Nothing has changed. Ryesen set the book she was reading aside unable to concentrate.  She thought after her talk with Travis that he would phase her out, or more likely stop talking to her all at once. She thought that he would hate to be around her or even look in direction. She kept putting him down over and over yet he stuck around. Ryesen felt a sting in her chest remembering the flash of disappointment that crossed his features before he covered it with a smile. And he didn't ask her again about her so called 'boyfriend'. 

They haven't texted or spoken about anything other than school stuff. No matter how many times they approached one another it just seemed like there was nothing to say. Her mood was gloomy for days. Just as gray as those beautifully fully bloomed tulips sitting on her bedside table. 

Her phone started to chime and the caller ID lightened up the screen. Ryesen's eyes widened as she stared at it for a second  before answering. "Hello..."

"Hey... Hi!" Travis's voice traveled nervously. "Is this a bad time?" 

"Not at all. I thought you were working today."

"I am. I'm on break." He took a long deep breath and took a few steps away from other coworkers who were on break as well. "Um... so... I'm calling to tell you that Max is hosting one of those bonfire gatherings this weekend at his family's lake house. And... um... a group of us is going. It's going to be fun... Zoe said that she would come if you did and... um... please come..." Deep breathing didn't help his nerves at all.

He stopped talking when he went off text with the what he was supposed to say. He played this conversation in his mind many times yet the last two words blurted out without monitoring. He could sense the rejection in that stretching silence and it made him anxious. 

"I don't know, Travis... it doesn't seem like a goo..."

"No, listen..." he interrupted, "We've agreed on being friends, right? For that, I am asking a friend to attend a party with a bunch of absolutely crazy - but reasonably responsible - teenagers and have some fun." Even though she couldn't see him his fingers kept raising in counting, "Second thing, as a teenager, you're obligated to go to as many parties as you can. I'm not making that up. That's the law." Another finger joined the count, "Third, you're only here for a short while, so don't you think you should make the best of it? I'm not saying let's rob a store, but hey, if that's what you want to do, then what the hell, let's do it! What's a few months in jail? It would be like a vacation."

She couldn't not laugh. She started smiling since the mention of the second reason.

" Is that a yes? " Travis asked undisturbed by the eagerness in his voice.

Ryesen sighed with a smile," Yes."

Travis had his arm stretched over his head, fist closed in victory. The jump that came along was unpreventable. He turned to avoid the strange gazes that he got from his coworkers. "Since not every one knows where the lake house is we'll be meeting at the supermarket parking at four. I've already swapped my shift with one of the guys. So if you want I can come and get you afterwards and then we get Zoe. How does that sound?"

"That seemed like a lot of work. Why don't I get Zoe and then meet you at the supermarket? We can take your truck from there," she suggested.

"Yeah, sure" He wasn't about to argue now that she agreed.

She heard someone calling him and Travis yelling back, "One minute!" Before focusing back on their phone call.

"Is there anything I should bring with me?" She asked.

"Just come, I'll take care of the rest"

Her smile widened, "I'll be there," she promised.

He sighed in relief, "Good, then I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Ryesen placed her hands over her warm face. There was a bubbly, warm, happy feeling in her chest. This was nice. This was an experience she never had before. This was something that made her happy. 

She smiled as she looked at her grey tulips on her nightstand and jolted away with wide eyes. They were no longer grey. The petals were a beautiful shade of soft light pink. "What in the name on The Ancient One!" she mumbled in confusion as she looked closer. Just as soon as the words left her lips the that pink slowly folded into yellow. Ryesen gasped in shock and jumped off bed with her eyes locked on the strange plant. Watching it as that bright yellow pleated to a generous lime-green before her eyes. She stepped closer as her mind went through the knowledge of Botany. 

"There are plants that could change colors but not like this! Not tulips specifically. They do change color slightly or altogether but not like this! Not in a matter of seconds!" She thought out loud. 

Her fingers touched the petals lightly while her brain was still running what she had learned, taught and read. Until she stopped at something she read once. One the rares. Things that a faerie could live a lifetime without coming across. Things that were told as stories that started with 'Legend has it' or 'Legend be told'.

"Coat them with a drop of your blood, Jarle told me.... But how could it be?" Excitement immersed her and just as it did the lime-green folded to a light shade of violet. It was mimicking her emotionally. The Tulips were displaying her feelings in colors. The blood she coated the bulbs with connected them to her. She had one of the 'Legend be told'. In fact, she has quite a number of them. Those gifts that Jarle brought her through the years were exotic and rare and not to mention impossible to find.

She turned and ran down the stairs. Jarle was just closing the entrance door behind him when he was attacked with a sudden hug. He was about to scold when Ryesen looked up with a wide grin and cut in before he could utter a word, "Thank you for the Tulips! I've figured out what they do!" And then he was released as she ran back upstairs yelling, "Ovia! come look what those tulips do!"

