that I was suddenly dreading the conclusion to this conversation.
"Listen here 'Silent C,'" I said as Vic placed her tray on the table, just in time to hand some leftover table scraps to the sophomores who were running late for their next period. "This morning was frustrating enough; I don't need you adding on more layers of bullshit. Trust me, I got plenty of that from Mr. Lippman." I slammed my tray onto the table, which made a muffled clank that momentarily drew attention from some of my peers in the immediate area. I gave them an obligatory stare before looking back in time to see Vic's smile as she sank into her chair, lowering her backpack so that it was situated between her feet.
"I heard he actually bothered to do his job today." Vic said while I took off my backpack and removed my zip-up sweater. For some reason, it seemed like the school had left the heater on 'high' as I had felt flushed all day.
"It was like reading stereo instructions." I said, finally slumping down into my chair and fully arching my neck backwards so that I could stretch it. I had been tense all morning, just a mess of nerves and random thoughts that were slowly eating away at my sense of calm. The feeling of relief was brief.
"So, is he really *that* cute?" Vic interjected and when my eyes inadvertently snapped open, she laughed outright. "I knew it!" Vic uttered a muffled screech and slowly, I found myself slouching forward onto my elbows, burying my head in my hands. *Do we need to do this right now?* I love Vic dearly, but she somehow always manages to time her screeches so that they coincide with those rare moments when the cafeteria ruckus is at a lull. Granted her cries only travelled so far, but I found myself cringing uncharacteristically even though I could not help but smile at the sight of her jumping up and down in her budget plastic cafeteria chair with a stupid, beaming grin on her face.
"You desperately need to learn some degree of noise control." I mutter at Vic, who is simply content to laugh and squeal. I wipe the blush from my cheeks and finally smile in spite of the surge of conflicting emotions running through me. *Why is it so hard to talk about him?* "Let's just say he won't starve." I added while Vic smiled and gently shook her head at me.
"Oh Angie, he's got you spinning." Vic uttered in my direction, the warmth once again rushing to my cheeks. I cringed behind my fingertips, holding them up like shields as I sank back into my elbows on the table. *This is oddly embarrassing.* "You're in so much trouble." I was about to shake my head back into my hands when I realized that the smile had suddenly disappeared from her face, replaced with an expression of confusion and intrigue.
"I thought that was her middle name." The sound of his voice from just behind my left shoulder was unmistakable.
*This cannot be happening to me.*
I knew it had been Simon who had uttered those words, and based on where his voice had originated, I figured that he had probably been able to hear most of that little exchange. I refused to turn my head at first, slightly bowing to one side as I was suddenly at a loss for words. The bottom of my stomach dropped, and I could feel his piercing eyes on the back of my neck. *Perfect. Misery.* Vic was miraculously silent, her mouth gaping open as she looked at Simon who was unceremoniously still standing behind me. Sheer dread filled the deep pit inside, and I found myself hoping the earth beneath my feet would just swallow me whole.
"Although I must admit, 'Diana' suits you." Simon whispered, his voice mere inches from my ear. The slight feel of his breath on my skin sent a shiver down my spine while simultaneously igniting a fire in my bones. Slowly, I lowered my hands to grip the tabletop and languidly pushed myself up onto my feet so I could face him. He remained relatively close, barely stepping back to accommodate me as I got to my feet. The smug smile on his face was infuriating but he eventually moved back from me, casually holding his pea coat draped over both hands in front of him.
"You need a bell." I stated matter-of-factly while miraculously keeping a straight face. I could hear Vic trying not to laugh just besides me and I desperately wanted to wring her neck though I did not dare to move. Simon's devious smile broadened ever so slightly, and the movement momentarily stirred my insides. "Are you going to stand there for the remainder of the lunch period?" I muttered, doing my best to feign disregard as the pit in my stomach swirled.
"For the record, a bell would be considered cheating." He said in an even tone, his smile quickly fading into a smirk that instantly made my blood boil. Vic's sudden noisy inhale in the background earned her a swift dismissal but unfortunately, my "look of death" did nothing to dull the giggling. Instead, she quietly looked away, still smiling from ear to ear while my insides roared.
