"It's so hard to forget you..."

"Me cuesta tanto olvidarte..."

-Mecano

Jeanne sat patiently at the post office. She had been waiting for a parcel to arrive for weeks now, and she was getting impatient. According to the tracking number, it had arrived but the office denied having it under their possession. She tapped her foot, glancing at the time on her watch, she still had a bunch of homework to do and wasting her day at the post office was all going to be useless if she did not get her parcel.

"Oh, hey!" Her eyes widened and she stiffened as her eyes settled on the man of her dreams.

She coughed.

"Are you sick?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and taking a seat next to her.

Her gaze followed Cú all throughout his movements. She slowly shook her head.

She had almost died after seeing him snuggled up in a thin jacket. He looked so handsome, and this was bad! What ever happened to forgetting about him?

"What brings you here, lass?" He had a smirk on his face, lighting his features and making her heart swell. She swore her poor heart climbed up her throat.

"A parcel." She mumbled. Why was it so damn hard to talk to him? He was just a person, like any other, so why did she have to swallow the lump in her throat every time he smiled at her? It was just a smile!

He cooed, "Ooh, what type of parcel?"

"A gift."

"Who sent it to you? Your boyfriend?"

Her face flushed and she looked away, scolding herself a few more times. This was petty, or so she told herself. She had a crush on him for fours years now and it was slowly killing her. This man could literally ruin her calm demeanour in 0.2 seconds and she was starting to get tired of it, specially since he was such a huge flirt and player.

"Uh, non, je n'ai pas un petit ami..." She murmured, she was slowly starting to shy away again. Whenever she got nervous, her English took the back seat and she could never formulate meaningful sentences—not to mention in front of Cú.

He furrowed his brows, "You don't?" He had picked up his fair share of French in high school and off her or her family.

"Erm...Non."

There was that stupid perfect laugh of his again, she cringed to stop herself from blushing. "I highly doubt that, Jeanne. You're a beautiful young lady, anyone would be a fool not to take you out on a date."

Then why don't you, she thought but obviously kept silent. She took a deep breath, formulating her sentences in English this time, trying her best not to get too nervous. "Well, um, I... I don't."

He shook his head, "You're lying."

"If...If I had one, um, you would have seen him by...by now."

Cú tilted his head, a sly smile lighting his lips and cheekiness filling his eyes, "Well, if you don't, then maybe—"

"Miss Jehannette d'Arc?" The Postman called.

Maybe what? She stared Cú for a few lingering seconds until he let his gaze drift to the Postman.

"I think that might be you," he whispered at her, giving her a wink.

"O-ouai." She slowly stood up, almost as if she were dizzy. Jeanne made her way towards the counter of the post office and didn't even smile, mind only lingering on what Cú was going to say.

"I have looked for the parcel, and I am very sorry for the long wait, but here it is. I do not understand why you had not gotten it any sooner and I apologize on behalf of our staff." The Postman gave a solemn smile.

"Thank you, for everything. I hope you have a great day!" She took the package in her hands and just as she was about to turn around, the Postman called to her again.

"I would just need your signature," he spoke.

Jeanne laughed a little to subside her embarrassment and quickly did as asked on the digital pad and then thanked the man again.

"Do you know what it might be?" Cú stood from his seat and met her halfway.

Jeanne glanced down at the box in her hands. She shrugged, "Gilles... he usually sends me all kinds of stuff. Journals, um... miniature stuffed animals. Sometimes! Sometimes he even puts dried wild flowers from France in between pages because he knows I like them."

He raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that Illegal? You're not allowed to take plants to other countries or else they'll become invasive species."

Jeanne's eyes grew wide, "I-uh, I'm n-not planting them, though."

Cú shrugged, "Well, he seems like your boyfriend."

Immediately, the young lady shook her head rapidly, braid swinging from side to side, "Non! He's just a friend."

"Ah," he nodded, "so what're you up to tomorrow?"

She looked up at him, violet eyes blinking, "Homework afterschool..."

"Have, like, twenty minutes to spare?" He looked away from her, hands in his pockets and biting his lower lip.

"Erm...why?" She continued to stare at him, wide-eyed and mouth agape.

He signalled her that they should leave. After opening the door for her, he began, "Do you like sunsets?"

"Of course," she answered, thanking him after they had left the post office.

"Well, then, would you like to go see the sunset with me?"

"The...The sunset?" Her cheeks set ablaze with just the thought of it. Was he... was he asking her out on a date? Going to see the sunset was a date, right?

"Yeah, you know, like on a hill or something. Nothing special, just think of it as a friend outing."

Friend...of course, she knew she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up.

"Je...Je ne sais pas..." She held the box against her chest, hugging it tightly, "I...have a lot of homework."

"I want to talk to you, about some things, so if you can make it," he rubbed his neck, "You know, it's okay if you can't."

"I..." She looked through her bangs at him, as if her hair could somehow shield her from his gaze.

"Think about it. And uh, text me." He gave her a small smile, "I'll see you around, pretty thing." With that, he gave her a wave and ran across the street (after looking both ways of course).

Jeanne sighed under her breath, hugging the box closer to herself, "Amis..."

Scáthach and Arturia waited. The breakfast had gone cold, the day had grown old.

"Can I ask you something?" Scáthach tilted her head, leaning back onto the couch.

Arturia looked away from her phone's screen and faced the older woman. "Yes," she nodded, "of course you can."

"Why did you lie to me?"

Arturia furrowed her brows, she sat up straight and nearly coughed, "I never lied to you."

"I saw the news, you know. Back at the store...there's no need to hide it." She sighed, frowning and crossing her arms over her chest. "Do you want to explain it to me? Talk about it?"

The blonde bit her lower lip, "I..."

"You could have trusted me."