Ovia walked out the living room, "They're tulips! They do what any plant does, right?"

Jarle shrugged and kept his silence. He wasn't permitted to share the source of those gifts. It wasn't his secret to tell. There will come a day when she learned who was sending her those gifts. 

------------

Ryesen and Zoe walked to where Max and the others gathered. Travis wasn't there yet. Max introduced them to the new members they never met before. Some were from another school but they were all nice -except for one-. Jake. He stuck to Ryesen like a pine tree sap and as soon as the introductions were over he was standing beside her. A little too close for her liking. Ryesen took a step away to regain a bit of her personal space.

"Do I know you..." Jake eyed her like she was candy, "'that you look a lot like my next girlfriend."

Not a second later Jake was jabbed hard with a shopping cart that made him yelp. "Hey, sorry man. Didn't see you there." Travis said innocently before looking at the others. "Since we're all here shouldn't we get going?" He asked with a wide smile wedging that cart further between her and Jake forcing him away from her.

Ryesen glanced at Travis with gratitude and his wide forced smile turned genuine. Everyone started to load the bags into their cars. It was a large group, four vehicles including Travis's truck.

Just as Ryesen settled in her place next to Travis, Jake decided to make another move, "Hey, mind if I ride with you?" He held the truck door with one hand while his arm other rested on the frame.

Travis leaned forward popping from behind her, "Yes, we're packed. Now move so Zoe could get in. You're blocking the way."

Ryesen felt sorry for the guy, specially with the broken-hopes look that showed on his face before he retreated. Shortly after, the cars started to move in a file line following Max. While Travis drove last in case any of the others got separated. It would be easier to honk for them to follow than to circle back.

There was still a tad of awkwardness between Ryesen and Travis that neither of them could shake off. The easy conversation, jokes , laughs, music, Zoe's attempts and the forty minutes trip all failed to erase it. At moments, it led to nothing but silence.

The wooden cabin was old but fully functional and furnished. It had large windows with thin drapes that allowed the light in. Ryesen took a lung full of the nature-infused fresh air. Even though the house she was living in right now was acceptably close to the forest - as her agreement with her father- yet she missed this. The whispers of tree branches, the swirl of the cold breeze, the crunch of dried leafs under her feet, the forest birds chirps, she missed it all. As much as that small town fascinated her, she was at peace here. Tranquility washed over her like a trickling stream scintillating under the soft sunrise.

"This place is amazing" Zoe sighed standing next to her.

Ryesen smiled, "It is."

Travis stepped beside them as he looked around too, "I agree."

All three of them looked at one another with wide serene smiles. That bit of previous awkwardness melted away. Travis cleared his throat when he noticed he was staring. He turned around a moment too late -after Ryesen saw his face change color- and walked to the bed of his truck. 

A new thing Ryesen learned about humans was that they were loud. They made a great deal of noises as they walked, leaving a trail of crushed leaves and broken twigs behind them. She has seen Orcs with more grace.

The boys already started the grill preparing food for the group while others helped slicing veges and putting out drinks and water. Soon, the low sizzle as the juices from the meat dropped on that lit charcoal creating a small cloud of smoke infused the air with the scent of barbecue.

"Who wants cheese with their burgers?" Travis asked while flipping the burgers and hot dogs. 

"First round is ready!"Max announced while placing a large hot plate on the table. "Who wants what? Chicken burger, beef burger, hot dog?"

Others rushed to grab plates and build their sandwiches. Bottles of ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, mayonnaise and relish were being passed around. Ryesen picked a plate and was about to put some of those sliced vegetables when Travis blocked her way. He took her empty plate and replaced with a full one. Sandwich, sweet corn, potato among other stuff. 

Ryesen looked at the heavy plate, "I don't think I can eat this..."

He smiled, "It's a veggie burger. Don't worry, it didn't touch any of the other stuff." 

Ryesen was touched, "That is so sweet of you"

Travis winked, "Told you I would take care of the rest. Enjoy." 

She watched him walk back to the grill and slap one of the guys hand away, "Hey! You know better than to touch another man's grill! Don't make me take that sandwich away from you!" Ryesen laughed and a walked to sit beside Zoe and the others around the bonfire the boys built.

"Hey, how are you sister's wedding preparations going?" Ryesen asked before taking a bite of the sandwich Travis prepared for her. She had to admit, it was good.

Zoe rolled her eyes and growled, "I think she's loosing her mind and taking us down with her."

Ryesen laughed, "That bad?"

