The Curious Swan

by Kenzie Hart

  “Thanks.”

  Excitement is flowing through his body at the thought of having Klara watch him play. He normally isn’t one to show off, but he works hard at football, and he is excited to share this part of his life with Klara. The thought of having her on the sidelines makes his stomach twist in the best and worst of ways.

  “You want to grab a bite to eat after? Samantha and Victoria are supposed to come to the match today,” Mattie says with too large of a grin.

  “I can’t.” Eddie bounces the ball on his knees. “Klara is coming over after the match for lunch at my house.”

  “I thought you said there was nothing going on there?”

  “I mean, now, there is. She’s my girlfriend,” Eddie says, trying to stay focused on the match.

  “Your girlfriend?” Mattie repeats, feeling both surprised and a little hurt. “And when were you planning to tell me about this?”

  “Look, Mattie,” Eddie says, dropping the ball onto the ground, “I’m sorry I’ve been a shit mate. You’re at your parents’ shop this afternoon, yeah?”

  Mattie nods, not sure what he is getting at.

  “After lunch, I’ll come by. We can hang out till you’re off and then play some video games tonight.”

  “All right,” Mattie says, trying not to make a big deal of it.

  “Klara’s coming to the game today,” Eddie reveals, raising his eyebrows with a grin.

  “So, I finally get to meet the mystery woman.” Mattie laughs. “As long as she doesn’t distract you from winning, I’m all for it.”

  Eddie rolls his eyes. “Of course I’ve got to do well. I have to impress my girl.”

  Mattie gives him a little shove, watching as spectators start to fill the sidelines and metal bleachers.

  Walking into town, Klara appreciates the warm morning. Clouds cover the sky, but every so often, the sun peeks through, shining down on her. It’s a magical feeling, and she skips down the road. She’s chosen a floral dress for today that hits above her knees, the sleeves coming down to just below her elbows. Lace trim wraps around the sleeves and the top of her socks, sticking out from her oxfords. With her beaded clutch in hand, she feels excited for the day’s events. It is the first time she will be watching Edward play, and she can’t be more thrilled. It is also the first time she will be meeting his friends, and her heart beats quicker at the thought.

  Making her way onto the thick green grass, Klara easily spots a row of silver bleachers on the sidelines. They’re each stacked four or five rows high, and she finds Rose and Doyle halfway up the center. People continue to fill up the bleachers and chairs, and blankets are spread out, surrounding the field, people piling around to watch the morning match. Klara moves up to their row, carefully walking up the bleachers so that she doesn’t fall. She passes a few families and a group of girls, all seated.

  “Good morning,” she greets with a large smile.

  “Morning, dear.” Rose stands, pulling Klara into a hug.

  Doyle gives her a warm smile, and she takes a seat next to them.

  “Don’t you look beautiful today?” Rose says, taking in Klara’s dress. It’s a little formal for a football match, but she looks darling nonetheless.

  “Thank you! Grandmother helped me pick my dress out this morning. She was so happy for me to be going out,” Klara replies.

  Doyle considers commenting, but after his conversation with his wife that morning he keeps his thoughts to himself.

  “Oh! There he is, number eighteen,” Rose says, pointing to Eddie, who is running out onto the field. “He plays forward.”

  Klara easily spots Edward, butterflies forming in her stomach at the sight of him. They continue to make themselves known each time she sees him, and she is coming to quite enjoy the sensation.

  “And which one is Mattie?” she asks, looking out at the field.

  “He is the goalkeeper.” Rose smiles, thinking about the boys. She always loves when, after a match, he comes over for lunch. Or, if Mattie stays the night, the following morning, she will prepare a large breakfast for them. Mostly, she just likes cooking for two growing boys.

  “Get out there!” Eddie’s coach yells at the boys as they all jog onto the field.

  Eddie looks to the bleachers, spotting Klara sitting next to his mum. A smile comes to his face, and he waves to her. Klara gives him a glowing smile back along with a little wave.

