Blaze walked through the door carrying a huge stack of parcels and maps. They were stacked precariously on top of each other and were about to fall.  

"Oh let me help you with that!" Everly said as she rushed over to catch some of falling maps and packages.  Blaze reluctantly gave some to her and she grabbed the bundle of stuff and went over to place them on top of a large table that was near the back of the room.  Everly gently put down the packages and wiped her hands against each other to get the dust and grime off.  

"You shouldn't be carrying that many things at once!" Everly chastised.  "With the ship rocking around and such a big pile of stuff, you could surely trip and fall!"  She watched him walk over to the table and place down the rest of the parcels.  He too dusted off his hands, but he wiped them on the front of his trousers.

"Thank you for your help," Blaze said as he sat down in his hammock.  "I will be more careful next time.  His tone sounded almost monotone and his voice was very deep.  Everly was shocked.  Even though his words were very abrupt and closed off, that was the most he had ever said to her.  Blaze reached for his bag that was tied to his hammock and untied it.  The contents of his bag spilled out and Everly got a glimpse of what was inside.

Some clothes, maps, and some parcels wrapped in fabric and tied at the top with a thin cord.  A silver bag with gold embossing fell out of the bag.  Something cylinder-shaped was inside she noticed because it rolled in the straight path right towards her.  It landed at her feet and Everly picked it up and examined it.

Whatever was inside the bag was fairly heavy.  It had the weight of a small rock.  Observing the bag, she noticed that the gold embossing created ship patterns on the silver.  Everly could distinguish waves and boats.  She also noticed sea serpents gliding through the waves.  The detail in then was outstanding.  Every scale on the serpent glistened and it looked like they were shaking in the wind.  Everly could have sworn that she saw one of them move and she was about to check again before quick hands snatched it away.  She was so entranced by the detail on the bag that she hadn't noticed that Blaze had picked up all of his belongings.  

 "I'm sorry," she stammered. "The bag was just so beautiful I couldn't help taking a quick peek.  Please forgive me."  Everly dropped her head and stared at her feet.  

"I didn't mean it," she mumbled as she walked over to her hammock and sat down, head in her hands.  Blaze looked over at her with a long glare but softened it when he saw how sad she looked.  She looked truly mournful and apologetic.  He saw in horror small crystal-like tears rolling down her face and into her lap.

Blaze looked over her stunned, an expression of shock crossing his face.  He had made Everly cry.  He made her large eyes fill up with tears and spill out.  Blaze cursed to himself quietly and slowly walked over to her.  He vowed to himself never to hurt her again and if he did he would pay.

Blaze sat down next Everly and tapped her shoulder.  Everly flinched and her small delicate hands rose up to her eyes and wiped away the large tears.  She looked up at him and tried to put a smile on her face but it wasn't genuine.  It was heartbreakingly sad and Blaze felt his heart pang in pain at the sight.  

"Why are you crying?" Blaze asked.  He was curious as to why a simple act caused her fragile self-esteem to shatter and break.  Placing his hands on his back he rubbed slow circles on her small trembling back and waited until she replied. 

"I-I-I-I-I-I-" Everly stuttered. She could barely get a word out let alone an explanation.

"Shhh shhh." Blaze said. "It's ok. Just breathe. Look at me." Blaze removed his hands from her back and raised his hands up and down in his lap.

"Breathe in." His hands went up. "Breathe out." His hands fell. He repeated this multiple times until he saw Everly calming down. Less tears fell from her large eyes and she stopped trembling. When Blaze saw that she was truly calm he wrapped one of his arms around her small shoulders and placed his other hand over hers in her lap. He could feel her shoulders rising and falling after each delicate breath she took. They stayed in that position for about five minutes, both of them waiting until one of them spoke.

"Thank you. You didn't have to do that. I would have been fine." Everly said as she turned her head to face him. On her features rested a soft, grateful look. "I used to get panic attacks and hyperventilate back home all the time. Though I have been getting more than usually ever since I got on this ship." she quietly muttered to herself.

Blaze gently squeezed her hand. "I will always be here for you if you need support or help. Don't worry." He let out a soft smile of comfort and removed his arm from her shoulders and started to get up.
"Wait!" Everly called. She grabbed his toned upper arm and tried to pull him back. "I need to ask you something." When Blaze turned around he noticed a curious look grazed her soft features. He sat back down and looked at her with an expecting gaze.

"Yes? What is it?" His large grey eyes met her brown ones and Everly found herself lost in them. They were like pools of the melted galaxy. Silver but with many different shades hidden in them. Pale blue, essences of purple and pink. They were almost metallic and reflected off of everything leaving his eyes crystal-like. She gazed into his eyes a bit longer than necessary. They were just so pretty. How had she not noticed them before?

"Everly? Hello? Everly?"

Everly blinked and tore her eyes away from his. She blushed a bright scarlet and her cheeks flushed. She had been staring into his eyes so blatantly. He probably thinks I am a maniac.

"I um... I um... um..." Everly trailed off. She was so embarrassed.  Blaze was trying to restrain a small smile from appearing. She looks cute when she blushes. I should make her blush more often. Wait no! Stop it, Blaze! You are not like that!

"What is it, little moon?" Blaze said with a confident smirk on his face. Everly let out a small gasp and started to blush again. What did he just call me? Ugh, stop blushing Evie! I need to wipe that proud smirk off his handsome face! Shoot! Why did I think that?

"I was just curious." She looked down into her lap with a guilty expression washing over her features. She felt bad about asking this.

"Why did you now start talking to me? You have ignored me for the past 6 months and now you decide to speak.  I have tried numerous times to befriend you, but all you do is ignore me or act like I don't exist. You acted like you didn't even care about me, and yet here you are. Comforting me while I cry."

She paused for a moment and continued.

"Every time you acknowledge me or talk a bit more than usual I am happy because I think that I might have found a friend. Then an hour later you act like not even there. My emotions can't go through that. Please tell me if you are truly ready to be my friend or if this was a one-time thing."

Everly's voice cracked at the end.  From the amount of raw and pure emotion that was in her word.  

Blaze looked at her shocked. His smirk flew off his features and a small grim line appeared to replace it. He hadn't realized how badly he had affected her. I hurt her again...

"Listen Everly." He grasped her hands in his and gave them a small comforting squeeze, for Everly was out of breath from her speech.

"I never meant to hurt you. Honestly, I was trying to be nice. I considered you to be my friend long even though I didn't show it.  I have a difficult time expressing my emotions. I am not a very warm and fuzzy person. It takes time for me to fully be affectionate and kind. I am so sorry and I hope that you forgive me. I would absolutely love to be your friend."

Blaze let out a long breath and squeezed Everly hands again.

"Forgive me for how I hurt you. Please. I beg of you. I promise to be the kindest, sweetest person alive to you."

Blaze removed his hands from Everly's and started to stand up. He had just revealed a secret to a girl he barely knew. What am I doing? He turned away from her and began to walk away, but stopped when he heard a small, clear voice.

"I forgive you."

Blaze faced her and let out a small grin. He brought his hand up and out and beckoned for her to take it. Everly looked at the smooth hand and then back up at him. Her face held an expression of doubt and uncertainty.

"I promise never to hurt you little moon. Trust me." 

 And with that Everly rose from her hammock and placed her small, cold hand in his. Both of them grabbing their backpacks, walked out the door, hand in hand, never letting go.       

A/N:  1619 words.