Beginning Another Year

"Maybe you are a polar bear," I teased, "seeing as you haven't left!"

I sent a big splash of water her way after ducking her wave of water.

"Hmmm, there's always Whippersnapper!" I called back. I did flush a little more when she called me Heartthrob. Stupid pre-teens.

I chuckled and floated on my back a bit. My limbs were starting to tingle a bit with cold, despite the fact that it was August.

"The water knows it's Summer right?" I asked. "Do you think it made itself so fricking cold because of us?"

And wasn't the Giant Squid supposed to lurk in these waters?

"If people weren't aloud to be here, they'd have it warded or something," I said floating a little more towards the shore. Being eaten by a Giant Squid, not how I wanted to spend my day.

"Yeah, but I heard he was friendly," I told her. "Books and stuff."

"You and me both," I muttered, remembering the last time we had a near death experience. Two-Bit meowed loudly from his spot on the bank.

"Sounds like someone needs some attention," I said and chuckled as Two-Bit meowed again. Thankful for the excuse to get out, I shook my hair out like a dog would. Then I put my pants and inside shirt back on.

"You staying in?" I asked.

I looked over to see Emmy scrambling back to the shore.

"Are you okay?" I asked, slightly worried. Two-Bit raced over to see if Emmy was alright as well. He liked her, actually he liked everyone and everything.

Except for my socks.

"Oi!" I said, lunging for one of them. I'd taken off my shoes and socks before jumping in to the lake. Two-Bit avoided my grasp.

"Yeah," I grunted as I reached once more for my sock. Wait, I was a wizard was I not? Getting out my wand, I said "Accio sock!"

It flew straight from Two-Bit's mouth to my hand. I slipped it on and quickly put on my shoe so Two-Bit couldn't take it again.

"Got to be careful around him," I told Emmy. "He loves socks."

I looked over at Emmy when I heard her say my name. When she asked if I had ever been in love, I stared at her for a while.

"Yeah," I nodded. "I told Alli that I loved her a few months ago. She said she loved me too," I grinned at the memory.

Oh, she probably didn't want me go down memory lane.

"Why?" I asked.

I wondered where she was going with these questions. She got up and began to walk, so I followed; Two-Bit trotted along meowing gently.

"It's almost like you're floating in mid-air, like there's no one else but her....or him in this case. You just know." I told her.

I noticed that she didn't answer my question but it looked as though Emmy was deep in thought. I picked up my kitten, noticing the lack of cold shoulder (or tail in this case)

Love, it really was more than just a game for two.

"You ever going to let me know that reason?" I asked. "And yes, I do. But it's no fun being sane."

Two-Bit meowed in agreement, which I just found weird.

I nodded when she asked if I remembered Jayden. Yeah, I did. Pam had introduced me to him. I listened to what she had to say but frowned at the last bit.

"Run that last bit by me again? But slow down and enunciate," I said, slightly concerned of how red Emmy had become. I didn't even know it was possible to go that red.

"I, err, see," I said and blushed as well. He wasn't a relationship expert, heck all he did to stay with Alli was be himself.

"Does Jay know?" I asked.

"No it's fine," I said with a small smile. "Better than yelling it at the local clerk at a supermarket."

"Oh," I said when she said she'd just realized it herself. "You think you're ever gonna tell him?"