  “Look at you, mate. You’re waving like a damn love-drunk fool,” Mattie says with a snort.

  “Can’t help it,” Eddie replies, thinking that he might just be.

  Eddie moves along the sidelines, grabbing his water bottle and spraying a stream into his mouth. He wipes away the sweat falling from his face and neck before dropping the towel and bottle back into his duffel. He jogs over to the bleachers, watching as everyone descends onto the grass.

  “You did so good!” Klara giggles as Eddie takes her in his arms. Then, he picks her up and spins her around.

  “Thanks.” He grins as he sets her feet back down on the ground. “You look beautiful today.”

  Her hair is down, flowing over her shoulders, only a few pieces clipped back with a pin. He presses his lips onto hers, taking in her scent. He quickly pulls away though, as he knows his parents are coming to congratulate him as well.

  “What a game,” Doyle says, slapping Eddie on the back. It was one of the best matches he had seen his son play, and he is starting to understand why, as he watches Eddie’s bright eyes move back to Klara.

  “Thanks, Dad,” Eddie says as Mattie runs up next to him.

  “Mattie, you played great!” Rose says, looking at the brown-haired and well-built boy.

  “Thanks,” Mattie replies, but his eyes move to Klara.

  Eddie notices. “Klara, this is Mattie. Mattie, this is Klara,” he says, introducing them.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Mattie says, lightly shaking her petite hand.

  “The pleasure is mine! Edward has told me so much about you,” Klara says, excited to finally meet Edward’s friend.

  “Edward?” Mattie gives Eddie an eye roll. “Good things only I’m sure,” he says with a laugh.

  “Of course,” Klara replies, completely missing the sarcasm.

  Eddie spots Mattie’s parents and gives them a wave.

  “I’d better go say hi,” Mattie says. “It was nice meeting you, Klara.” He starts to walk away but then turns back and says to Eddie, “Sure you don’t want to come to the pub?”

  Eddie shakes his head but calls out, “Told you we’re having lunch at home, but I’ll see you at the shop.”

  Rose turns to Eddie. “Sweetie, you two should go out with your friends and have some fun. We can do lunch anytime.”

  “I see Mattie all the time,” Eddie replies, taking Klara’s hand in his. He couldn’t care less about being out with his friends. He is just happy to be spending the afternoon with Klara.

  Rose gets a stern look in her eyes, crossing her arms, one over the other.

  If everyone is out, they should be out, too. It’s good for Eddie to spend time with his friends, and it would be a nice chance for Klara to get to know everyone better. Sometimes, they seem to be stuck in their own world and so serious. He’s only seventeen, for goodness’ sake!

  “Klara, have you been to The Nags Head?” Rose asks.

  Klara seems to ponder the question for a moment and then says, “I can’t say I have. Sometimes, Grandmother will have pub food prepared, but she doesn’t get out much.”

  Eddie can see what his mum’s doing, and he isn’t sure why she is pushing it. He is quite content with the way things have been going with Klara, but he doesn’t want her to ever think he doesn’t want to take her out. They just haven’t gotten to that point yet, he supposes. Though, now, he wonders why he has never taken her for a proper evening out.

  “I think you’d like it. Do you want to eat there instead?” Eddie asks, bringing a smile to his mum’s face.

  “Just as well,�
�� Klara says with an approving nod. She doesn’t care where they eat; as long as she gets to spend time with Edward, she will be happy for the day.

  “It’s decided then,” Rose says.

  “See you both later,” Doyle adds in, a little lost by the whole conversation. He just wants them to make a decision! He’s been starving since halfway through the match, and he was having daydreams about his wife’s stew with some freshly baked bread.

  “Sorry my parents were acting so odd,” Eddie says, walking down the large hill leading into town. He is a little embarrassed about the entire situation.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry for. It will be lovely to eat out with everyone. Maybe, after, we could pop into one of the shops. I’d love to pick Grandmother up some fresh incense.”

  “Sounds good,” he says, smiling at Klara.

