30 Sunrises later:

"Emerald c'me out!" Arlen spoke once again hoping the beauty would come out of her hiding but much to his dismay, she didn't.

Arlen came in the early sunrise to meet his beauty as he has been for the past month. Only to find out she wasn't there.

Suddenly he felt a gush of wind pass by him and he snapped his head in the particular direction only to find nothing.

"Jesus Christ lady, hail!!" He tried once again but all his efforts were in vain.

Where could she possibly be? He thought and just then he heard her sweet melodious laughter.

"Really Arlen?" His eyes widened when he saw the beauty coming out of a hole in the tree.

She had a big smile on her face but it vanished and turned into a frown when Arlen rushed upto her and was about to hug her when she took several steps back, maintaining a distance between the two.

My beauty stepped back as if I had burnt her. He thought and Emerald looked down when she noticed the visible hurt on his face.

She didn't want to do this to him. She really didn't. But he would hate her once he found out. He'll despise her just like everyone else.

Just like everyone else. The thought was simple and a little insecuritive, but for her it wasn't insecurity. It were the nightmares that'll later haunt her. The demons who will hold her captive.

She was afraid. Afraid of being rejected.

Arlen looked at her raven black hair which were hiding her beauty and those gem like emerald eyes by cascading down on her face and acting as if a curtain.

He was hurt. He wanted to touch her, hold her, feel her. Be more comfortable with her. But he would respect her and if that means waiting for her for an eternity, then so be it.

He smiled looking at her being all cute and shy, "Why do ya always scare me? Do ya nay want me to live? Die of a possible heart attack?"

Her head snapped upwards, looking at the man who she thought would be mad at her, but instead here he was laughing and cracking jokes with her.

She smiled at him wholeheartedly and spoke with an amused tone, "I like scaring ya. It's fun to see ya all riled up and annoyed."

Her giggles caused a sensation in his auditory system which caused him to smile wider and blush furiously.

"And besides, friends scare each other 'ight?. ..well, too bad ya can't scare me." She smiled at him knowing that's impossible.

He didn't listen to her as he had his attention focused on a word she had spoken. Friends.

He looked down at his coat as negative thoughts made their way into his mind.

Who would like a 20 year old man with no money to no looks? He thought and looked up at her to see her frowning at him.

He faked a smile but Emerald noticed it as it didn't reach his eyes as it would usually.

She felt hurt knowing he had to fake a smile in her presence. She felt hurt by the fact that he was not fully comfortable in her presence.

Arlen rolled his eyes playfully amd replied, "Are ya done making fun of me?" Emerald nodded cheekily and Arlen chuckled.

"I came here to take ya with me." Arlen spoke and Emerald's eyebrow shot up in a questioning look.

"Take me?" She asked and tilted her head a little obviously confused.

Cute. Beautiful and cute. Arlen thought while his heart swelled at the sight of her.

"Aye.... Come with me?" He asked with a bow and held his hand towards her to take.

She smiled at him and walked forward once again ignorant to his gesture.

She didn't need to think twice about her decision. She trusted him to take her somewhere, even if it meant to hell, she'll happily oblige. She didn't care where they'd go. She just wanted to be with him, in his presence, in his company.

••••••••••••••••••••••

"Can I now?" Emerald asked having her eyes closed.

"Nay" Arlen spoke short and distantly. She heard him shuffling around and heard a clank of glasses.

"Arlen?" She spoke in a small voice almost sounding innocent. Almost. Although it was anything but innocent. She heard him stop clanking and shuffling around and smirked knowing he has her full attention.

"Arlen. May I open my eyes now?" She spoke in her british, southern village accent causing Arlen's heart to flutter.

"W-wait" He said and she heard him take a deep breath. She smiled.

"Take twin steps forward." Arlen said and stood at a distance seeing his beauty walking.

"1 and... 2....Aye. Iam here." She spoke and did jazz hands which received her a chuckle from Arlen.

"Aye. You're here. Now open them beautiful gem like emerald eyes."

She felt her cheeks grow hot hearing such compliment from her admirer.

She opened her eyes only to see herself standing at the very edge of the cliff. She let out a screech and backed away almost falling on the little pebbles and rocks.

"Ay! Emerald!" He called out for her when she ran straight into the direction of the forest.

She knew he would catch up to her and would try to touch her so making up her mind she stopped and looked back at him to see him standing there while calling her.

"Emerald! It's nothing love! Come h're!" He shouted at her while cupping his hands around his mouth causing his sound to echo around the cliff.

Her eyes widened when she heard the endearment he used for her. She slowly and firmly walked up to him with a racing heart.

"Why did ya bring me 'ere Arlen? Do ya want to get your ass beaten?"
Arlen tsked at her choice of words and kicked a rock from the side of his shoe causing it to fall off the cliff.

Emerald peeked and saw the pebble falling down until no more. No sound. Nothing.

Out of all the places, this churl had to take me h're. She thought with a sneer.

"Very foul mouth ya have my lady." He came behind her, just close enough to make her breath hitch yet distant enough to maintain a distance.

"Would ya like to spend your precious time with me my lady?" He whispered to her while watching the wind blowing through her Raven black hair. She smelt like roses. But not only roses, there was a different kind of scent attached to it. A different one that caused Arlen to furrow his eyebrows to think about it and forgetting his beauty.

She turned around and looked at him, they were standing really close. Close to a point where Arlen blushed and backed away a few steps while leaving Emerald all flustered and bothered.

"I asked ya a question I wonder." Arlen said tilting his head feeling amused by the effect he has on the poor girl.

She bit her lip and looked away trying to control her smile. But no, it didn't stop the silly smile from making it's way to her lips.

"I would love to." Arlen clapped his hands together.

"Perfect! We shall place our derriere there, my love." Emerald laughed at his words and Arlen pointed to the satin blue rug that sat at the center of the mountain with two champagne glasses and a tall bottle of champagne placed.

Her face contoured into one of those confused expression when she looked at the bottle of champagne there.

What's a fine champagne placed there doing? She thought and approached the rug carefully trying not to slip on her way there. She was really scared of the heights.

"How'd ya get your hands on such a fine champagne?" She spoke only to realize how rude and harsh that sounds.

Trying to cover up her mistake, she immediately spoke after, "N-not that ya can't afford it or anything, I'm just curious, still 'am to know how ya bought it."

Arlen chuckled and went towards her looking down at the bottle.

"This, my love-" he picked up the bottle and swayed it around, "-Is more costly than my whole existence" he looked down at the bottle more like glared at the pricy thing in his hand. This cost him all his savings but it didn't matter to him. He wanted to take his beauty out on a friendly date and wanted her to have the best of it. He wanted to show her that he is not all poverty and like how people portray him. He wanted to be classy. For her.

"Arlen! Nay. Ya can't-" before she could complete he gently dropped the bottle back in its place and took steps towards Emerald.

"Nay. I did already. It doesn't matter. All is fine."

Emerald looked down feeling guilty that he had lost all his money and savings just for a friendly outing.

"I-I don't drink champagne. I apologize." She fiddled with her fingers and her hair acted as a curtain for her.

He frowned at the confession and looked away.

"It's okay Emerald. Come now." He motioned his fingers for her to sit on the rug.

She sat crossed legged on the rug smiling at the surroundings. She felt nice coming out of her little hole that was her forest. She felt calm and comfortable in such an environment. Her body felt soothed. Peace was all she felt.

"It's beautiful out here." She spoke still looking around.

Not more than ya. He thought and a blush costed his cheeks and he looked away before the beauty could see it.

But she did. She indeed saw the effect she had on him.

If only it were that easy. She thought and frowned.

If only.