The Poison Season(53)

“I’m sorry,” he said, already turned around and facing away. “I have the blueberries.”

“Just a second.” He heard the water ripple, followed by the rustling of fabric. “All right.”

When he turned back around, she was wearing her still-damp dress. Her hair hung in long, loose waves. They would both need a little more time to dry.

“Here.” He laid his tunic out on the rock next to her and she thanked him, eagerly popping a blueberry into her mouth. He was still shirtless, but she wasn’t blushing, at least.

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Jaren stared out at the Forest, wanting to ask her something, anything, but not knowing where to begin. They had nothing in common, no shared experiences. Her life was confined to this small island, to people who all behaved and thought the way she did.

They reached for the last blueberry at the same time, their fingers brushing. When he looked up at her, her lips were stained purple, in stark contrast to her pale skin. She looks, he thought with a blush of his own, like she’s just been kissed.

“You take it,” Leelo said. “I have plenty more.”

With the blueberries finished and their clothing fairly dry, there was no reason not to go back to the cottage, though Jaren was dreading more time alone in the cramped space. He wished he could go home, where Father would undoubtedly be cooking something delicious and his sisters would tease him for getting lost again. But really, they would all be relieved that he was back.

“Are you okay?” Leelo asked as they walked. She was braiding her hair over one shoulder, and he almost asked her to keep it loose, though that would be wholly inappropriate and frankly rude. He’d once told his twin she should curl her hair like Summer did, and she’d thrown a shoe at him.

He glanced over at Leelo with a shrug instead. “I’m fine. Just homesick, I suppose.”

“I’ve never had the chance to be homes—” Suddenly, Leelo froze.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

“I heard something.” She pulled him behind a tree next to her, so focused on listening she probably didn’t realize she was still holding his hand.

Their bodies were pressed close together. The scent of her damp hair made him a little dizzy. After a minute passed, he shifted his weight off his bad leg. When Leelo pressed her hand to his chest to still him, he was sure she’d be able to feel his heart hammering beneath it.

Something moved in the undergrowth, this time loud enough for Jaren to hear. His stomach twisted when he remembered how precarious his situation was. If someone found him, they would kill him, and Leelo would be exiled. He held his breath and closed his eyes.

And opened them at the sound of Leelo laughing.

A porcupine waddled past them, oblivious to their terror.

“Saints,” Jaren breathed. “I thought we’d been caught for sure.”

“So did I.” Leelo seemed to realize she was not only holding Jaren’s hand but also had her other hand pressed to his chest and stepped quickly aside. “Sorry.”

He mumbled something that was supposed to be “no apology necessary” but came out as utter nonsense. Fortunately, she was moving again and didn’t seem to notice.

They stopped outside the cottage. Jaren had hoped she might come in, but the sun was setting now. She bent down and took up the full basket of berries she’d picked earlier.

“You’re all dry now, at least,” he said.

“Thank goodness. Oh, I almost forgot.” She lifted the cloth inside the basket and poked around underneath, removing a little parcel. “It’s not much, but it should last you until I can bring more food again.”

“Thank you. For everything.”

She nodded and glanced over her shoulder. He could tell she needed to go, but something was stopping her.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I was wondering if you’d teach me that song. The one you sang before.”

Jaren laughed in surprise. “The lullaby? Are you sure? It’s only a silly nursery rhyme.”

“Right. Of course. I just—”

Why was he arguing with her when what he wanted was for her to stay as long as possible? Before he could overthink it, he held out his hand.

She only hesitated a moment before taking it, and he led her over to the stump he’d used as a seat before. She sat down next to him, placing the basket near her feet but not letting go of his hand. He wondered if she knew how beautiful she was, or if she was truly as unaware as she seemed.

He sang the song for her three times, and on the last time, she joined him. He didn’t think she meant to do it. Her eyes were closed, and she sang so softly that the words drifted over his skin like snowflakes, chilling him.

When she’d finished, she opened her eyes and looked over at him, her face lit up with wonder, like that silly little nursery rhyme was the most brilliant thing she’d ever heard. And he had done that. He wanted to do it again.

“Did I get it right?” she asked.

He wasn’t sure anything he said would be coherent, so he nodded instead.

Leelo looked around, as if she was waiting for something to happen, but the Forest was as it always was, full of distant birdsong and rustling in the undergrowth. There were no roots snaking up out of the soil toward them. No storm clouds loomed overhead. “I keep expecting the Forest to respond,” she said, so quietly it was little more than a whisper.