She breathed, "I just...I wanted to escape that."

Scáthach stood from the couch, walking into the kitchen. She did not return until much later, two mugs in her hands and a blanket hanging over her shoulder. Her lips were slowly lifted in a soft and warm smile. "Here." She handed on of the mugs over, setting her own on the coffee table before passing the blanket over as well.

"Thank you." Arturia nodded in acknowledgement, the smell of peach tea filling her lungs. "It truly means a lot."

"How about we talk about it when you're ready."

"I would like that very much, thank you."

They became silent and Scáthach opted to turn on the television, letting the room fill with whatever was currently airing.

Returning from the post office, Cú parked his car a little away from the barn. His mind had lingered dangerously on Jeanne. What had he done? He gripped the steering wheel and hit his head against it. He took a deep breath; she was young, and oh so innocent... what the bloody hell was he doing?

Idiot, he scolded himself.

Climbing out of the truck after killing the engine, he began his way towards his house but something caught his attention. The barn lights were on and a faint argument bubbled above the expanse of silence that covered the afternoon air.

"I...Diarmuid, what I do for you, does it mean nothing? Have I not sacrificed enough? Have I not?"

"Grainne—"

"I'm trying my best, but it isn't good enough for you, is it? I have been nothing but caring and loving and yet you... Arturia came and you just left me. What does she give you that I don't?"

Cú gulped. He wanted to stop her rant but he wasn't supposed to be listening to the conversation. He wasn't even supposed to know that they were fighting.

"There's nothing going on between Arturia and I."

"You think I haven't noticed? You can't fool me! Just tell me, tell me that you're leaving me. I know, I know that you like her. The way you look at her; I'm not stupid. I know... she fell for you and who can blame her. But—but I thought... I hoped you wouldn't just betray me like this."

"Grainne, what are you saying? I'm not leaving you." Cú sighed at his brother's comment, rolling his eyes.

He heard what sounded like a sob and then Grainne nearly shrieked, "Leave me alone! I... I need time to think. I'm hurt, Dia, the way you've been treating me...I never expected something like this from you."

"Babe—"

"Don't," she warned, "don't even think about it." There was a bit of rustling and then she stormed out.

Her eyes widened in shock and she jumped back, "Oh my god, how long have you been there?" She spat at Cú.

"Go home, Grainne." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't appreciate you calling my brother a cheater. Now, run along."

Grainne gave a short glare and proceeded towards her car.

Diarmuid finally popped up from within the barn and hid his face from his brother, hoping to squeeze by and go to his room without anyone bothering him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Cú nagged, crossing his arms over his chest. "Come back here."

Diarmuid walked back, face hanging in shame.

"Let's have a talk." Cú blinked, making a signal for his brother to enter the barn after Grainne's car had disappeared down the hill.

"I'm hungry." Diarmuid argued, his stomach growling. "I haven't had breakfast."

"Take an egg from one of the chickens."

"Ha, ha, very clever." Diarmuid frowned, leaning against a stable.

Cú stood in front of him after closing the barn doors, taking notice that the pitchfork had toppled to the floor. He then looked at Diarmuid again. "Arms please," he demanded.

Diarmuid glared at his brother through long lashes.

"Arms."

Diarmuid rolled up his sleeves and displayed his forearms, demonstrating that there was nothing there.

"Upper arms."

"I'm not going to take off my shirt."

Cú only sent on last glare before Diarmuid sighed, unbuttoning the shirt and slipping it off, he was glad he wore a t-shirt underneath or else he would have frozen. Rolling up the t-shirt sleeves to his shoulder, he showed his right arm first.

"The other one," Cú sighed and Diarmuid reluctantly shifted. He saw that his younger brother's arm was red, not bruised or scraped but vibrant red; as if he had been freshly slapped. "What the fuck?"

Diarmuid unrolled his sleeves and placed on the button up, quickly working with the buttons.

"And you're not leaving her?"

"It's not bad."

"Anything is bad. How did she do that?"

Diarmuid kept silent.

"Diarmuid," Cú chided.

"She only hit me twice, and I get why. I was acting like a horrible boyfriend," he sighed, "And it didn't even hurt."

Cú shook his head, closing his eyes and running a hand through his hair. "Is it true?"

"What?"

He opened his eyes, swallowing whatever he was going to say to his brother before, "That you like Arturia?"

Diarmuid looked shocked; his brows rose, jaw fell and his swallowed a gasp. "W-why would you...?"

"What do you like about Grainne?" Cú changed the subject, lips forming a thin line.

Diarmuid fell silent, his head dropping again as he took long breaths.

"What is it about her that makes you wake up everyday and like her?"

"We've been together forever... I can't really imagine life without her."

Cú took a step towards his brother. "Something you see in her that you want to keep, whatever it might be."

"She's passionate, she loves ice cream, she works hard for school or for me...she, she's my girlfriend and she's gone through a lot; I always want to be there for her. Ever since her mother left her, I've just wanted to see her smiling all the time. I don't want her to suffer." He slowly sank to the barn floor—not even caring that he was going to get dirty. "She used to be so bright, sweet and optimistic. You know, she loved hanging out with her friends and binging movies. And she loved going with me horseback riding or star gazing. She...she had this spark about her, but she lost it..."

Cú sat down next to his brother, patting his back.

"But, but now with the way Arturia is and how they're so different. I just, I don't know. Arturia isn't from here, she's on a whole other level; she so... perfect. She's just so... I don't know. I get all giddy and excited when I see her and it's just wrong. I'm treating Grainne like nothing... but I'm so afraid."

There was silence and a cow mooed before Diarmuid let out a melancholic chuckle.

"I'm afraid that I'll leave Grainne because I'll stop loving her, just like her mother did. I am just so scared."