She must have hit him very hard. His cheek felt like it was on fire and he could tell his face was red already. “Oh my goodness!” Esme shrieked “Oh no! I am SO sorry.”

“What was that for!” he asked, his eyes narrowing against tears. His face really hurt. Esme’s face turned from apologetic to angry. “What do you mean? I wasn’t going to let you kiss me!”

“What? Why not?”

“I don’t even know you!”

“Yes you do! And I know you!”

“Oh really?” she asked sarcastically. “What's my favorite color?” Fritz opened his mouth to respond but then closed it, he didn’t know. He shrugged and she scowled. “Yellow.” she said with a frown. “Oh. sorry.” he said, backing away from her as she glared at him. “Look.” Esme said heavily sitting in a chair. “It’s not that I don’t like you, we definitely have a connection.” She sighed loudly “I want to be with you really, I do. But I don’t want to take it too fast. It might be old fashioned but I want to go on a date or two before we go any farther.”

She wanted to wait. She wanted to protect herself from losing him and he could respect that.

“Okay.” he said, looking downwards. “I’m sorry.”

“You're forgiven.” she was smiling again, waiting for something. “What are you- oh. Of course.” she smirked as he playfully got onto his knee and took her hand dramatically. “Will you, oh beautiful rose of the woods, spectacular doe before me, Esme, will you…” he bent down into a deep bow, still on his knees. “Will you go on a date with me?” she laughed slightly before spinning pretending as if she were faint. “I thought you would never ask.” she said popuosly. “Of course not. How could I ever.” he responded, getting to his feet slowly. They laughed awkwardly for a moment before Fritz spoke again. “How’s your head?” he asked and she reached for it again, touching it nervously. “I think it's fine. It hurts terribly but nothing else.”

“And- and your arm?” Esme smiled at him as he glanced down at it. No wrap was on it and he could make out a faint pink outline of a scar. “I’m fine.” she said, walking closer to him again. “Really. It just reminds me of all the rabbits I lost. It reminds me that I am real and I can be weak. But it also reminds me that I can be strong. No, that I am strong. That I am beautiful. That I am wise. That I am important enough that someone would want to hurt me.” she looked into his eyes. “I cried when they tortured me. Of course I did! But that doesn’t mean I’m weak. Crying doesn’t mean you're weak. It means you’ve been strong for too long.” She smiled and wiped a tear off his face that he hadn’t even realized was there. “That was deep.” he managed. She threw her head back, laughing loudly. “Thanks.” she said between gasps of breath, wiping tearing of mirth from her eyes. He palmed his head at her reaction, which only caused her to laugh harder, leaning on her knees for support. “What's so funny.” he asked. His own laugh building in his throat. “I don't know!” she screeched, shaking with laughter. “I DONT KNOW!!!!” she shouted out. Fritz didn’t know how but he began to laugh. He hadn’t realized that he hadn’t laughed in over a year. And Esme probably hadn’t either. They clung to each other laughing over nothing for a while. Esme looked slightly insane, laughing crazily. Then she began to hiccup, causing her to laugh harder. “I *hic* dont *hic* know what’s *hic* so funny! *hic* I haven't laughed in *hic* ages!” Fritz chuckled, leading her to sit again. She took a deep breath in, a goofy smile filling her whole face.

“Hey, let's go get you some rest.” he said and she nodded, taking his arm. He walked her to her new room. And as he closed the door, remembering her tears, her words, her rejection, her acceptance, her modesty, her beauty, her smile, her laughter, certain she was asleep he whispered “Love you Esme.” right as the door shut her heard her whisper back “love you too.”