Is it really about that bet? PV - Zephyr Deakin - Ended

After Rose explained herself to Zephyr she could tell he was still a bit confused but also seemed relieved. He repeated what she said as a question to be sure he understood her well.

"Yes..." she shyly answered him.

Rose felt her cheeks blushing again. Zephyr asked her once more if it were the reason she avoided him and hide.

"Yes...I was scared not to be able to talk to you properly and that you would think I'm weird or something." she said looking at him.

Hearing him saying he was also sometimes nervous reassured her as she was not alone finding herself in that position although the situation might be really different. Rose was naturally shy so she was often feeling nervous about going to someone as well as overthinking to what to say. Yet it was different with Zephyr as the feeling in her body was worst. She was even more worried what he may think of her and appear weird or something to him.

"You don't have to fully understand me. It's also hard for me." she said with a small smile.

Rose looked at him before looking back at his hand as she felt his gentle touch. She could sense he was there for her. That was another thing for her heart to skip a beat however she had to keep her composure and control more what she was feeling. When he reassured her about her not to have to avoiding him and that it would have hurt him she felt more ashamed as she knew it. But Zephyr's reassurance was showing her she could trust him and tell him whenever something may be on her mind and was troubling her especially if he were to be the main reason.

"Yes...Me too I'm glad to have been able to tell you." she said smiling to him feeling his fingers brushing her hand as her heart raced a bit.

She smiled wider while slightly blushing at his next sentence as he stated they wouldn't avoid each other again and to promise it. He held his hand out to make a pinky promise.

"You know I was going to say I was avoiding you because of the bet we made last time." she chuckled.

"But don't worry it wasn't enjoyable to me neither to avoid you. I don't want to." she smiled as she held her hand out as well raising her pinky finger to wrap Zephyrs. Then she put her thumb on his forming like a reversed heart. When Rose was doing pinky promise she liked doing it this way as the form made from the hands was pretty.

"Promise." she smiled at him.

"But don't be surprised if I happened to stumble over my words or to turn red." she chuckled.

Rose wanted to have Zephyr still around as well since he was someone dear to her.

Zephyr noted how shy Rose was being when she responded to his question, confirming what was already said while he was putting pieces together in his head. She was scared because she didn’t know what to say and that she would think of her as weird. He frowned at that part. “I don’t think you’re weird, I will never think you are. You say funny things sometimes, but that’s not bad, you actually make me smile.” That came out before he could stop himself, and his ears felt warm. He hoped that didn’t sound weird.

“But how come it changed? Why talking to me is harder than usual?” It was him trying to understand as he didn’t get why someone would feel that way about him, but he could tell by now that her fear and worry were real for her. She told him he didn’t have to fully understand her, that it was hard for her too, “I wanted to know so I don’t have to intentionally make it harder than it already is for you now. We’re friends remember? I already consider you one of my best friends, a special one. We’re supposed to understand and help each other.”

She was trying to share her feelings, which means she’s taking a risk. She might even be scared of being judged, rejected, or misunderstood. Even if he didn’t fully get it, he wanted to show her that it’s safe to talk to him about anything. That safety matters more than having the perfect response. It was the most honest moment between them. Though he was still young, and he didn’t fully understand everything, he was at least aware that feelings weren’t like animals or chores, you wouldn’t see what was wrong and fix it easily.

He noticed how she kept looking at his hand, and how she fell quiet. He didn’t move his hand away and just tighten his hold on her, just being there feels like the right thing to do. The last thing he wanted was her pulling away, acting strange, or shutting down when she sees him, not because she doesn’t care, but because she didn’t feel understood.

In truth, he was glad she told him no matter how much it was confusing to her. He didn’t like guessing at all. Then she joked about using the bet as an excuse, the reminder made him laugh. “You’re really bad at pretending not to see people.” She admitted she didn’t enjoy avoiding him, which was a relief! “Good to know because I don’t want that either.”

