The Pendant

Lin: She heard the sudden pause in October's sentence, but didn't question it, instead listening to her laugh. She liked it, but the girl quieted shortly, not giving the time for Lin to really focus on it. She got the sense that she hadn't done so in awhile. That lead Lin herself to ponder momentarily if she had ever laughed; if she had, she could no longer remember when. She looked at October again.
The next words out of Lin's mouth would surely label her as a child in the eyes of the girl before her, a newfound friend, but she blurted them out before she could actually think them through. "Do you really promise?" Her eyes widened a bit, and she immediately snapped her head toward her lap, flexing her hands. "S-sorry."

October waved away the apology. "Nothing to be forgiven from, but of course. I promise you with my life."

Lin: Lin slowly raised her head once more, her mouth trembling with hesitation as she considered her next words. "What...what happens after this is all over...?"

"Ya mean when the pendent chooses its silly owner? I don't know..." October played with her hair a bit. "Maybe we can travel together. It's always such a bore on the road alone..."

Lin: Her heart skipped a beat when she felt the edges of her mouth twitch, but of course, the urge subsided. She couldn't do such things anymore; it hurt. So she settled for an earnest nod. It would be nice, not being alone...but it would definitely take some getting used to. "That would be nice."

"Well, we've got time," October said, sensing her hesitation at the idea. "The darn necklace might take god knows how long..."

Lin: She nodded. "I hope they show the pendant soon, though..." she said quietly, reaching over and taking out a sketchpad from her bag. Flipping through the pages, they displayed a wonderous abstract world of flowers, castles and medival royalty in such detail and grace. Finding a blank, clean page near the back, she gazed fondly over it, her fingers sweeping over the fresh surface. Slowly an image began to form on the thick paper, seeming to be triggered by her touch. Lines, shades, features all came together like a three-dimensional motion picture to bring the page alive, resembling the designs on the other pages. After a few minutes, the pendant lie in a fantasy fashion of elegance and beauty upon the page, and Lin's hand fell away, staring at it for a long moment before looking up to October. "Is this what it looks like?"

"If i remember right, it's a bit like that." October looked over the picture with a smile. "you are good..."

Lin: She looked away shyly, "Not really...but I like doing it."

October laughed again. "Don't be so modest! You are."

Lin: She looked at her, a little wide-eyed, that smile threatening to pop up again at her laugh. "R-really?"

October nods. "I'm jealous really."

Lin: Her eyes widened and she snapped the book shut. "I-I'm sorry."

I smile. "Nothing to forgive," i tell her. "It's fine."

Lin: She looked at her, now confused. "I-Isn't it...bad, when you're jealous?"

I thought for a while. "Not all the time. Like...right now i'm jealous, and i know that i'm bad at drawing, but i still have photography...ya know? Jealousy in the negative sense would be like..I'm jealous of that, so i want it as well even if i can't really have it."

Lin: "Oh," she said quietly. She didn't have much experience with emotions and such, so she was pretty much at a loss. "So, you're not going to leave, right?" People usually left when they were upset, didn't they...? She didn't want October to leave. She would do whatever it took to make it up to her if she had somehow offended her...

I shook my head and smiled. "Of course not." I stood. "Now, it's almost lunch. You want something?"

Lin: She let out a sigh of relief, about to refuse the offer when her stomach growled horribly loud. She looked away, muttering something unbelievably childish. "Maybe..."

October took her hand with a smile, leading her back downstairs and to the kitchen. She looked around through the cabinets with a hum. "What do you want? Seems this house had everything..." Jeez, twelve boxes of cereal!

Lin: She let herself be lead downstairs and into the kitchen, blinking at the massive amount of cereal as October rifled through the cabinets. "C-cereal's fine..."

I nodded and smiled. "I picture you as a...cinnamon toast crunch lover," i guessed as i picked up the box.

She nodded earnestly. "I...I want a lot..." she looked away, now ashamed that she had said such a thing. "Um...I..."

The door to the fridge opened as she got a bowl and snatched the milk from it, setting all of it down on the counter. "I'm sure they won't mind."

Lin: "Are you sure? I-Its just that, I wasn't allowed--I...I mean, I haven't gotten to eat in awhile..." She fumbled, not reaching for the box just yet.