Skies & Pretty Flowers (Le Francis)

[ANA MARÍA CAMPOS HERNÁNDEZ]

Ana María thought that now it was the time to relax. After a long day of her usual routine work out, all she wanted to do was lay on the grass that surrounded the track field and rest. She loved it out here. Out where there was pure oxygen. The girl wasn't the type of person that could sit still for a prolonged period of time and thus six hours inside of a classroom was a complete dread.
She was wearing shorts, despite temperatures outside that were clearly below her comfort zone. The Mexican didn't enjoy the cold weather. Not one bit. She had never seen the tiny snowflakes that come every time it snowed. No, at her place, winter consisted in between 24ºC to even 30ºC! (75.2 to 84.4 °F) Anything below that was too cold to even consider.

Yet, at the moment, she didn't felt uncomfortable in the slightest. Maybe because she was still partially sweaty from the workout.

Ana María sighed as she turned to gaze at the bright clear blue sky. In her capital city, she rarely ever got to see the sky at such intense blue color. Much to her dismay, pollution had turned the sky into a shade of gray that didn't look quite dead, but at the same time it lacked the vivid nature it should possess.
She could just imagine how it would be at night. In this remote island, how many stars will she be able to see? Ana María remembered reading somewhere that there was a place in Egypt where the whole sky was illuminated of stars. Apparently the ancient Egyptians had painted some pictures describing the magic of what they saw. She would like that. She would like that very much. Just to be able to gaze at it, for years to end.

The girl loved life. But more the beauty that prevailed in it. Mountains, birds, rainbows... Things like the pyramids of Chichén Itzá or the ruins of Machu Pichu. Greatness that can be perceived from miles before you actually look at them. Ana María sighed. One of the greatest sights she had ever had the privilege of contemplate was the Spring and Autumn equinoxes at Chichén Itzá. In the late afternoon, the northwest corner of the pyramid casts a series of triangular shadows that give the appearance of a serpent wriggling down the staircase. It represents the feathered-serpent god Kukulcan.
She hated missing it.

She placed her hands behind her head as she laid on the grass. Clouds were barely beginning to take over the clear blue sky. A part of Ana María solemnly wished it wouldn't rain. Contrary to popular belief, the rain here was cold. Cold rain plus coldness in general did not make a good mix to avoid hypothermia.
However, another part of her suddenly had the urge to dance around in the rain. It was fun. Like a new way of complete freedom.

As the cloud travelled by, Ana María let her eyes doze off. On several occasions she had fell asleep on the track field, until she woke up or someone else, with rather an annoyed look on their face, woke her up. The later couldn't help but amuse her. And if it happened, well, let it be then.

[Deleted]

Francis had plans for a workout that day. He ate well and usually got a decent amount of exercise most of the time, but taking a jog on the track and field was never a bad idea. He went every other week or so. It was relaxing, a good place to think and nice to be able to move at his own pace.

He stepped into the locker room, and changed into a simple t-shirt and sports shorts that would be comfortable to run in. He placed his regular clothing in his locker, and clicked it shut. Francis exited the room with his MP3 player, ear buds and water bottle.

The senior glanced at the sky. He was planning on running at least two miles that day, but he didn’t know if the weather would hold up. Clouds were beginning to gather, and the sky turned grey. “Better get started, then,” he murmured to himself.

He strode to the track and field area, a hundred or so feet away and pushed the gate open. He stepped onto the track, and started to stretch when he noticed someone lying in grass. They weren’t moving, and Francis found himself wondering if they had passed out from exhaustion.

He had to satisfy his curiosity and make sure the person was alright before even considering continuing his preparation for his exercise. Francis moved closer to the body and studied it for a moment. It was a Latina girl with long brown hair, and appeared to be sleeping. She was familiar; Francis knew he had seen her in the halls of the academy before, but he couldn’t quite place her name. Her chest was moving up and down with a peaceful expression on her face, and he sighed in relief with a smile. He would run and if she wasn’t awake by the time he had finished, he would wake her up.