*You son-of-a-bitch.*
"Maggie!" I say rather suddenly, having just noticed the girl out of the corner of my eye. Simon briefly frowns at me though somehow, I continue to hold his gaze with a straight face. "You're on *my* turf, Mr. Dierfield." I whispered to him as Maggie quickly approached the table. This time Vic could not help herself and she just started chuckling as Simon gave me one of his now infamous smiles that would have likely made my knees weak if I had not been full of a healthy dose of homicidal rage.
"Angie, who is this?" Maggie asked as she walked up behind Simon, nonchalantly tucking her arm into his as his smile momentarily widens.
"Have you had a chance to meet the new student, Simon Dierfield?" I say, my voice suddenly full of warmth while I gestured towards Simon and Maggie's face instantly lights up.
"I most certainly have not!" She says excitedly and gently tugs his arm to draw his attention. I ignore the familiar tinge of jealousy and finally decide to smile at Simon who is quietly debating the predicament he finds himself in. "Angela, have you been hogging him all day?"
*No, not really.* Although now, the fact that he ditched Eva seemed less important than wiping that satisfied look off his face.
"I have indeed. My bad." I say with a short little innocent shrug. Simon stood there with an oddly amused look on his face, still staring at me though not saying a word to either of us.
"Well, why don't I take him off your hands for a bit and show him around?" Maggie says while quickly turning away to motion to another table. I rolled my eyes at the pair, ignoring the ridiculous rhetorical nature of her question.
"Some other time, then." Simon says as he is escorted away from me yet again, still with that strange look on his face. This time, I do not bother to respond but rather, slowly slump back down in my seat with a frustrated sense of relief. With his back turned, Simon disappears into the hoard of students and I finally turn my attentions to Vic, who is just about ready to squeal.
"Don't. Say. A. Word." I say slowly, both frustrated and amused when I see Vic's face immediately flush scarlet red, barely able to contain her enthusiasm any longer. "Don't do it. I swear if you say anything, I am going to 'tan your hide.' I don't even know if I utterly understand what that expression even means but I swear to you Vic, I will Google it, buy the shit online and tan your fucking hide if you say one goddamn word." I finish as Vic is overcome with laughter and I finally surrender to the flustered smile I had been fighting since Simon first interrupted our inner sanctum. Shaking my head while tears begin to fill Vic's giggled expression, I finally notice that O'Neil and Lawry are standing right next to her, still holding their lunch trays in their hands.
"Oh, we just missed the pink elephants on parade. Didn't we?" O'Neil says with a semi-injured look on his face as he takes up the chair closest to Vic's. He places a handful of water bottles at the center of the table before nonchalantly handing one to Vic. Slowly, Vic's chuckles begin to give way to labored breathing and she graciously takes it from him before proceeding to wipe the edges of her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.
"That's Simon Dierfield?" Lawry asks, his eyes having scanned the crowd on the other side of the cafeteria till he located him. Gingerly Lawry lowers himself into a seat, memorizing the back of Simon's head as he adjusts his collar. I instantly rolled my eyes and popped the lid to my soda can in a show of disregard.
*Enough people! He is not that good looking.*
"Yes, he is." Vic says, still smiling at me while I glare at her.
"Ho. Lee. Shit." Lawry says as he turns to face me, nudging my shin under the table as if I had deceived him somehow. I had given him a basic rundown in the hall earlier but spared him much of the details while I processed the whole affair. Lawry immediately turns back, trying to catch a glimpse of the spectacle unfolding half a dozen tables from where we had settled in.
"Why'd you pawn him off on Maggie?" O'Neil asked innocently enough, though the remark sparks a sudden yelp out of Vic who then proceeds to silence herself as the blood drains from my cheeks.
"Bitch needed a bone." I say flatly, simply scowling at Vic who is still smiling at me like an idiot.
"That seems like cruel and unusual punishment seeing as she just got out of a relationship." O'Neil mutters as he finally starts digging into his food, casually motioning to Laurie who had just entered this side of the cafeteria.
"Trust me, he can handle her." I said before taking a sip of my soda, trying to pretend like I could blow past this little incident unscathed. I look behind me, anxious for Laurie to get here and say something that will launch this conversation into a whole new direction and inadvertently save me from this humiliation.
