You might be wondering what Island Adventures is, and all I'll say right now is that it is a prequel to Island Whispers.
Sometimes we are confronted with a situation that we can't handle. We don't know what to do and we feel frozen. It might come unexpectedly, like this...
“Keith,” it was Solana. She was standing a few feet away. Hesitantly brushing her hair with her fingers. The brown and white dress she wore swayed with the breeze and a small brown satchel was at her side. She fidgeted with the strap and her violet eyes wouldn’t meet his.
“Yes, Solana,” Keith said with a smile. He wanted to put her at ease. Solana always seemed nervous and scared around him. “Is there something you need?”
He saw her swallow, her cheeks glowing pink and transitioning to a burning red. “Well, not really, but...I just wanted...” She hid her face in her hands and turned away. “Never mind, I’ll just go.” She turned and started to hurry away.
“Wait, Solana,” Keith got up and ran after her. “Hey,” he said, sliding in front of her to stop her. “You can tell me if you need something.”
“But I don’t need something,” she said gazing at her feet in embarrassment. She took a deep breath before she met her violet eyes with his red one’s. “Keith, I li-like you.” She held her breath and her fidgeting became more pronounced.
He paused stunned and didn’t know how to react. She blushed furiously, even her throat stained red. “I don’t know why I told you. I’m so sorry; I’m being ridiculous. I’ll just go.” She clamped her fingers around her bag’s strap and hurried around him.
“Solana,” he called overcoming his surprise. “Solana, you don’t have to be ashamed. You’re an amazing person.” He saw her stop, although her heels lifted as if she was about to run. “It’s just that I don’t feel like that about you. I love you like a sister, Solana. You need someone who loves you as much and will care for you.”
“I see,” she said. She didn’t turn around, but he saw her shoulders shake and her voice wobbled while her knees knocked together. “I’ll just go. Thanks, Keith.” She ran off with Keith staring hopelessly after her.
He hadn’t realized that she had liked him. All of these years he had always assumed that he made her nervous because of his power. He was used to some of the others acting nervous around him. He had thought she felt no different than him. He felt ashamed that he hadn’t looked further and really seen her. It was strange to think that all this time he had been wrong. He thought that he knew Solana, but now he was seeing his interactions with her differently. Every time that she worked with him or complimented him, she blushed or spoke softer. He had attributed this to personality. It just seemed natural that Solana was always quieter and she was, but he now realized that she had a different quiet nature around him. She fidgeted more and always seemed to be on the verge of saying something. While other times that he had observed her without her knowledge, she seemed calm and at peace with her surroundings. How could he have been so foolish?
He hesitated. He wanted to go after her, but he wasn’t sure what to say. All of his previous notions of who Solana was were false. He wasn’t as observant as he thought he was. It was true that she had never said anything before now, but he wasn’t sure he had handled it right. His feet moved a few steps in the direction she’d gone. He swallowed hard. His heart was beating faster in his chest. It had been a while since he had felt nervous. Still, he recognized the feeling. It made his stomach flutter and his skin cold.
“Solana, I-I….I don’t know.” He clenched his fist into his stomach. This was unfamiliar territory. He didn’t know how to respond. It was hopeless for him to do this without hurting her. He hated that he might have already, but perhaps if he spoke carefully this time. Keith groaned. This wasn’t something you could learn in a lesson.
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