He took a quick drink of his water and put in on the ground near the fenced entrance. He then proceeded to place an ear bud in each ear, hit the play button and finish stretching. He checked the time, and with a deep inhale of breath, started his run. As he jogged around the track, Francis pondered a few things on his mind. He thought about his perpetuating goal of being able to fully and completely control the Siren Song. It was often worrying for him; he feared that he placed everyone who was around him in jeopardy. He couldn’t sing anymore, one of his favorite pastimes, knowing for certain he would cause his ability to activate. He couldn’t even hum (which was a bad habit of his) without fearing of putting someone at risk. It was frustrating, to say in the least. But he would learn how to control it – even if it was the last thing he did.

After several laps around, Francis ended where he started, breathing heavily. He had run two and a half miles, and he glanced at his watch. It had taken him about sixteen minutes. That wasn’t too bad, about average. He looked up to the bleak sky, surprised that it hadn’t begun raining yet and finally to the sleeping girl in the grass. It seemed that she hadn’t even have done as much as twitched.

“Hello,” he said, hoping he would be loud enough. She didn’t stir. He bent down and gently shook her shoulder. “Please wake up.” A pause. “Or maybe the prince has to kiss the princess awake~?” Francis laughed to himself, honestly not knowing what he was saying anymore. He was tired and just wanted her to wake up, unwilling to leave her alone outside when it started raining. He shook her shoulder one more time.

[ANA MARÍA CAMPOS HERNÁNDEZ]

Ana María didn't realize at what point she fell completely asleep. This place was more comfortable than her bed back at her dorm. She couldn't quite explain why she preferred sleeping on the floor. It was cold and hard and anyone would find it terribly upsetting for the back. But she didn't. And feeling the peculiar touch of the grass against her skin was all she needed.
In her dreams she was back home. For the first time in a while she found herself missing the place she was from. She had never dreamed about home. Not in this way. But it was all there. Clear and vivid in her mind. The walls of her house, resting alongside volcanic stone in which it had been constructed. The cool air despite the warm temperature of the outside. Then, one distinct smell. Above everything else that her mind had developed. The smell of tomatoes and chiles being cooked on the stove. It was a choking smell that made her cough uncontrollably.

Her mother was making red salsa for dinner. Such a relief. Ana María walked through the corridors, wanting to help her. To listen to the sound of her humming and to see her one last time, if only by memory of what she remembered. With each step she got closer and yet farther away. She didn't remember her house being so large, within a running distance.
The smell began to cease as she listening to the tomatoes and chiles being squished and mixed together on a Molcajete. The taste and texture was unique. It was the traditional way of making salsa and guacamole. It was better than using a blender. It certainly tasted better.

When she finally reached the kitchen Ana María called out to her mother. At first she could barely listen to the sound of her own voice, so she tried again. Her native Spanish suddenly became a mixture of ungrammatical and slang English. The realization that she could not speak properly was frightening, even so when her mother turned to look at her, confused as to why she spoke that way. Before she could explain the other spoke.

"Please wake up."

Ana María was snapped back to reality as someone gently shook her shoulder. She opened her eyes abruptly, taking a moment to fully adjust to the light. The girl slowly stood up straight, as she looked around to contemplate where she was. The first thing that caught her eyes was the blonde boy that looked at her in a manner that she was unsure as to if he was smiling or not. Regardless, she smiled at him.
"Hola." She said clearing her throat. "Was I dormida for a long time?" Ana María wondered for how long this guy had been trying to wake her up. She looked at the sky and realized it was going to rain some time soon. She realized he had probably waken her so that she wouldn't be laying here when the rain did hit. Hmm, how thoughtful.

[Deleted]

It surprised him when she suddenly opened her brown eyes, and stood up, glancing around to assess the current situation. He also stood up, and tried to smile. It took him a moment to compose himself.

"Hola. Was I dormida for a long time?"

