Vera wondered how she’d gotten into this situation, anyways. She cursed Corvin for tricking her.

  Again

  Corvin told her he’d figured out something that she’d wanted to see, and that was apparently having him trip her right into her crush. He’d then slinked away with a manic grin before either girl could realize what he’d done, and Vera was just laying on top of the elf, stammering an apology as she got up. Her cheeks were red, and Vera turned to glare at the empty hallway he’d scampered down.

  She would murder him for this later.

  A glance at Iria told Vera that Corvin had done something. What, she was completely unaware. Iria was usually just so composed, so regal. It was one of the reasons Vera fell for her. She was just so calm, so unflappable. But now, she was also blushing pink as Vera shyly offered her a hand up, the plants growing out of her robes starting to bloom, color enveloping her normally plant-like robes as Iria took her hand, and Vera pulled her up.

  Vera was distinctly aware that she was blushing, if her cheeks heating up to the point where they were burning was any indication. That, and Iria was staring at her with those stupidly vibrant hazel eyes, and she was also blushing. Vera couldn’t take her eyes off Iria, and she once again vowed revenge on Corvin in her head.

  “I’m so-sorry, are you alright Iria?” Vera muttered, attempting to avert her eyes from the elven girl who was also attempting to do the same thing. It was just so hard to take her eyes off Iria’s face.

  She tried, though, looking anywhere but at Iria even though her robes were blooming with more colors than green they typically held.Her magic had betrayed her, once again.

  Of course, it had happened at the very worst time. High cheekbones and hazel eyes had locked onto her again. Iria opened her mouth to speak, and Vera fought the urge to pull a Corvin and kiss the girl right then and there. She wanted to do it then and there, but the words that flowed out of Iris's mouth paralyzed her.

  “I’m fine, are you okay Vera?” Despite the attempt at a regal composure, Iria sounded embarrassed and nervous. Now, Iria was locking her eyes with vera and she couldn’t look away, didn’t want to look away. It seemed that Iria felt the same way, and suddenly Vera relaxed. She opened her mouth, breathless.

  “Yea,Yea I'm fine Iria.” Vera's voice came out equally as nervous, and she hated herself. She couldn’t gain control of her emotions, and her robes began to cycle like a bouquet at a flower shop. She once more cursed Corvin angrily as Iria’s ears also started to turn a light pink. He’d stuck her in an impossible situation, but she deserved for it believing his intentions were anything but chaotic.

  Because of course he had

  “I didn't know you could even do that.” Iria said, her cool unflappable tone returning. Vera once again glanced down at her flowery robes, each petal starting to turn pink. Because oh fuck, oh fuck, Iria was standing right here and was looking at her. Vera bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, and tried to get the flowers under control. She needed to stop them from turning pink, like right now.

  “Yea, I didn’t know the petals could cycle like that.” Vera’s voice came out slightly less nervous, but still slightly out of breath. It was true too, she had never been thrust into a situation that had her floundering like this. Vera looked at iria, really looked at her now. Iria’s face seemed to switch from cool, collected calm to flickers of embarrassment as the other girl stepped forward. Iria was close, too close to be comfortable.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Vera didn’t step away though. She didn’t dare, with Iria this close to her. Though, Iria likely wasn’t doing better with her breath slightly hitched. Iria opened her mouth, but closed it a second later. It was like she wasn't able to speak, but a second later Iria did.

  “I think since I have nothing better to do, we could go on a walk if you’d like?” Iria's words had tumbled out, almost like a waterfall as Vera tried to process it all. Was Iria asking her out on a date, literally ten minutes after they’d tumbled into each other.

  Well now she’d have to draw an’ quarter corvin for putting her in a situation she couldn’t say no to. Vera nodded, and they started walking in comfortable silence. As they walked, Iria shuffled closer as they made their way through the halls and towards the grounds. It was almost spring, and Vera smiled faintly as she saw the blooming plants through the windows. There were certainly worse ways to spend her time than whatever this was.

  Was it a date, was it two friends hanging out? Vera really didn’t have the answer to that and it confused her.

  “Is Professor Audin still giving you a hard time in advanced magical botany?” Iria’s voice brought her back from her panicking, and Vera fought hard to not scowl. Apparently being druid meant that she knew more than everyone else, according to Audin. Mercifully, Vera’s robes had settled into a light green once again, but there were little flecks of pink still stuck in her robes.

  “Don’t remind me, he seems to think I know everything just because I’m a druid. I keep telling him, but he doesn’t listen.” Vera bemoaned, specks of her robes starting to bloom red as she thought about that stupid professor. She’d have to bring it up to the other professors later, maybe even the headmaster if this kept going on. It was just so unfair.

  “Knowalge is gained, not Inherited.” Iria said serenely, though Vera could feel a flicker of irritation in her tone. It was one of the things that made her so enchanting, yet so frustratingly hard to read. That was one of the reasons she never said anything to the elf, even after the three years they’d known each other. Iria was just so terrifyingly unapproachable, so ethereal. But she was here, with Vera.

  By the four seasons, HELP

  Vera sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. “If only our dear professor would understand that as much as our headmaster seems to. If only.” She muttered, glancing at Iria as they made their way down the stairs out towards the grounds. She could hear the birds, sunlight tickling her skin as they exited the castle itself. The grounds were vibrant, flowers blooming with every step she took through the grounds. Iria for her part looked healthier in the sun than in the castle's cold, dark hallways.

  “That’s neither here nor there, Vera. It is a rather nice day and I would rather like your insight on the crystal lilies near the west end of the lake.” Iria replied, her voice tinged with a musical chime Vera had seldom heard from the elf. At the mention of the crystal lilies, Vera grabbed Iris's hands, and practically dragged the elf there.

  When they reached, Vera dropped Iria's hands and practically ran to the edge of the lake, watching the crystalline lilies float on thick pads that meandered around the west end of the lake. One floated towards Vera, but she didn't dare touch it, lest it unleash its blinding defenses upon her eyes.

  Iria had caught up, and crouched down next to Vera. When she attempted to reach for the flower, Vera swatted Iris's hand from it to avoid the elf from being blinded due to her own foolishness.

  “Don’t touch them. They’ll blind you if you do.” Vera warned as she pulled the elfs hand back, and Iria had the courtesy to look ashamed. Iria sighed, and Vera let her hand go before shifting her face to Iria, and away from the flowers. When Vera opened her mouth to say something, Iria put a finger to her lips and Vera closed it.

  “Don’t.” Iria muttered as Vera sat down, and Iria sat down beside her. Then, Iria leaned her head on Vera's shoulder, and just for a moment, the world felt right. Any thought of getbacks for Corvin's little prank escaped her mind.

  She could get used to this.