  They walk hand in hand, his duffel hanging over his shoulder and bouncing against his side with each step. “Do you have plans with your father tonight?”

  “Unfortunately not. He had to leave for London early yesterday morning,” Klara replies, a little sullen.

  “I’m sorry.” Eddie squeezes her hand tighter.

  “It’s quite all right. He came to my room and said good-bye the night of the party,” Klara says, thinking back to the conversation with her father, her stomach falling slightly.

  “That’s nice at least,” Eddie says, trying to cheer her up. It’s not all right, but he isn’t about to get into that conversation before taking her out to lunch. He wants to see Klara happy and giggly. He loves seeing her that way.

  The clouds start to grow grey, stacking one upon another.

  “I think a storm might be upon us soon,” she says, taking in the darkening sky.

  “We’ve been lucky. We’ve had an unusually sunny summer.”

  Klara thinks that she has been enjoying every moment of it.

  “I just love the sun,” she says, moving beside Eddie and twirling around. “But there is also something quite magical about the rain.”

  Eddie laughs easily. Klara seems to find magic in everything.

  “It seems to be able to wash everything anew. It rinses away the old. There is nothing quite like exploring the woods after a nice long rain.”

  “Everything does seem richer, as though it has been brought back to life,” Eddie comments, thinking about the last time he was in the woods, noting it has been far too long.

  “It’s a renewal. I wonder, after this rainfall, if we will feel renewed?”

  “Are there things you want to be washed away?” he asks.

  “I think there are always burdens we wish could be washed away. But what would life be without these things? If we didn’t have some troubles, I’m not quite sure we would appreciate life in the same way.”

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you talk so seriously,” Eddie comments, Klara’s words sticking with him.

  “But that isn’t the renewal I’m talking about.” She laughs. “I’m talking about a renewal of the spirit!”

  “Well then, let’s hope the rains come and renew your spirit,” Eddie says, raising his brows with amusement. “You know, you are quite strange.”

  “But only in the best of ways,” she replies, taking his hand again.

  “Of course,” Eddie agrees.

  “Help me pull these two tables together,” Mattie says to another boy on the team named Harry as Eddie and Klara walk toward them in the pub.

  Klara takes in the pub’s wood interior. There is a long bar, which everything else in the place seems to wrap around, and people she saw at the match fill the tables. There are families, groups of teenagers, and some singles relaxing at the bar.

  Eddie smiles at his mate. He is going out of his way to make him and Klara feel included, and he couldn’t be more grateful. Some part of him feared that they wouldn’t get along, and that really worried him. Eddie takes a seat at the wooden table, noticing who all is at it. He is surprised to find Samantha seated next to Mattie, and he looks to Mattie with raised brows. Mattie looks back at him with a twinkle in his eye, and he moves to place his hand along the back of Samantha’s chair.

  Eddie turns to Klara after they’ve both sat down. “So, you know Mattie. This is Samantha,” he says, pointing at the girl seated across from Klara. “Victoria, Harry, Jack, and Oliver,” he says, working his way around the table. “Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Klara.”

  “It’s a pleasure,” Klara greets, taken aback by the group at the table. It’s more people than she expected, and she isn’t sure what to say to make everyone take their eyes off her.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Samantha greets.

  The boys all give nods in between shoving their mouths full with chips. Victoria gives her a once-over and briefly moves her eyes to Eddie before moving them back to her drink.

  Eddie opens the menu in front of him and Klara, peering over it, watching Mattie shamelessly flirt with Samantha.

  “What do you want?” Eddie asks, turning to look into Klara’s bright blue eyes.

  She looks back at him and then down to the menu.

  “What is your favorite thing?” she asks, scooting a little closer to him.

  “Chips, of course,” Eddie says with a grin. “And the shepherd’s pie is good. They have a vegetarian one.”

  “Yeah? That sounds delicious.” Klara places her hand on his lap. She loves the warmth that comes from him, and she finds comfort in touching him.

  “Do you go to school around here?” Samantha asks Klara from across the table. She has short brown hair that hits her at the shoulders and a warm smile.

