One Month One World One Year Challenge (Selena Lilly)
So, I started this off in the hopes that I could keep up with it, and immediately couldn't. I've decided to instead do it in this thread, but please check out the main thread with all its wonderful st...
Unfortunately, school didn't give you time off to solve mysteries about local tunnels, and so Selena found herself swamped with a report on local history. As her classmates became excited for their own projects, the report being an open ended one, Selena found herself lost at sea with what she could possibly write about. She didn't know anything about the local history, and she certainly hadn't grown up in Moonwood Mill.
Cyrus must have seen her face, because he came over to her desk as she was packing up to leave.
"Hey, want some help? The history here is kind of..." He shrugged. "Only if you want it, of course."
"I'd be honoured." She grinned at him. "After all, you give such wonderful library tours."
She was satisfied to see his cheeks go slightly pink, but then smiled at him.
"Why don't you come to my house? I really do need the help, and it's the weekend, right?"
And so, Cyrus had come home with her. It was only once they were outside that Selena started to feel somewhat self-conscious.
"It might be a bit barren. I didn't exactly bring too much with me." She tried to sound casual about it, but Cyrus smiled at her.
"Hey, no worries, right? I mean, you live alone and all..." He paused. "What's that like?"
"It...works, I guess." Selena tried not to think back on her first days in Mt Komorebi. Cyrus didn't have to know about any of that, after all. "It's warm, and I can cook, so I don't need to worry too much. Plus, no one's nagging me to do chores. Still have to do them, though."
She led him inside, and then turned around.
"So, what's the deal with Moonwood Mill, then? I know it's a pretty old town, but I'm kind of behind on local history."
"Well, it was founded ages back, obviously, and it's got ties to Forgotten Hollow. Though the Hollow wasn't actually called that back then, it was called Hollowheart, and the Bloodvein family were in charge of it back then. Of course, Moonwood has its own old families, like the Lunviks and the Zhus, and so on. Any small town does. Forgotten Hollow and Moonwood have had a rivalry for centuries, though."
"Oh, uh, the heads of two different houses really fell out. I mean, like, really. But there's a lot of local history, so if you give me some pointers as to what sort of thing you're interested in, I can probably help you out. I mean, my cousin Lou knows more than I do about the whole Moonwood-Forgotten Hollow thing, but then I can help you research stuff at the library if you want. I already know what I'm doing my report on, anyway."
The mention of Lou reminded Selena of the other day, and she raised an eyebrow at Cyrus.
"Actually, I met Lou, the other day." She paused. "He mentioned you'd been talking about me?"
"Oh, God," Cyrus said, immediately. "Um, I mean, it was nothing bad, I swear."
"Hm." Selena looked at him, eyes twinkling. "Should I be worried that you're not telling me what you were saying?"
"Selena!" Cyrus was trying not to laugh, but also reddening. "I swear, he's got such a big mouth. I didn't-- I mean..."
"So, you were talking about me, then?" Selena asked, innocently. "He said I should ask you about it, anyway. So, what did you tell him?"
"Just...that I met a cool girl, that's all. I mean, I kind of mentioned that we go to the same school now, and that you're really good at painting..." He trailed off. "I mean, you are a really cool girl. I mean it."
Selena could feel her own cheeks turning red. She didn't know what she'd expected, but it certainly hadn't exactly been this. Cyrus held his hands up.
"Hey, you were the one who asked. I'll get him for telling you, though. He can't keep any secrets."
Selena managed to find her voice, raising a finger. "Isn't that your fault for telling them to him?"
"Lesson learned, I guess." Cyrus looked at her, as if trying to judge something. "So, do you think I'm cool?"
Selena paused, just for a minute. Open conversations had never been part of her upbringing, and honesty had always been something that could be used against you. There were undertones to this that she thought she might recognise, but then this was Cyrus, not some social climbing backstabber. He didn't have anything to gain from manipulation, and besides, she liked him well enough. Plus, he couldn't lie to save his life, which she'd never thought of as a reassuring trait before. But now, it was worth its weight in gold.
"Yeah, I do." She gave him a quick, embarrassed smile. "I think you're cool."
