Chapter XXI:

She looked so tiny next to me. I didn’t see her until she grabbed my mug. When I saw her eyes, I got caught in her trap.

“Uh… this is my ale,” I said.

“No,” she said. “I saw it first.”

“I think you are mistaken,” I said. She shook her head.

“No, I’m not,” she said. Somehow, I couldn’t stay mad at her. Her head came up to my chest. Was it possible to have so much light in her eyes? She had such a round face. Her red curls reminded me of fire. Who was this? Where did she every come from?

“Where did you come from?” I asked.

“All the way from back there,” she said, pointing off to the crowd. I tried to take the mug while I looked. A small group of girls stood around, talking. This girl about took my mug but I wouldn’t let her.

“Can I please have this ale?” I asked. “I really need it.”

“So do I,” she said. Her smiled seemed to laugh at me.

“You don’t understand,” I said.

“I think I do,” this strange girl said. Why wasn’t she going to give up? I shouldn’t be doing this. I had to get back to what I needed to do. But this girl wouldn’t let me. I just needed her to surrender the ale and everything would be fine.

“I’ve got more ale if anyone wants it!” Virginia shouted. The girl and I looked at each other. Who would be the one to let go? I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

“Why can’t you let me have this ale?” I asked.

“Because I want it,” she said. I wrinkled my nose.

“Virginia has more ale,” I said. “You can have as much as you want. Just let me have this one. Please?” Then that girl just smiled. Those blue eyes seemed to flicker for one moment. Those eyes distracted me for one weak moment.

“No,” she said. I narrowed my eyes.

“Who are you?” I asked. This strange girl giggled.

“Call me Elizabeth,” she said. Her name was all it too. My hand slipped from the mug. Elizabeth claimed her ale with a smirk on her face.

“Thanks for the drink,” she said. Then Elizabeth disappeared back to her friends. I was left standing there was a blank look on my face. What just happened? I could’ve just chalked it up to a queer encounter and go back into my head. But it didn’t happen that way. Elizabeth became an endless distraction today. I couldn’t let her go out of my mind. I felt compelled to try and get to know her more.

She would be the first of many distractions that would lead me to my downfall. And she wouldn’t be the last.