She didn’t just link their pinkies, she added her thumb, making that heart shape with their hands. He stared at it for a second, curious. “…that was new…What’s that?” He’s got that pure innocence on his face as he asked her that. He wrapped his pinky properly around hers, and copied what she did with her thumb, tapping it with hers. “Promise…”

Though she warned him she might stumble over her words or turn red, that was the time he felt his own face heat up. “That’s fine, I’ll get use to it in no time…” he said quickly. “I don’t mind.”

But her red cheeks might take some time to get used to because she looked so cute when she’s flustered. That was as close as he could describe it than having to explain it to her. He was not even sure why he noticed, he just did. The thought made him feel awkward, so he pushed it away. He finally let out a small, real smile.

He didn’t know what any of this meant yet or what would change or what would stay the same. But he knew one thing for sure, he didn’t want to lose her.

While looking at Zephyr Rose couldn't help but let a small smile flashing on her lips. She looked down again feeling shy when she heard Zephyr saying she was making him smile. Her heart warmed at his words. It was the only thing she needed to hear. That was enough to her to know it. She appreciated he was being sincere whether he said it intentionally or not.

At his next question Rose slightly frowned not because of Zephyr's wonders but rather because she tried to put words on or at least to formulate an understandable sentence of everything that was on her mind. She seemed to be focused while looking away holding a bit tighter on Zephyr's hand. Rose was not feeling embarrassed as before to talk about her feelings or thoughts which was a good thing. It was easier also thanks to Zephyr who reassured her once more with his following words. He was too a special person to her.

"Mmh...Well..." she was making sure all of her words were going to be well chosen and in a proper sentence.
"I suppose when you feel something different than friendship towards someone everything you want to tell or share with this person is overthought. You just can't casually go to that person anymore asking or saying random things. All you will do or say will matter to you more than before as it will be how the other person is going to perceive you. It's taking into account the other's person opinion of you more than others' and even your own. It's being scared the other person might not appreciate you." Rose calmly said.

She had no idea were all of this came from but she surprised herself to have been able to put such words on how she was feeling about talking to Zephyr and about him overall. Her light green eyes turned to him again as she looked at his jade eyes which she once said they were beautiful. And still they were.

Was it that day or at that time specifically something different appeared? Maybe but she couldn't be sure.

She caught herself looking a bit longer than normal people are supposed to and looked down again at their hands feeling her cheeks slightly warming. Her hand appeared really small in his. She slightly smiled at this thought.

After she told him she would have used the bet as an excuse Zephyr's next comment made Rose looked up at him again her cheeks turning a bit red of embarrassment as she pouted looking away.

"Maybe it was not pretending." she tried to defend herself but she knew it was not really making sense nor Zephyr would believe her. She did pretend not to have seen him. She sighed.
"I guess it's a sign to tell me not to avoid you. That I can't." she chuckled as she glanced at him before looking at his hand again.

When they did the pinky promise and Rose put her thumb over Zephyrs she noticed his confusion and his curiosity both confirmed by his words. She chuckled once more.

"I always have done pinky promise this way. It's my brother who did it the first time with me." she smiled at the memory looking at their reversed pinky promise heart.
"The first time I was as curious as you about it. So I asked him what was different from just linking the pinkies." her sight went back to him "He told me that was making the promise more reliable as if sealed. Same as one who can sign a paper with their thumb we sign each other's thumb the same way. Ever since I only do it that way." she smiled at him.

After they both promised and let go of each other's pinky Zephyr assured he will get used to her stumbling over her words or turning red stating he didn't mind. Rose glanced at him as she thought seeing something different on his face. She smiled without any comment not to embarrass him.

Her cheeks already reddened by the coolness were even redder than usual. She surely looked like a tomato and was feeling both shy and embarrassed at the thought of how her face could look.

Nevertheless she brushed it off feeling Zephyr's hold on her hand tighter than before. She looked at it again smiled before quietly speaking almost whispering.

"I wish your hand would never let go of mine." she was not sure why she said this nor if Zephyr had heard her. Deep down she perhaps hoped he had not. It was embarrassing. Again something she said without thinking before talking. She felt her cheeks heating up although she was already red and her eyes slightly widening.

To brush it off as if she had said nothing she looked at Zephyr hoping her face wouldn't fail her.

"Let's climb a tree again. Together." she smiled trying as much as she could to hide her embarrassment.