"That boy is far too fine to be a high school senior." Lawry says, finally diverting his full attention back to the table. "Besides, I don't think I've ever seen a boy *less* interested in Maggie." Lawry says while Vic visibly fights back the urge to laugh once more, and I slowly turn back to glare at her again.
"What's going on?" O'Neil asks, sensing a bit of tension between me and Vic.
"Nothing." Vic says again, taking a small sip from her water bottle while she eyes my reaction. "But I think I know *why* Simon isn't interested in Maggie." This time I damn near dropped my can on the tabletop, but the clank did nothing to temper the eruption of laughter that exploded from Vic as Laurie finally approached us.
"Dierfield-mania has officially commenced." Laurie says, plopping her stuff on the chair besides me, holding onto the back as if it were a support pillar. She did not sit down, but rather leaned into the chair with a flustered look on her face. "Eva wouldn't shut up about the mansion fuck in third period so now, every girl's bathroom looks like a makeshift Elizabeth Arden spa." Laurie looks over at me slightly confused as Vic settles herself, motioning towards her while I rolled my eyes and passed it off as normal lunchtime antics.
"No one uses the second-floor bathroom closest to the south stairwell at this time." Lawry adds, casually leaning over to the center of the table to grab a water bottle. "And I'm honestly not surprised. That boy's ass is perfection."
"Oh, there is absolutely no doubt about that." Laurie says and we all start laughing as the tension at the table slowly dissipates into the stagnant cafeteria air. Quietly, I shoot Vic a look and her expression is such that she simply puts her hands in the air, suggesting that she was finally conceding. Slowly, I settle into my chair, finally able to release my breath while the group moves on in conversation. "Looks like Jason picked a good day to return to school."
----------~----------~----------
It took every ounce of strength in me not to go home early the day Simon first showed up at Middlebrook High. After lunch, my gut instinct was to avoid the main corridors till the end of the day when I waltzed into the main office and informed Mrs. Bullard that I "needed to rush home." She casually let me off the hook and waited for Simon by the main entrance in my stead so that I could leave. I must confess; I felt a tinge of guilt manipulating our good-natured secretary just so I could avoid another lone encounter with Simon. But then I caught of glimpse of Simon rounding the corner as I turned to leave, and those feelings quickly dissipated.
*I will make this up to you, Claudia.*
A karmic twist of fate led to Westrick miraculously altering Simon's schedule along with his locker allotment over the course of that first weekend, which meant that Simon ended up being removed from every single one of my classes. Thus, my original plan of fading into the background was scraped and instead, I decided to just wait out the craze. Fortunately for me, the few times I did run into Simon the following week he was readily preoccupied with every other girl in the school, so we never ended up having another moment alone. Unfortunately, the novelty of "Simon Dierfield" had not worn off by the next week and so I was constantly bombarded with the mindless gossip mill regarding Middlebrook High's most elusive and enigmatic addition. To be honest, most of the mystery stemmed from the fact that Simon was reportedly tight lipped about his personal life, so it was natural for everyone to just fill in the blanks with whatever fantasy best suited them. What was interesting was that Simon somehow maintained a quiet, stoic disposition that was relatively reserved considering his high-profile public persona so he could easily fit in with damn near every clique within the social infrastructure at the school. Despite being hard to ignore, he was also remarkably good at blending into the background, and I had more than a few chance encounters where I had to employ evasive maneuvers to avoid him in the hallways.
I felt like a coward, which did not help restore my sense of calm as things settled into a new "normal" at school. Instead, I was anxious and constantly on edge, so it was only a matter of time before I cashed in on my parent's open-door policy about skipping school. In essence, so long as I maintain my grades and I avoided days where I had scheduled exams or presentations, I could take one "sick day" each semester to do whatever I wanted without any explanation. Of course, I had rarely cashed in on this policy over the years, which was probably the point of this subversive reverse psychological tactic. But to some extent, my mother was not surprised when I came down for school in my pajamas and she simply kissed me on the forehead before heading out the door with a quick "don't do anything I wouldn't do." I smiled and indulged my dad's silent disapproving nod as he followed her to the car without saying a word.