"You have no idea. She's walking around with a notepad to wright down the things she suddenly remembers for the wedding. She keeps loosing her pens because she forgets that she placed them in her hair," Zoe wiggled her index finger through her bun emphasizing her point. "I've even found her notepad in the freezer once, and that's not the worse of it."

Zoe took a gulp from her diet coke before she started, "The worst part that she want's her bridesmaids to wear her favorite color. Guess what it is. Just take a shot."

There was no way Ryesen could not smile. "Umm...I don't know. Aqua blue?"

"I wish!" Zoe snapped in a hilarious way, "It's bright orange. Can you imagine that!" Then her eyes widened in horrified way, "I swear, none of the bridesmaids will ever make it to the wedding. All the cars will swerve pass us because we'll look like freaking traffic cones." Then she looked away picturing her future, "Oh my god, my future job will be a traffic cone. I'm sure my height would be perfect and I can wear my bridesmaid dress to work."

Zoe broke in laughs hearing her friend's cachinnation.

"Right now my room is turned into a storage unit, that is, of course, besides the bride's room, the living room and the garage. Let me say, if her fiance ever goes missing it's probably because she has stashed him along with the wedding preparations."

Ryesen could barely say before she broke in a fit of laughs, "Let's hope it won't be the freezer."

Travis joined them on the last peak of their giggles. The sound made him happy yet bummed him. He was happy that the girls were having a good time and Ryesen looked breathtaking when she laughed, but bummed that he missed it. "What's so funny?"

Zoe sighed a deep breath, "My sister's wedding stuff."

Ryesen fought the last of her laughs too and said sincerely, "If there is any thing I could do to help, don't hesitate."

Zoe's eyes sparkled, "Really?"

Ryesen nodded, "Of course."

Travis leaned forward with a wide smile, "Here too."

Zoe smiled with appreciation, "Aww, you guys..." She gave Ryesen a tight hug and Travis a nod of gratitude. Then she added making them laugh, "I do hope we'll still stay friends after all the wedding drama and hanging around my crazy family."

Every one joined the circle around the fire after fetching a plate and a drink. They ate, talked, laughed, some shared embarrassing stories, and some scary stories were thrown in as well -hence the fire and the location-. A guy called Pete was talking nonstop to Zoe. Ryesen glanced at her friend to check if she needed any meddling to get out of a sticky situation. She knew how uneasy Zoe felt around others- specially strangers. Zoe seemed comfortable around him, a bit shy, but laughing and talking nonetheless.

"Don't worry," Travis said when he noticed where her gaze drifted, "Pete is one of the most respectful guys. I assure you if he wasn't we wouldn't even have invited him when there were girls in the group..." His heart jumped in his chest when he saw Ryesen was looking at him and he lost his words. 

Ryesen felt a wiggle in her heart. She saw the 'big brother' that Zoe mentioned before and the  admiration for him grew.

Pete, pulled a ukulele out its case and started playing a soft tune that suited the easy atmosphere that surrounded them. It was a peaceful melody until Max began to sing with an awful, scratchy, absolutely off-key voice that made them laugh and they begged him to shut up.

Later, a bag of marshmallows and long sticks were being passed around the circle. Before they reached Ryesen Travis handed her her own bag with a two-word explanation, "Vegetarian friendly." His heart melted into a sigh when when she smiled at him. 

Ryesen looked at the bag and the stick she had in hand a bit confused. She leaned close to Travis and whispered, "Um... I get the marshmallows, but what should I do with the stick?" She saw in one of the movies that they had much smaller marshmallows with their hot chocolate drinks but that was the sum of her knowledge.

"You never toasted a marshmallow before?" he was surprised when she shook her head answering.

"Have you ever had S'mores?" he asked. Another head shake. 

Travis took the bag from her hands and pulled the end it open, "Let me say that you're in for a treat. I wouldn't say it's a delicacy..." he picked two marshmallows and skewered them before handing her one. "Now, what you want to do it to slightly toast your marshmallow like this."

Ryesen followed and lowered it to the fire. Others were doing the same too. 

"Careful, they burn fast," Travis instructed. 

Her attention went back to what she was doing and she pulled hers out. It lit like a candle and as black a coal. "Too much?" She blinked at the shrinking thing at the end of her skewer.

He chuckled, "Just a little. Here, try again." He fed the burnt one to the fire and replaced it with another one.

Ryesen watched hers carefully. Faeries don't rely on cooking much. At all in her case. Her visit to the Land of Man didn't spark any interests in that division. Yet this seemed fun.Her toasting skills were as good as her bowling skills. She quickly pulled it out and started blowing the fire out. "We lost another one," she pouted.

Travis was laughing. "Here, I'll eat that." He took it off her hands and gave her his perfectly toasted one. "Now, take a cracker from the box here and break it in half. Good. Now, top one half with a piece of chocolate from here." He already had the wrapper open and ready. "I'm going to place the marshmallow on top and you'll have to squish it with the other half of the cracker while I pull the skewer."

