21. We’ve All Got To Deal With It Sooner Or Later.

“ORION!” I screamed cheerily as I flew up from behind and crashed into him. “I’ve been looking ALL over for you, you big lug.”

“I’m neither clumsy nor unintelligent, thank you.” He stuck his tongue out then smiled, revealing his pearly whites. I stared. “What?” His smile faded into a questioning look

“You smiled.” I slumped over and squinted, making one eye look smaller than the other. I imagined it to look sort of like the hunchback of Notre Dame.

“What’s your point, Quasimodo?”

I sucked in air then started talking rapidly. “You never smile. It’s like you’re heart was made by evil elves who rebelled against Santa, determined to create an evil creature who feels NOTHING but evilishness. Hate’s a 24/7 job, anger, oh yeah, I’ve got some time tonight for that! Love? Throw it out the WINDOW!!! Disgust is my weekend pastime!” I took in another breath to continue, but he clamped his hand over my mouth.

“So,” He dragged the words out with a devilish grin plastered on his face, “you’re basically saying that I’m the evil ice god of the universe just that my heart was made by conspiring elves?” He waited a while then removed his hand before I bit him again.

“Yes.” I nodded seriously. He burst out laughing, slowly floating towards the ground. I followed after him.

“You’re something else, Luna.” He sat down on a nearby boulder.

“And you’re someone else.” I bumped him off the boulder and plopped down in his place. He glared at me. I propped my chin up with my arm and smiled innocently at him.

He got up shaking his head with a smile then walked about two feet and sat down on the boulder across from me. “Hey Luna?” he fidgeted.

“Yes, boss?” I stared up at him.

He took a deep breath then let it out. “What do you think about you and me?”

“Hmmm. I think I’m a smile and you’re a frown, therefore, you complete me.” I beamed and made a circle with my hands.

“…That’s the first time I’ve heard anyone say that.” He smirked. “But you know what I mean.”

I sighed and flopped facedown off of the rock, burying my face into the grassy earth. “Mrph.” I grumbled.

“Lunaaa, come on, talk to me,” he pleaded flopping down and lying sideways next to me, poking my side with a twig. Still face down, I reached out and poked him back, zapping him in the process. “OW!”

I turned so that I was face to face with him. “I got more superpowers.”

“Yeah, great.” He rolled his eyes, pushing my hand away.

“If you keep rolling your eyes like that, you’ll turn into a bowling ball.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Someone told me.”

“Who?”

“I did.”

“Oh. Well, I’m not sure if that’s a very reliable source…” He smirked and I punched him in the arm. “OW! Geez, you’re violent.” He teased.

“Yeah suuure. How can you be sure that mutant monkeys didn’t invade the planet and you’re in some illusion thingamabobber and they punched you?”

“You’re so weird.”

“But you love me anyways ‘cause I’m so darn adorable.” I beamed and looked as cute as possible.

He scoffed. “You’re like an evil stuffed animal. They look totally cute and all, but at the time you least expect it, you turn around and they go psychotically savage and kill you.”

“I won’t kill you,” I promised, “unless you turn into a zombie and I’m forced to.”

“You might not kill me, but you’ll probably tear me to shreds.” He smiled but his eyes looked so sad I felt a pang of guilt.

“Look, you know I’m not good with these things…”

“You mean emotions?”

“Yeah, those things.” I grimaced. “They’re unnecessary but somehow needed, unwanted but you know you need it, a circle of things that cause pain but at times completely make up for it with unbelievable amounts of great joy!” I started spinning around, pacing back and forth in the surprisingly short grass. “They’re, they’re just plain incomprehensible! It’s like--”

“Luna!” Orion firmly grabbed me by the shoulders in order to get me to stop moving.

“Uhhh…yes?” I stared back at him as he stared at me staring at him while he stared at me intently.

“I, um…” he searched for the words thoughtfully, breaking the stare and staring at the sky while he gnawed on his lip. Taking a deep breath, he gazed back at me, his dark eyes swirling with emotion. “You know how you’re not good at uh, emotions?” My heart skipped a beat, or two, or more, I think it stopped. His arms slipped from my shoulders and dropped to his sides. He stared down and glanced nervously back. “Well, I’m not so great with words, so I’m just going to say it.”

“Go for it.” I gave him a dorky thumbs up.

“I like you, Luna. A lot.” He blurted out, fidgeting nervously.

“Well, uh. I--” the words started to slip through my lips without my telling them to do so. “I--”

“HEYYYYYYYYYY!” Cassie screamed as she came crashing down through the trees like a pixie pilot who’s plane blew up. She smashed into they ground with a loud “THWAK” sound. “Okay, ow. Ow, OWWW. Oh my gosh, that hurt!” She said as she dusted herself off. “Oh, no. Don’t catch me,” she glared at the both of us, “I’m only hurtling towards the ground at thirty miles an hour. Catch her? Nah, the GROUND WILL BREAK HER FALL.” She yelled towards us.

“Oh.” I said. “That was a ‘catch me I’m hurtling towards the ground at high speeds’ hey? I thought it was the ‘watch this impact, it’s going to be hilarious’ hey.” I smirked, taking a couple steps from Orion and stretching my wings.

“Uh…” She glanced from him to me and back. “Did I interrupt something?”

I shared a knowing look with Orion, something we’d done for as long as I could remember. He smiled half-heartedly for a second before we both turned to Cassie and said in unison, “Yes. We were just plotting your demise by electric mind controlling gummi bears.”

“Freaky.” She grinned.