*Even my parents are painfully aware of the fact that I need to get away from everything.*
Considering how small Middlebrook is, it is remarkably easy to disappear when you want to; a quite convenient facet of living for those of us who like blending into the background from time to time. I do have a favorite spot in the fields behind the school because they provide ample coverage from passerby's and it is far enough removed from the side streets that no one can easily spot me. The snows had not yet fallen on New England though the crisp morning air as I make my way through the first wave of trees reminded me that they would be here soon. Within moments, I find myself staring up a huge weeping willow, instantly feeing more relaxed than I had been in weeks. *This is my spot…my own personal sanctuary.* The massive tree stood towering over me while its branches swayed in the breeze. The trunks twisted and bent like a rope, reaching so far up that it was difficult to see the top of it from the ground. Its leaves had not yet fallen though they had begun to fade to a yellowish hue, extending downward to grant protection to anyone that stood beneath them, effectively hiding me from the world. The dark trunk had split into two about five feet from the ground, and while one branch seemed to shoot straight into the air, the other bent to the side before slowly sloping upwards into different directions. It was almost like the second branch just did not have a specific place to go, and so it went everywhere though ultimately, it shot straight up to the sky, matching its counterpart in beauty and splendor. I situated myself on a flat spot just above the slope of the split branch, nestled high above the ground with my back to the trunk, legs draped alongside the length of the branch.
I nestled into the next book of my "Dracula" prequel series, hoping to lose myself in the narrative while the embrace of the willow's branches kept me insulated from the worst of the approaching winter weather. Despite being within a mile of the school grounds, I felt safe from the near-constant roar of the rumor mill that had been plaguing my sense of calm. My absence would have been noticed by now, but I knew no one would be looking for me till after school let out and since no one knew to find me here, I just relaxed.
I was completely enthralled with the story when the sound of his voice jarred me back into the real world.
"What are you reading?"
I almost lost my balance when I looked over to see that Simon had one arm draped over the branch I was sitting on, having situated himself by my feet though he kept his hands to himself. He was blissfully silent as I collected my wits and re-situated myself so that I could maintain equilibrium. Without meaning to, I curled my legs into a somewhat seated position, which forced me to sit up on the branch with my book in my lap. Simon did not move from his standing position, but he watched my movements with a deliberate stare that made me feel uncomfortable even though I was well perched and out of reach.
*Simon?*
"Aren't you supposed to be somewhere?" I asked, motioning towards the direction of the school before I realized that I had not bookmarked my page. Quickly, I flipped through the book while Simon chuckled at me, momentarily laying his head on his resting hand while he watched me fumble to the right page. I awkwardly turn down the page corner and tuck the book away in my lap again before meeting his unnerving gaze.
"Aren't you?" He asks and I could feel his smug smile pull at the knotted strings within my gut while he spoke. For a moment, I felt defenseless as I had been unprepared to run into Simon at this time and was clearly missing a convenient exit strategy. Admittedly, it was mildly alarming to find myself unexpectedly speaking to the reason for my self-imposed exile. *How did he find me?* "I haven't seen you around all that much." His voice was even but resonated through the stillness of the air between us, adding to the eerie aura of an already suspicious encounter.
*This is ridiculous. I need to learn how to deal with him.* Immediately, I perked up and fully crossed my legs as if that somehow strengthen my positioned while I bowed forward to address him.
"Alright," I started to say, happy to see him shift back so that his face was lightly resting on his outstretched fist as he leaned into my branch. "I have never been good at subtlety so how about we cut to the chase. What is it going to take to get rid of you?" Simon chuckled but my question stirred him to move momentarily, adjusting his stance to a leaning position where his hand simply rested on top on my branch.
"I'm actually more interested in *why* you want to get rid of me." Simon stated with some degree of levity in his tone, a playfulness that was both charming and unsettling at the same time. I did not avoid his suggestive glance, but I was grateful when he broke eye contact to motion towards the direction of the school. "Your reputation is well-earned, though there appear to be conflicting explanations as to why you might be so keen to keep me at arm's length." While his delivery was non-threatening and rather gently, his words were instantly upsetting. I could feel the old familiar feelings of angst starting to swell beneath the surface as I sat backwards against the tree in a somewhat deflated position.
