She had the most beautiful voice Jaren had ever heard. Whatever she was singing now was nothing like the Endlan songs he’d heard before. It was, he realized, the song he’d sung for her, but in her wordless, haunting voice, it sounded otherworldly. He took a step forward without realizing it, until he stepped on a branch and froze just as her head whipped around.

She dropped below the surface of the water quickly, but not before he’d caught a glimpse of her face, her blue eyes wide with fright. Her hair had covered her chest, so he’d only caught a flash of bare skin. But saints, it looked like he’d been spying on her.

“I’m sorry,” he said, already turned around and facing away. “I have the blueberries.”

“Just a second.” He heard the water ripple, followed by the rustling of fabric. “All right.”

When he turned back around, she was wearing her still-damp dress. Her hair hung in long, loose waves. They would both need a little more time to dry.

“Here.” He laid his tunic out on the rock next to her and she thanked him, eagerly popping a blueberry into her mouth. He was still shirtless, but she wasn’t blushing, at least.

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Jaren stared out at the Forest, wanting to ask her something, anything, but not knowing where to begin. They had nothing in common, no shared experiences. Her life was confined to this small island, to people who all behaved and thought the way she did.

They reached for the last blueberry at the same time, their fingers brushing. When he looked up at her, her lips were stained purple, in stark contrast to her pale skin. She looks, he thought with a blush of his own, like she’s just been kissed.

“You take it,” Leelo said. “I have plenty more.”

With the blueberries finished and their clothing fairly dry, there was no reason not to go back to the cottage, though Jaren was dreading more time alone in the cramped space. He wished he could go home, where Father would undoubtedly be cooking something delicious and his sisters would tease him for getting lost again. But really, they would all be relieved that he was back.

“Are you okay?” Leelo asked as they walked. She was braiding her hair over one shoulder, and he almost asked her to keep it loose, though that would be wholly inappropriate and frankly rude. He’d once told his twin she should curl her hair like Summer did, and she’d thrown a shoe at him.

He glanced over at Leelo with a shrug instead. “I’m fine. Just homesick, I suppose.”

“I’ve never had the chance to be homes—” Suddenly, Leelo froze.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.