She followed as instructed and now held the weird smashed cracker-sandwich and looked at Travis, "Now what?"

"You eat it." He shrugged with a smile. The skeptical glance didn't pass him. "Take a big bite, so you'll taste everything." He kept an eye on her expressions. His proud moment of introducing her to something she never tried before was short lived as an unsettling surge rushed through him with an emerged thought. Everyone likes S'mores, right?  She looked at him with wide eyes as she chewed and swallowed.

"This is disgusting!" she exclaimed pointing to her mouth. Travis held his breath and prepared to apologize. Then she added with a smile, "I love it!" and took another bite. He heaved a relieved breath. A grin stretched his lips when she did a little happy dance while eating. 

Travis has already prepared her another one before she got to ask. "You make toasting marshmallows look so easy." 

He laughed, "One of my many-many talents." She nudged him with her shoulder laughing too. "Dad used to take us camping all the time before... you know."

The sadness that colored his face weighed heavily on her chest. Even more  when he smiled as he carried on, "We used to sit around the fire just like this and make tons of S'mores, more than we could eat. I remember this one time we went camping before Maggie was born, just dad and me, and I ate like two packs worth of crackers and chocolate. We spent the night in the hospital because I didn't stop thro... um... had a stomachache. That was the best day ever!"

She secretly smiled when he changed 'throwing up' to 'stomachache' then laughed of his description of 'the best day ever'. This guy was adorable.

"You know you could make those at home. You don't have to build a fire or anything." He rounded the subject back to the cheerful part.

"For real! I would love for Ovia and Jarle to try them."

That opened a window of opportunity of spending more time together and he took it. "If you like we could swing by the supermarket later... I mean since your car is already there. It's pretty easy to make at home. Less ... um... casualties," he wiggled her half burnt marshmallow he had stuffed between two crackers before biting into it.

She playfully nudged him with her shoulder making him laugh, "Hey! That was on purpose," Ryesen giggled at he own failure. "But that would be great. Thank you."

They sat in silent for a moment watching the crackling wood and dancing flames. Tiny specks of flames floating in air then slowly turning into ash dust. The smell of burning wood filling the air along with the conversation and laughter. 

"Did you go camping?" Travis asked.

"Hmm..." Between her father, Ovia and Jarle, she was lucky to sneak out Tír na nÓg let alone camping. "Not as much as I want to."

Out of the blue, two loud shrieks made every one jolt and turn in their places. Two guys came running towards the lake wearing nothing but shorts.

"What the hell!" Max muttered. "We said no swimming!" He yelled.

One of them stuck his tongue out at him making others laugh and cheer them on. They crossed the wooden dock before jumping into the freezing water with a splash. The anticipation of skin pricking ice water granted a few gasps. Silence followed as the group waited for them to surface. Moment later they they came out to breathe with their arms lifted over their head in triumph and their breaths coming out in clouds.

"Well, you weren't kidding about the absolutely crazy part," she whispered to Travis making him laugh.

There was a fit of laughs every time the swimming boys shivered and their teeth chattered. They wrapped themselves in blanket Max brought from the house. With wet hair, red noses and teary eyes they planted themselves close to the fire to warm up. One of them has already started sneezing.

Ryesen was grinning when Zoe walked her direction after giving Pete her number and having his. Her sweet, extremely shy friend was blushing a nice shade of red -and it wasn't because of the cold weather-. The excited giggles were unpreventable. The way back was more cheerful than when the started the trip.

They stopped by the supermarket to buy what Ryesen needed for S'mores before heading to their cars. Travis and Zoe got in Travis's truck while Ryesen got in her car. They followed Ryesen home to make sure she got there safely before driving off while waving goodbye. Those two were the most decent and caring humans that Ryesen ever met. 

Jarle and Ovia were both in the living room when she entered. She had a beaming grin as she looked at them. "Helloooo" she chirped.

"Someone looks happy" Ovia stated and teased. "Did you have a good time?"

"Tha mi a 'faireachdainn toilichte." She smiled.

It was clear for both of her fairtheoir that she felt as she said, Happy. 

"Jarle, I need your help in the kitchen." Ryesen said while putting her bags on the ground and took off her jacket.

"What about me?" Ovia objected.

"Do you know how to work the stove?" If there was anything Ovia is bad at - it was anything kitchen related.

Ovia waved her away, "You know I'm here for the important stuff"

That was a clear no that made Ryesen laugh. "However, I do need you to try this out" she picked up the bags and wiggled them. "I think you'd like it too."

Ovia jumped off the couch, "And you'll tell us about your trip."



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Just for knowledge:

Botany: The science of plants, plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology.