ANGELINA

Angelina walked with Victor around the village, just talking.

"Oliver is pretty nice, isn't he?" Angelina commented randomly.

"Ya, I guess." Victor sighed.

"Is it okay if he hangs out with us while he's here?" Angelina asked.

"Ya, why couldn't he."

"You just seem like you don't like him." Angelina affirmed quietly.

"What makes you think that?" Victor asked, surprised.

"Really, Victor. I'm not stupid." Angelina acknowledged.

"You sure?" Victor joked.

"Victor!" Angelina laughed.

Vic laughed, "I know you aren't, Angie."

"Why don't you like him?" Angelina asked.

Angelina fretted the answer. She didn't know why, but she did. Maybe it was the fact that the answer was probably going to be really personal. Maybe he would say he felt jealous or something. She had no idea.

"I... I don't know," Victor mumbled.

"Whatever, I'm done with this conversation." Angelina moaned.

"Good." Victor responded stubbornly.

Angelina rolled her eyes. Victor and Angie walked on through the village. Angelina looked over at Victor, catching him looking at her with a grin. He immediately looked away.

"What?" Angelina jeered.

"Nothing," Victor grinned, looking down at the ground.

"Why are you smiling?" Angelina demanded.

"You are cute when you're mad." Victor confessed, still grinning.

His reply was unexpected. She stopped walking and stared at him.

"What?" She asked in a soft, low, shaky voice.

"Nothing." Victor sighed.

"I got it. You don't like Oli because you're afraid he'll take me away from you." Angelina replied. "Admit it, Victor Angelose, you are afraid I'll somehow forget you."

"That's not everything, but sure." Victor confirmed.

"What do you mean?" Angie asked, confused.

"Nothing." Victor answered.

"No, seriously, what do you mean?" Angelina asked again.

"Nothing! Let's stop talking about it." Victor responded, annoyed with her.

"Vic..." Angelina said in a soft voice.

"I like you, okay! Are you happy now?" Victor confessed in a whisper, then running off back towards the forest.

Angelina stood there a moment, processing what just happened, glee filling her. Victor liked her? Since when? Angelina liked him too.

Go after him, silly! Juniper replied, happy voiced.

Yeah, right, yeah, that's a good idea. Angelina thought happily, running the direction Victor ran off to.

Angelina was out of breath when she saw Victor sitting on the ground, back against a tree trunk, staring at the ground, his eyes closed. Angie approached him cautiously. She sat down next to him.

"Hey, it's okay, Vic." Angelina assured, crossing her legs like a pretzel.

He didn't respond, but Angie knew he was listening. Angelina wrapped her arm around Victor and hugged him.

"It's okay." Angelina said, not knowing what else to say.

Victor's head rose slowly. Victor looked at Angelina then wrapped his left arm around her.

"T...Thanks." Victor replied after a long thirty seconds of hugging, his voice shaky.

"Anyday." Angelina sighed.

The hug was warm, she really needed it and she could tell so did Victor.

"Victor... I'm flattered..." Angelina started.

"I knew you didn't like me, it was obvious. That's why I never confessed my feelings to you." Victor sighed.

"Victor, I'm trying to say something." Angelina moaned.

"Sorry, go on."

Angelina took a large, deep breath, "Victor... I'm flattered... and I really like you too. You have no idea how happy I am to be your friend, and I guess crush." Angelina laughed.

Angelina noticed Victor looking really surprised, then Victor said with a big grin, "I'm so glad you aren't weirded out and don't hate me."

"I will never hate you!" Angelina replied.

"One day you probably will." Victor sighed.

"Maybe, but not now, not until I'm one hundred and fifty-nine years old." Angelina responded.

"If we are being honest, you will not live that long." Victor chuckled.

"Exactly." Angelina winked.

"Oh, Angelina Barrings, my life has been amazing with you in it." Victor sighed happily.

"Oh, Victor Angelose, my life has been amazing with you in it too." Angelina grinned.

Then, they laughed together. Angelina's mind was racing. She didn't know what to do, just sit there and hug him.

"Victor?" Angelina asked.

"Ya?" He responded, turning his head to look at her.

Angelina smiled and grabbed Victor's hand. Victor looked surprised, so was she honestly.