Chapter 4: "Friends"
The place was silence for a while. Her idol broke the silence, "What do you think?" River turned to watch the girl's hand. She gasped at what she saw.
Her idol held out a sleek, high-tech translator. "Would you like to have this?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with kindness. River's eyes widened, and she felt a surge of hesitation. "No, I couldn't possibly take it," River said, her voice laced with doubt.
Her idol's eyes sparkled with amusement, and she quickly explained, "I just got it, I haven't even used it yet." River's eyes met hers, and she realized her idol had misinterpreted her reaction. "It's new," her idol added.
River's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. She couldn't believe her idol was offering her such a valuable gift. "Besides, we're strangers," River said, trying to reason with her. "I don't even know your name."
The girl's smile softened, and she replied, "Lettie. My name is Lettie Eldritch." River's eyes narrowed, trying to place the name, but it seemed familiar only in passing. She made a mental note to look into it further.
"So, you know my name now," Lettie said, pushing the translator closer to River. "I'm River," River said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "River Benard."
Lettie's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Such a beautiful name, River. And now, can you accept this gift?" River hesitated, feeling a bit unsure. Lettie's expression turned playful as she said, "You can't refuse a friend's gift."
"Friends;when did we become friends?" River asked, raising an eyebrow. Lettie rolled her eyes and dropped to her knees. River's breath caught in her throat.