Francis wasn’t exactly knowledgeable in Spanish; it was actually quite limited. He knew a few phrases and words, but that was about it. He had traveled around Europe a little when he was still a child, and his parents had taken him to Spain. He did know that Spanish and French were similar, which helped. Attempting to use the bits and pieces of information he knew, he deduced that ‘dormida’ was referring to sleeping.

“I do not think so,” he replied, shaking his head. “I have only been here twenty minutes of so, and when I arrived, you were already asleep. I would not think it has been too long.”

He studied her again, taking in her appearance. Her skin was tanned, her hair long and smooth, and her eyes clear and bright. Everything about her seemed to match, blending nicely.

“Please pardon my ignorance, ma cherie,” Francis took a moment to flash a gentlemanly smile. “What is your name? I have seen you around the campus, but I am afraid I have not had the honor to learn it.”

Oh, there he went again. His voice naturally smooth and his words arranged in such a way to sound chivalrous, but perhaps a bit too flirtatious. It almost made him cringe, but he retained his pleasant expression, for at least the sake of preventing himself from being rude to the girl. She most certainly didn’t deserve any rudeness, having done nothing wrong.

[ANA MARÍA CAMPOS HERNÁNDEZ]

Okay, so that wasn't so bad. Not bad at all. She shook the dirt that was on her clothes and yawned. She remembered then that it was the middle of November and she was wearing shorts. Probably not the best idea. She could feel the cold air rushing through her legs and immediately wished for the warm winter days of her home country. While it was true that Mexico City was colder than most of the country because it was high on a plateau and surrounded by this nice pine trees and coniferous forests it was never so undeniably cold that it started to snow. Sometimes she thought that all the cold would be worth it if at least it snowed. A snow angel would be fun.

Ana María brushed her arms instinctively and remembered herself that this was not her home and that it would be smart to put on a sweater or a jacket every time she went out. Might want to avoid some unnecessary visits to the nurse.
"Great." She said smiling. Ana María could feel the boy's gaze on her but did nothing to stop him or comment on it. She never really thought much about being the object of affection or the object of amusement of anyone. Now that she thought about it, it was actually kind of fun. Perhaps indirectly, but the girl positioned her body so that he could get the best shot of her. She was not modest.

"Please pardon my ignorance, ma cherie, what is your name? I have seen you around the campus, but I am afraid I have not had the honor to learn it."

Ana María chuckled, flattered. The list of things that made her uncomfortable was remote, if there was anything in that list at all. So attempting to hide the blushing of her cheeks was not her prime concern.
"My name is Ana María Campos Hernández. But any smaller version of that is okay too." She said extending her hand for him to shake it, although a kiss on the cheek would've been more proper for an informal meeting. At least that was what she was used to, but knowing how touchy, for lack of a better word, people could get, she opted not to.

"What about you, señor? What is your name?"

[Deleted]

"My name is Ana María Campos Hernández. But any smaller version of that is okay too."

The girl – Ana María – held out her hand, and Francis gladly took it with one simple, graceful movement.

"What about you, señor? What is your name?”

It was easy to discern she was Latina just by taking a quick look, and her use of the fellow romantic language of Spanish was another obvious intimation. “Francis Bonnefoy,” he winked as he elegantly pressed his lips on her hand, kissing it, his blue eyes focused on her brown ones. “It is a pleasure, mademoiselle Ana María.”

Ah, it was most definitely partly his fault for all the rumors around campus. After all, Francis only seemed to prove the rumors rather than deny them. It was true; he was quite the flirt. It came naturally; it was part of who he was, but he certainly wasn’t someone who slept around. He liked to think he treated everyone as they should be, but he often gave off the wrong impression. It wasn’t exactly a difficult task to accomplish.

Francis released her hand after a moment, and glanced upwards to the sky. “The weather does not seem like it will hold up,” he commented. More, grey clouds had gathered, and they seemed ready to burst at any moment. It was strange, but Francis could sometimes just tell by the way the wind blew that rain would be coming any minute now. “Perhaps we should move indoors to continue our conversation?” He adjusted his towel, which was drenched already, away. He needed a shower as soon as possible, and shifted his weight away from Ana María, as not to make his presence uncomfortable or worse, unbearable.

