It had to be, she had to. He valued his image, how he thought people saw him. And she knew it, but the moment was picturesque, too good to pass up.
Almost three weeks ago the class had started their astrology unit, Alphys had come up with a field trip to end it off.
Students rushed home when the bell let out, papers were signed, then turnt in the next day.
Two days later, today, around 8:00 PM, the class had gathered at the entrance of a trail.
It was a seldomly walked path, that lead around the woods of hometown. Jokes and scary stories followed the students through the growing night as Alphys lead on, flashlights started to illuminate the surroundings once the sun set.
Finally, Alphys had stopped the class. Ahead was a large opening, she had everyone gather around. She called back to one of the beginning readings on light pollution, then asked the class to turn off all the lights.
Bright, blue, and beautiful.
A moment of pure silence for all to witness, the stars looked down at the awestruck life, and in turn they looked to the stars.
A quiet sniffling from Alphys broke the quiet. Some looked to her, other went off with their groups.
But for Noelle and Berdly, they stood there, and watched the stars.
Something stirred in Noelle’s mind, something she’d been meaning to tell Berdly. She just, never could find the right time.
Her head leveled back to earth, neck strained from staring up for so long. Her classmates weren’t far, but not exactly close. They were occupied though.
She leaned close to Berdly, for a second, she contemplated. No, now, now was the time.
“Berdly, can I tell you somthing?”
He was brought back to earth, head in the stars but mind in the present. In his subconscious, he felt the environment, the mood.
He was terrified, could he even look at her? This was it after all, he’s seen tons of romance films. This is the place you’d tell someone, that you love them.
Was he going to play the part this far? It was wrong to lie to Noelle, but he couldn’t bare to hurt her feelings with rejection. So he steeled himself, and looked to his side with a smile.
“Yes, Noelle?”
She’d been worried about him the past few weeks, he wouldn’t dare show it, but the mask slipped sometimes. Like how he hasn’t brought up any gaming tips in the last two days, or the fact he didn’t offer a study session yesterday before the field trip. Lots of small things were different lately.
He needed a push, somthing to prop him up! Not a little compliment here or there, somthing personal. Face to face, and most importantly, serious. She needed to let him know how important he is to her. That would get him out of this slump.
The way he looked at her caused a smile in turn. Noelle looked around one last time, then spoke.
“I just… I wanted to tell you, I really am thankful, for everything you do. The care you put into everything, the little details you put together. I mean, I don’t even know if my own family remembers half the things you know about me fwaha… you… you really care, and I enjoy the time we share. There’s no one I’d rather call my partner.”
The sounds of the woods filled in, as the two looked at each other, both felt light as a feather.
Berdly looked away first, down to the ground. He searched in the large list of his mind, for words fitting of this moment. But found none he was happy with. But he couldn’t stay silent.
“I… thank you Noelle, that’s means a lot.”
Noelle let out a single shaky exhaust, then breathed easy. She moved closer, then let herself weigh on his side. Looking to the stars, she hummed.
“You mean a lot to me, bird brain.”
Berdly chuckled, and followed her gaze up. The still of silence rested between them, neithers mind casting a thought. Only the moment.
Not to far in, the reminder of Berdly’s role came to him. Either through his own will, or the belief of how he’s expected to be. His hand brushed against hers.
His feathers whispered against the side of her hand, a moment of frozen thought in her mind and chest, before she allowed her hand to envelop his.
The two looked at the stars.