  “I’m tutored at home, but I live just outside town,” Klara replies.

  Samantha nods at her.

  “And how did you and Eddie meet?” Victoria adds, looking across the table at Klara.

  “Edward came upon my meadow one day, and we became instant friends.” Klara smiles, looking toward Eddie.

  Eddie feels all the eyes of the table upon him. Normally, he enjoys attention, but he’s not so sure about it today.

  “Your meadow?” Victoria comments. “Though I’m sure he charmed you right away.”

  Mattie rolls his eyes and decides to help his best bloke. “We all know who the charmer of the group is, and that most definitely isn’t Eddie.”

  “You’ve got me there,” Eddie says with a laugh, throwing his hands in the air in defeat, but he catches Victoria’s gaze still upon him.

  “Anyway, back to the meadow,” Samantha adds in, her eyes wide.

  Klara can tell right away that she is the type who is infatuated with romances, and a slight blush comes to her cheeks.

  “He did charm me straightaway. I found him pleasant to talk to and quite funny,” Klara says, thinking back to that day.

  She was most excited about making a friend, not a potential lover. Though she isn’t sure that is exactly what Edward is to her. Lover is a loose term, and she feels that he is much more than that to her despite the fact that they haven’t done anything close to lovemaking. He has become her best friend. But the thought of being with Edward makes her flush slightly again, and she moves to place a kiss on his cheek, distracting herself.

  “Aw.” Samantha smiles back at them.

  Mattie notices the look on Samantha’s face. She is eating up Klara’s story, and he wonders if that is what it is going to take to get her into his bed. Some roses and romance. He got her to the match, so she is obviously interested in him. Maybe he just needs to romance her. If he gets some, it will be worth it. Especially from her.

  Eddie watches as his friends talk about the party they all attended a few nights before, and he feels slightly out of place. He isn’t normally one to go out, but he feels like he has nothing to add to the conversation, and he doesn’t like it. Maybe he has been giving up too much of his time to be with Klara. After all, he is only seventeen.

  Eddie turns to look at her, quietly sitting next to him and picking at her pie, and his insides relax. Regardl
ess of everything else, he is crazy about her. She is different. Innocent. Her outlook on life and all her thoughts and emotions constantly surprise him. He feels his heartbeat pick up as he thinks about her, and his hand moves to her leg. He is greeted by her eyes connecting with his, and his gaze flickers down to her lips. His worries about his friends disappear as he thinks about his mouth being back on those rosy lips.

  “Thank you for lunch,” Klara says to Edward as they walk hand in hand down the cobblestone street.

  She thinks back to Edward’s friends. They seem so different from her. Everything they think and care about has never crossed her mind. Things like nightclubs, who is dating whom, where they buy their outfits from and find the best makeup. They discussed the match, who attended, and how well they played.

  “Thank you for going,” Eddie says, squeezing her hand.

  Klara is leading them to a small crystal shop her grandmother loves, and it feels nice to stretch his legs. He gets slightly antsy, sitting for too long. It’s most likely why he likes being outside—exploring, riding his bike, playing football.

  “May I ask you something?” Klara tentatively says.

  “Of course,” Eddie replies, noticing her change in tone.

  Klara slows, stopping so that her back is against one of the stone walls beside a storefront. She fumbles with Edward’s hand, looking down at his fingers interlaced with hers. “Do you ever wish I were more like the girls you and your mates seem to hang around? I couldn’t help but notice how different I was from them.”

  Eddie looks at her eyes, scanning them to figure out where her question is coming from. She meets his gaze, and a smile tugs at the corner of his lip. Eddie moves to place his hand under her chin.

  “That’s exactly why I like you. You’re different than anyone I’ve ever met.”

  Klara wonders aloud. “Different?”

  “If you haven’t noticed, you’re quite curious,” Eddie says, a playful smile coming to his face. He unlaces his hand from around her fingers, and he moves it to the back of her hair, running it down her soft tendrils.