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((Oh God I'm so sorry please forgive me for such a short post and taking such a long time ofslkdnfodsfo))

[ANA MARÍA CAMPOS HERNÁNDEZ]

Ana María felt a small rush of pleasure when the blond took her hand. It always came as quite the delight to be able to befriend a stranger. She was, after all, a people person. She enjoyed socializing and making friends. When you lack a proper family at home, you have to find it some place else. She considered even the acquaintances as part of her family, those relatives who's names you know in a distant part of your memory and whom you see only once every five years. It always seem to her that her presence and the presence of others played a significant role in influencing others. It was quite a selfish thought, if she put her mind to it, to meet people purely to have the satisfaction that she could impact their lives.

Ana María, once again, noticed the look from the boy. She loved it. Playfully she tugged her hair to the side and tilted her head ever so slightly to the right.
"Francis Bonnefoy." He said, and the only thing more beautiful than his name would be the way he pronounced it. Ana María wanted him to speak in French. Purely in French, even if she couldn't completely understand him. As far as languages went, Ana María had a pretty good hold on those she genuinely desired to learn. Besides Spanish, she knew Nahuatl, and of course English, but English was far too easy a language to learn so she never quite cared to dominate it. She was interest in other Lenguas Romances or romantic languages as they said. If he spoke in French, then she would answer in Spanish, and that would be more than just beautiful. It would be spectacular.

"It is a pleasure, mademoiselle Ana María."

The girl smiled. "Mademoiselle, huh?" She said trying her best to imitate the sound of his language without the worry she would butcher it. "How about Señorita?" She continued playfully.
Ana María looked at the boy and for a moment wished he could not follow her gaze, for she did not wish to make him uncomfortable. She desired to know him, learn how he was. It wasn't that Ana María had some hidden sexual desire, because that was not the case, but she wanted to touch him and feel him. It was quite difficult to explain to others when they asked why she had the habit of disrespecting people's personal space, but it had to do with the fact that she learned by doing, by touching. It was something completely kinetic. That's why she could never sit still on a classroom and pay attention. She had to move and become one with the environment around her.

For the moment, however, she merely reduced her task to learning the features of his face, the way his long hair fell in almost perfect waves, and the blue of his irises. Ana María always took special attention to those people who had light colored eyes. She didn't see much of them in her country. Everyone had brown eyes and dark hair. And while that color was beautiful, much like her own, she did love to see things that were new to her, different.

"The weather does not seem like it will hold up. Perhaps we should move indoors to continue our conversation?" Ana María's eyes diverted to watch the sky. It was almost completely covered in a gray that was familiar to her. She smiled. She always enjoyed the moment just before the rainfall. It was that second when everything went still, when everything became clear. A moment of purity and then the first drop falls.
Ana María turned to look at Francis. She was quite aware she stood there with nothing more than a shirt and some shorts, even though it was the cold months, but that didn't stop her from saying what she was about to.
"No," She said softly. "I've always enjoyed walking below the rain. I do not mind getting wet. On the contrary, I think it makes every scene look romantic, and unique. It is like a form of art that can't be captured on a picture or a painting but that it is for our eyes only."

[Deleted]

Francis tried his hardest not to cringe or wince when she repeated the French word. It was mainly correct, but the middle hadn’t sounded quite right to his ears. French and Spanish were rather similar, both originating from Latin, but both quite different overall in pronunciations. In fact, Francis was nearly completely certain he would ruin the beauty of the Spanish language if he attempted to speak it.

"No. I've always enjoyed walking below the rain. I do not mind getting wet. On the contrary, I think it makes every scene look romantic, and unique. It is like a form of art that can't be captured on a picture or a painting but that it is for our eyes only."

