Meeting you

I’ve always had an idea of how secluded I am. I don’t regret it. It’s just the way I am. You can appreciate things as they are when you are alone. Even simple stuff seems different when in solitude. Sitting in my couch in the balcony, I’m watching the stars shine bright. It’s a new moon day. Dark yet serene. Sitting up, I see my gardens sprawling like a maze with a lighted pond at its centre. I used to play there with my grandmother until... Don’t let the past ruin your present Addams. Sighing, I get up deciding to take a stroll.

The hallways look empty. Lifeless. It’s as though the house is reflecting its inhabitants. Getting down the stairs I hear footsteps as I reach the main door.

“Mr. Addams.” Our butler Robert asks, peering over his round spectacles.

“Out for a walk.” I say to him as I step out on the granite flooring of our porch. Pulling my jacket closer I walk along the dimly lit path to the centre pond.

It’s beautiful, as always. The water being illuminated by the lights at the rim of the pond. I look in to water, but don’t see my reflection, it’s just the transparent water. I walk over to the benches and switch off the lights. Now it’s just the darkness and me. I see my faint reflection in the water. It’s a quiet night except for the....

A soft humming. It’s coming from my right. I heard faint humming when I walked to the pond but now, they are slightly louder. I strain to see what it is and that is when I spot a white silhouette moving through the hedges.

I slowly rise up from the elevated rim of the pond and take tentative steps to the right wing. I’ve got two options, rise an alarm and call the guards or walk up there and see it myself. Maybe it’s just a bird.... but don’t they go home before sunset? Man up, Addams. It is your garden after all. Don’t be a chicken. Yeah. I’ve got this. I’ll see what’s that myself. I steady my strides and walk through the hedges confidently.

As I near the figure, I can make out that it’s a girl with long dark hair in a light blue dress.

“Who are you?” I ask as boldly I can, half-expecting to see a faceless ghost.

The girl whips around startled, eyes wide in alarm. And I am stunned momentarily. Her raven hair framing her round face, her blue eyes dilated in caution, her mouth slightly agape and her light blue dress lighting up her face in the dark, she looks beautiful. Like the moon, shining in the darkness.

“I asked, who – “

“Mr. Addams.” She curtsies to me.

Huh?

Before I ask again, she says “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Avery Thompson.”

Okay...

“I can’t say the same but what are you doing here?” I say furrowing my brows. I’m shocked.

How the hell did she enter?

Her face falls. “I’ll be staying here.” She says softly.

What?? Does she even speak?

“You need to be more specific than that.” I try to say without showing my frustration.

“Mr. Addams!” I hear a shout from a distance. Now what?

I turn my head towards the shout and can barely see anything as I switched off all the lights. But I’m sure it’s Robert. Hmm. She did say she’s staying here and I heard Robert has a granddaughter. So, she could be her. I’ve always liked to mess with Robert. What would happen if I whisk away his granddaughter?

I turn to her with a grin.” Come on!” I hold her wrist and pull her along with me as I run deeper into the garden. Moving swiftly along the hedges, I secure her hand firmly in mine and peek over my shoulder and see her trying to keep up with me. Trying not to laugh aloud, I run faster dragging her along with me.

Halfway through to our outer garden I stop and pull her down with me, hiding behind a group of dandelions.

I missed this kind of adrenaline rush. It makes me feel in control of myself. I turn to her and find her panting for breath. Smirking I ask,” Can’t handle a little bit of running?”

She looks at me, raising her eyebrows and says” A little heads up next time would be appreciated.”

“So, you do look forward to spend your time with me.” I say, giving her a sideways glance.

“That’s not what I meant!” She exclaims, flabbergasted. Her cheeks are flushed from the run. She looks pretty.

Smiling to myself by the direction of my thoughts, I sit down properly on the soft grass and pat down next to me. She sits down beside me but puts a considerable distance between us. Do I make you uncomfortable miss?

She catches me staring at her and asks, “What are you looking at?” almost irritably.

Her light blue eyes pierce mine. Her entire demeanour has changed. She looks at me coldly, with hostility I can’t understand why. It’s like I’m in the company of another person.

"Just appreciating the beauty." I say feigning nonchalanty.

Her eyes soften, being caught off guard. She looks away, unable to bear the intense turn of events. Pulling my legs to myself and hugging my knees, I let the silence stretch on.

"You're not bad yourself." She says after a moment, sneaking a glance at me.

"Well, if you look closer you would be willing to reconsider your words." I say, swaying a little to her side.

"Don't let it go to your head, Addams" She warns but I could see her lips quirking up, trying not to smile.

“So much for curtsying me.” I say, looking at her, amused.

“Duh. What can I do? My father was watching us like a hawk.” She says dismissively.

“What?”

She throws her leg forward, kicking out her heels. She relaxes a little as she looks heavenward. Where did the girl who was all ‘Mr. Addams’ go?

“Though I’m glad you brought us here. I don’t have to ‘act like a lady’ here.”

“Hold on. I don’t understand. Why was your father watching us?”

She rolls her eyes. At me! How dare she?

“You are dumb, even for a spoiled rich brat.” She says.

“Excuse me!?. You’re the one who’s behaving like an insolent brat!” I say, glaring at her.

She glares back with equal anger. No one’s ever behaved like this to me before. She narrows her eyes at me and leans closer to me. Whoa there, this is too close. I can see the tiny flecks of gold near iris. And her face is very distracting.

“Listen, I didn’t choose to be here and I certainly didn’t know you’d be this stupid.” She says jabbing a finger at me.

“I don’t know who the hell you are but you have no right to say that to me.” I say frostily. Can anyone be this unpleasant to someone they’ve just met?

..... And our faces are just inches apart and I can see her parting her lips to say the words which brought my world shattering. And at that moment if I had let my concentration to her words waver by the cackle of energy building around us, things would have gotten less despairing and more entertaining.

“Well, since you are getting engaged to me better get used to this.” She shrugs.

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