*Not this old song and dance.*
"How I love the old tropes." I muttered under my breath. Surprisingly, Simon chuckled as he stooped under the branch in a swift and deliberate move that I barely followed in my peripheral view. When he emerged on the other side, he was closer to me but maintained his resting position some distance from my knees. He had his elbow cocked so he could lean in and I slowly turned my head so I could fully see him. "Let me guess, man-eating dyke." I stated with some measure of defeat.
"Verbatim." Simon replied with a mix of humor and decisiveness in his voice that made me chuckle despite the scarlet label that had followed me since puberty. I rolled my eyes, thinking back to the days when I had to confront such allegations in-person whereas now, I am very much left to my own devices. "And by far the most prevalent theory though I must admit, I was quite amused by the implication that you were a founding member of the fem-Nazi party."
"I wasn't aware we even had one of those." I said sarcastically, my delivery mocking in nature. Simon's laugh seemed genuine, and I felt suddenly at ease as he relaxed his facial expression and leaned into the branch. "That's an oldie. I'm surprised it is still circulating." I frowned, strangely amused by the rumor's longevity.
"The irony is that reputations are crafted by bystanders." Simon muttered, and I narrowed my gaze ever so slightly as he continued. *Interesting.* "By their definition, they are misinformed opinions. Labels, so we can feel better about our own deep-seeded insecurities." His voice was soothing and his tone well-meaning even if his words stirred up old resentments within me.
"Don't tell me," I started to say as I sat upright. "Be kind and rewind!" The childish animation in my voice momentarily startled Simon, which made me giggle and turn away to laugh into the stillness around us. Simon remained motionless, staring at me with a bemused expression on his face. "Sorry. It is just that I've heard this cliché before, but the truth is labels do not magically disappear after high school. The pool of bystanders just gets bigger."
"Indeed." Simon whispered, his voice trailing into nothingness as I begrudgingly smiled at him. We sat there for a moment, enjoying the silence before the knot began to churn within me. *It's his eyes.* His eyes were piercing when he stood still, the blue hue seeming to move in waves that crashed into you and overwhelmed your senses. He almost seemed unnaturally beautiful, a porcelain face with sculpted cheekbones and a long neck that disappeared into the loosened folds of his button-up shirt. The way his hair fell around his eyes seemed tailored made to frame his face, giving him an air of intrigue whenever he looked at you from an angle. There was no breeze beneath my great willow tree, but I feigned one when a shiver passed through me and forced me to shift positions. I seized the moment to swing the conversation once again, trying not to think about the muted shadows cast by his collarbone.
"So, is that what you're doing here?" I asked, suddenly nervous though I kept my voice as even measured as I could. "You going to tame the shrew, Simon?" I did not mean for the question to sound suggestive, but the air had a lingering innuendo that was hard to ignore once the words had escaped my lips. Simon's smile suddenly widened with a devious little twist, but even he could not maintain his composure and he uncharacteristically, laughed outright. It was brief and he kept his face in profile as he slowly wiped the grin from his face and chuckled into his knuckles. A strange sensation of warmth flushed from within, but it was followed by an anxious nervousness that inevitably bled into the ever-growing knot in my stomach.
"Never." He whispered softly, finally turning to look at me. "I much prefer you the way you are."
----------~----------~----------
SIMON
Her expression was priceless. A joyful fear that blended beautifully with the anxious rage that was coursing through her now quickened heart. She was exquisitely feral though strangely insecure, and I found myself oddly fascinated by her unpredictable nature, a characteristic that seemed magnified by my inability to penetrate her thoughts. I desperately wanted to touch her, to feel her warm, olive skin beneath my fingertips but I did not dare reach out for fear of stirring the anger within her. *She seems to thrive off it.* Whereas anger was generally a mortal paralytic, she seemed to rely on it and the contradiction was intriguing. The heat emanating from her was palatable in the cold, winter air and I could not avoid the allure of watching her throbbing carotid when she felt a rush of panic as I spoke. I licked my fangs as they descended but I waited to stretch my jaw till she turned her head to hide her flushed expression.