The words surprised him, but he smiled and nodded. He was relieved when she didn’t seem bothered by the sweaty odor, although he still remained self-conscious about it. It was certainly intriguing, however, at how romantic her words were. Francis always enjoyed meeting with fellow romantics; it was always especially interesting when he was given the opportunity to see and hear other people’s interpretations of love. Sometimes love was simple, and straightforward, although those were rare occasions. It was more likely that love would show itself as a complicated, intricate and rather delicate web, all very carefully threaded together by communication and emotions.

And it was always different.

”How very right you are,” He allowed a light laugh to escape his lips. ”We, as humans, take many small things in life for granted, such as the rain. Yet such a simple factor can set the mood for two lovers, hm? One rain-filled scene would not be the same without it.” How easily such a conversation could start to move into the direction of something philosophical. Francis didn’t mind it, though, in fact, it was quite the opposite. He found such conversations enjoyable, for one reason or another.

He didn’t feel the first drop of rain, which landed on his towel-covered head, but soon felt a drop on his arm, and brushed it off. ”People’s first thoughts are usually about snow when related to unique weather, but the rain can be just as beautiful.”

And since Ana María had clearly expressed that she didn’t mind standing in the rain, Francis couldn’t be bothered to disagree. He would be going into the locker rooms for a shower soon enough anyways; getting wet before didn’t matter in the slightest. Besides that, it would be quite refreshing since he still felt overheated from his exercise, and he felt this conversation would continue to be interesting and wanted to continue it. It would be a disappointment if cut short because of the weather.

Francis slipped his towel across his shoulders, still smiling, and offered his arm. He was still fearful of the smell, but it was starting to rain, and he couldn’t be bothered not to be polite. ”Shall we, then?”

[ANA MARÍA CAMPOS HERNÁNDEZ]

Ana María had always been a romantic. She enjoyed the concept of love like nothing other in this world. She liked to see it, understand it, figure out how two people with nothing in common but a beating heart, could manage to be and stay together. The girl loved the idea of true love. She did believe in love at first sight. She understood though, that it didn't always happen that way. And it wasn't as though you just stare at someone and the automatically know that's the person you're going to marry, but you do feel it. You feel a sort of weird thing inside you, that feels wrong and right, and high and low, a feeling that messes with your head but you let it. Ana María liked sitting or walking through the parks in Mexico City and watch couples of all ages share that mysterious little thing that she had never experienced before.

The girl had crushes before, that was true and inevitable, but had she ever fallen in love with someone? No. She took that statement as something serious and falling in and out of crushes was not love. Sometimes it was pure lust or desire for someone else purely on what rested on their outside. Ana María did want to enjoy it, though. She wanted to know how it felt like to be willing to give your life for someone without a moment of hesitation. Even when her mother had passed away when she was a small child, she could still remember her parents being so unbelievably happy. She had never asked her father how her mother and he met. The topic of her mother always seemed like a touchy subject that she didn't quite knew how to approach. It was something she was dying to know, but something she would never have the courage to ask. Because losing someone that becomes a part of you can hurt in the most unimaginable way. It is a hurt that rips you apart and shatters you into pieces, over and over. You can never make it stop.

Because that person was so inside you, such a part of you, that to get them out is torturing your body and mind, heart and soul.

"How very right you are. We, as humans, take many small things in life for granted, such as the rain. Yet such a simple factor can set the mood for two lovers, hm? One rain-filled scene would not be the same without it."

Ana María looked up at the shadowy gray sky and fell the tears caress her skin, refreshing her face. It felt so good, because even when the water was a bit cooler than what she was used to, it still didn't feel uncomfortably cold. As she heard Francis words, she couldn't help but smile. Not her. She didn't take anything in life for granted. Or at least she tried not to. She was repressed from so many things back home that everything seemed like a whole new adventure for her. Every new thing a small dream come true. But it was true what he said, because many people did take everything for granted. The majority of them had labeled the world as a dark and mean place with no opportunity for love. It was sad. There was still good in the world. There had to be some light to balance the darkness. If we want goodness we just have to find it, or create it.

