Chapter 4!!!

I've really been getting on with writing this recently! But I have changed a few of my ideas for the story which means chapter 7 onwards needs to be re-written! But it's the holidays now so I have more time on my hands to update. Anyway thanks for sticking with the story this far, and I really appreciate the nice reviews.

Anyway, on with the story!

Pai woke up first that day, which was unusual. He looked over and saw Lettuce still sleeping with her head on his chest. He smiled as he looked at her; she stirred and opened her eyes. She looked up at Pai.

"Good morning," he smiled. Lettuce turned scarlet, started to stammer about something and quickly got up. "I'm just going out for half an hour, Ok?" he said to her as she fidgeted with her hair. She mumbled something which, to Pai, sounded like

"Sritefyogo"

Which he took to mean:

"It's alright if you go."

"I'll see you soon." He said, and he left. Lettuce sat there for a moment, mortified at how she and Pai had slept. She took off her thick jumper, tights and coat (as it was much warmer now) so she was left wearing a pale green polo shirt, a denim mini and the same flat boots as she had been wearing the whole time. Lettuce carefully folded her clothes and put them at the foot of a tree.

Meanwhile Pai was walking through the forest, his mind far from at ease. There is absolutely no way that I could love her, He assured himself. Pai looked at a white rose bush and smiled to himself as he remembered Lettuce saying white ones were her favorite flowers. Carefully he picked one of the flowers and dethorned it to give to Lettuce.

They greeted each other with a simultaneous "hey" when Pai got back.

"Are those different clothes?"

"Um… yes I was too hot inmyjacketandstuffsoitookitioffiknowitlooksstupid um…" she replied, her words gradually merging together.

"Looks nice… oh, this is for you." He said, slightly embarrassed. This had sounded so much better in his head! "It's um… a sorry about yesterday…" Lettuce hugged him, realized what she was doing, let go promptly and turned pink. Pai chuckled at how embarrassed she was… or… was that a bad thing? He had no frame of reference when it came to human girls.

"I-I'm going to the stream to get some water."

"Lettuce we live next to a lake."

"Well… um stream water is cleaner!" she said, grabbing a bucket and going to the stream. She was glad to be away from Pai, as she was still embarrassed about hugging him. As she collected water she heard a rustling in the bushes. I am mew Lettuce. She thought, clenching her fists. I should not be scared. There was a distant yell. Terrified, she dropped the bucket and ran back to Pai.

"Pai!" she yelled as she stumbled back to the lakeside. Pai wasn't there. "Pai! Where are you?" she yelled frantically.

"Lettuce!" she heard Pai's voice and turned so she was looking across the lake and saw him. Pai was tied to a tree on the other side of the lake. Lettuce looked curiously from Pai to the narrowest part of the lake, which was almost four meters, wondering if she could jump it. I'll never know unless I try. She thought, running towards the ledge as fast as she could. Everything seemed to slow down as Lettuce approached the lake. She heard Pai shout "No! Lettuce, wait!" Adrenaline rushed through her like electricity as she jumped…

Ok that's another chapter done! I'm really enjoying writing this, although it starts to get a little dark for a while here which I haven't tried writing before, so let me know what you think!

- Sakura

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