Noah stayed squatted, looking at her as she folded entirely with the lasting thunk on the head from the book. Elann went to read, reciting her words with color and clarity, comparing his kisses to facets of nature; wind, grass, and snow. He envisioned each one, the tree leaves swaying from the wind, the delicate deer munching on even more delicate grass, and the chilled, freshly fallen snow in the hands of a child in Syliras. They weren’t his kisses, he realized. She was speaking about his lips, saying they were more part of herself than her own. It was minorly overwhelming to believe his lips had an affect on someone else so majorly.

Elann trailed off, closing the diary and then awaited her kiss as promised. Noah considered it for a moment, turning the gem over in his fingers’ grasp. Deciding, he reached out to her and simply brushed over her lips with his pointer and middle finger. He stood up, whispering, “I lied,” mischievously, before turning back towards the trunks, looking to put his gem back and away.

There was a clear smile on his face, as he drew probably too much pleasure from toying with Elann in this way. He was borderline snickering as he walked as well. Having fun at Elann’s expense was turning out to be a new favorite passtime.