"People's first thoughts are usually about snow when related to unique weather, but the rain can be just as beautiful."

Snow. Ana María had never seen snow in her life. She had seen it in movies and in pictures, but that feeling of waking up one Christmas morning to see the whole panorama painted in white was a concept unknown to her. She couldn't deny that snow was beautiful too, but she was reluctant to experience it in the same way she experienced rain. She did not like the cold. The mere thought of it. And snow usually meant temperatures below freezing. How could she truly enjoy something she already disliked in the first place? She would have to allow herself to take the chance. If just once to see if it was as dreadful as her mind imagined it to be. Maybe if she just wore the proper clothes and prepared herself for it, she would be able to endure it. It was all just a matter of how badly she wanted it.

"Shall we, then?"

The boy muttered as he extended his arm for her to take. She was surprised by his gesture, so much of a gentleman. Ana María knew that she shouldn't feel this way whenever a man expressed affection, but she couldn't help it. Boy back home weren't exactly the knights in shinning armor that every fairy tale makes them out to be. She had opted to stop looking for them, and she was surprised whenever she came across someone who was. She placed her hand over his arm and smiled at him, grateful for his gesture. "Where are we going?"[/color] She asked, as Francis seemed ready to take them some place else. Somewhere dry most likely.

[Deleted]

Francis smiled, not egotistically or lustfully or smugly. He just smiled at Ana Maria, pleasantly happy she took his arm the way she did. Most girls leaned immediately into him, were far too giggly, clingy, and flirty. Often he didn't dislike these girls, as they were trying to hard to be someone they weren't, but he occasionally found his patience grow thin around them. It was usually just nice to enjoy some of the still surviving chivalry and Francis was genuinely pleased his fellow student had just accepted his arm with a gratified smile of her own.

"Where are we going?"

The words were simple, forming an easy question. But even as simple and easy as it was, Francis couldn't help but cherish it. No hidden meaning, no innuendo, no possibly corrupted intention, just a pure question asking where their destination would be.

"Wherever you wish to go, ma cherie," he said, leading her forward as they conversed amicably, just enjoying the peace and each other's company. "Inside or for a walk or out to town, anywhere is fine with me. I do not mind." He really meant it too; he would go anywhere she requested. Francis liked spending time like this, only as if they were normal high school students with no pressure of abilities or expectations or training.

The rain drops continued to fall, wetting his face, and he was sure his companion's as well. It was beginning to pick up from a light shower to a drizzle. He supposed it was somewhat nice to feel the clean drops, in comparison to the salty sweat that still clung to his skin from his exerise. It was quite refreshing, perhaps this would do for temporarily cleansing the offending odor from his person, although he knew it would not suffice entirely.

[ANA MARÍA CAMPOS HERNÁNDEZ]

Ana María always loved that reply. It was one of the things she treasured the most about being young. It was the reassurance that whatever she wanted to do she was free to do it. No overly burdened responsibilities or people that depended on her. It was truly a magical time. There was no thing that could hold her back from venturing on to see the world wearing nothing more than a backpack. So where to go now? It really didn't matter.

It wasn't were to go, but to go somewhere, and the mere fact that they were going was enough for her. She kept grabbing his arm, and tears of rain continued to fall on them. It was poetic almost, and it was nice. "Why don't we just walk around, see where that leads us to?" Yes, she didn't mind getting soaked in the rain again. If she got sick then so be it, but one should never regret the things that makes them happy. And being under the rain made her happy.

Actually, just the mere thought of being alive and well, with immense opportunities within her reach was enough. Sometimes people didn't really understand that. That all she ever wanted was to step outside the gate and venture into the forest that everyone had labeled as forbidden. All she wanted was that sweet and at times bitter sense of freedom, because nothing was what it seemed and people were always in for a surprise.

So she walked next to Francis, without a worry as to where this would lead because she had no expectations. It was a good way to look at things. Sure that without expectations one does not get disappointment, but also one gets plenty of surprise. And all she wanted at that moment was to be amazed, and indeed it was amazing.