For a moment, the youthful blush of innocence that overcame her was intoxicating. My fangs ached but the moment was short-lived as the emotion soon dissipated and she turned to face me with an expression that seemed to denote frustration once more. In a defiant display, she swung both her legs towards my side of the branch though she remained seated. She turned her body so she could face me, and I realized my hand was inches away from her curled knee while she threw hers up in the air with a sense of bewilderment. She had not noticed that she accidentally moved closer to me.
"If that were true, then I imagine you'd respect the fact that I have been ignoring you." She said, a sense of resentment in her voice that was unmistakable and unwarranted. I should have walked away but instead, I gave into my own frustrations and narrowed my brow, which momentarily caught her off guard as her expression stiffened ever so slightly and she cocked her head to one side.
"Avoiding me, is more like it." I interjected, keeping my tone abrupt as I took a step closer to her and folded into her knee though I did not dare to touch her. Her voice caught in her throat, but it was obvious my comment had simply hurt her pride as she did nothing to acknowledge my movements. She simply stared at me with piercing eyes; deep, dark reservoirs that inevitably softened as her lips pursed in a delicious surrender that brought a small smile to my face. I could not help myself. "And you, my dear Diana, *know* there is a difference."
"Don't--" She started to say, her voice cracking as she struggled to find the words to argue with me. Midway through her inhale, she seemed to change her mind as her tone shifted to something less aggressive though defiant, nonetheless. "Don't call me that."
"Would you prefer Artemis?" I said softly, slightly surprised at the suggestion laid heavily in my tone. I had somehow slipped closer to her, situating myself just beneath her gaze as she slowly met my eyes with that same joyous fear that made my fangs yearn for her.
"I--" Her words seemed to fail her as she did her best to hide a sly smirk that seemed to suggest she liked the sound of that though she was unwilling to admit it. Something about the tension in her lips made me want to reach for her and I realized that I would overstay my welcome if I kept this torment going any longer. Still, the thought warmed me as I looked into her burning eyes.
*You feel something too.*
"I would prefer that you left me alone." She said, though her voice was quieter now, and her eyes were suddenly devoid of emotion as the blood drained from her face. *She's lying.* Still, I took a step back from her and released my hold of the branch she was perched on. Without meaning to, she momentarily leaned forward to follow my movements, and I relished the involuntary act as much as I appreciated the sheer look of panic that took hold of her when she realized she had done it.
"Very well." I said finally, quietly bowing my head before I took my leave. I listened to the sound of her labored breathing as I slowly walked out towards the blanket of branches that had shielded us from the outside world.
*You will not break her.* The thought had plagued me for weeks as I struggled to learn more about this mysterious and complicated beauty. The fact that I wanted her had only grown in her absence but her natural immunity to my charms was unarming and forced me to reconsider my approach. Seduction was futile given her inexperience and cornering her triggered a survival instinct that I could not predict. Having put her on the defensive at the start, I knew I needed an opening to break the tension and calm her nerves, otherwise she would just continue to keep me at a distance. I waited, patiently for the tension to inevitably disrupt her daily routine, forcing her to seek refuge elsewhere. When Laurie emerged from Mr. Lippman's class with a suspension note this morning, I knew it had happened. She would be vulnerable in her sanctuary, but comfortable so long as I kept my distance from her. It did not take long to find her.
She was painfully quiet now, adopting a sense of resignation when I looked back at her from the edge of the safety of the willow, still seated exactly as I had left her. The slight tinge of longing in her eyes was warming and I could not help but smile when I realized she was regretting her decision to send me away. The devil in me loved the admiration but there was something else just beneath the surface, a longing that I had not registered until just now.
"Although," I said, my voice breaking through the tension in the air like a knife though she did not seemed startled by the sudden disruption. "I would prefer that we found a way to share *your* turf." Her smile was clearly visible, but she turned her head to hide it from me, nonetheless. I smiled as well but I left the sanctuary of her willow well before I heard her muffled words pierce the wind.
"Yeah, you're definitely going to need a bell."