The pair of teens sat quietly next to each other on the grass overlooking the lake. A plait blanket with a few sandwiches furnished the ground and Millie’s chaperone sat not far away from them. In Ben’s hand was the next instalment in their shared reading experience, a tale of wizarding peril from war across the Atlantic almost exactly one hundred years prior. With a side tale of romance between an Englishman and a woman of the rebels. They were already a couple of chapters in, with nothing but the beautiful sunshine, the breeze, a good book and a friend.
Sunshine and a good book
Oh, Zinnia Gallagher must see them both as quite mad.
Trumpets blared loudly and the sound of muskets firing across the battlefield filled Ben's imagination as he read the prose in front of him, it was easy to take himself there in his mind's eye. He looked across at the dark haired girl next to him, trying to work out what page Miss Potts might be on. He let out a little chuckle as the writer tried some dark humour to juxtapose with the otherwise bleak description. Ben wondered if Millie had gotten to that part yet, he might have asked her but he kept silent. More pages went by.
The book was getting really rather good, the current chapter was a little intense, but it was enjoyable. He wondered how Millie might be taking it, he was sure that his friend was as not tied to “girls books” as the professors might like. Perhaps though, he should be grateful when the scene changed to a quieter after battle setting, it was still a challenging read, the titular pair of the book bonding whilst they tended to wounded. Benedict felt the chill in the air as the narrator described it, despite the warmth of june, such was the writer's quality.
Recognition swarmed the young witch, fearing where her idle thoughts might lead her. Demurred, she took to the book furiously, turning pages with a swift sound to lend Mr. Hunter no ideas toward any further fantasy beyond the little the author had infused into the pages they read.
The romance part between the pair was lovely, Benedict was sure that had they not been chaperoned by the multitude of injured soldiers, the spark that passed between their exposed hands might turn to a kiss, but it was not to be. Instead Benedict felt the urge for tears as the scene continued and they bonded over the death of one of their charges.
Ben glanced at Millie and offered her a small smile. He didn't know what she might think of him if a book brought him to tears, but her presence was comforting and helped him remain stoic.
It was a day Millie could bask in her cousin's presence, warmed by Zinnia's presence. She burrowed into it, able to ignore the chill with the warmth of another body alongside her. Only then a new chill settled in, realizing who she was touching, and she froze completely.
Benedict was sure he felt the shuffling on the bench before her heard it but paid no heed until he felt the warmth of the girl pressing into him. Despite the quickening of his heart, he didn't mind, not even a little bit, shifting his body just slightly to allow her more comfort. He turned the page of his book and continued to read the next chapter but there was something else on his mind now, the growing sensation of closeness that he had thus far not shared with a girl. Something about sitting here with her just seemed proper.
Benedict felt enjoyed with the girl resting into him, he wondered how Millie was feeling as she toyed with her necklace, was it his presence? Surely not as she leaned on him and he in no way prevented her moving. Or could it simply be the subject of the book, it had been a riveting read and the pair had made excellent progress if measured in chapters. He leaned over, just to look where Miss Potts read, trying to catch the page number but in the process catching the scent of whatever floral soaps the girl washed her hair with.
As Millie pulled away from where Benedict had become comfortable, he couldn't help but feel a little robbed. But the pair had been reading for ages, it was becoming colder and the light was fading so he could assume the reason they were finished. Mrs Gallagher walked over to collect her ward and he suddenly felt quite aware of himself. Ben smiled to Millie without really knowing how to say goodbye. At least with the exciting action that was developing in the book, he had ample excuse to walk to her house in Bartonburg and bother her with his presence.
August 22, 2024 – 12:55 AM
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