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themerrypanda · 2 years

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For the Grapefruit Sky server’s Luau gift exchange, I received this gorgeous art of Elliott and my farmer lighthouse keeper OC Nicole from @lizardfootman!! (Thanks a million!!)

Under the break I've also published the entirety of the fic this art is inspired by. It’s also on AO3; its link in the title.

Title: That Summer, That Night

Word Count: 6,998 (4 chapters)

Summary: How the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies became one of Elliott’s favorite festivals.

Chapter 1: The Aspiring Writer

Summer 28, Year 0:

“There’s no need to stay in so late, Elliott. You can always come back tomorrow.”

“I know, Gunther. However, I’d like to finish this shelf.”

Elliott returned one book to the bookshelf, and finally picked up the very last one in the row. He carried the book over to the computer, slid out the check-out card from inside the cover, and began to type in the names of people who checked out the book before and the date they took out the book. Usually these lists weren’t very long. With the exception of a handful of recent publications, most of the books in Pelican Town Public Library were at least fifty years old.

For a small town library, it still had an impressive number of books. Elliott figured he’d have work for at least a year before he’d run out of books to put in the computer archives. After that point, he’d have no more work in Pelican Town, but hopefully this work would sustain him either until he finds another job opportunity or he publishes his first book and sees profits from it. Now if he could just figure out how to progress the story of Mr. Lu.

He pondered over ideas as he typed into the computer. He got the last and most recent name when he heard urgent knocking at the door.

Despite the place being closed, Gunther opened the door for Leah.

“Can I talk to Elliott?” she asked.

Gunther showed no qualms in letting her do so. Quickly she raced to him.

“I forgot to tell you the other day. Elliott, tonight’s the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies!”

“Another dance?”

“No, not like the Flower Festival. You’ve got to see this! It’s one of my favorite festivals, and it’s exclusive to here in Pelican Town.”

Elliott saved the last piece of information about the book, and closed the program before shutting the computer down. “And why is it so late?” he asked as he returned the book to its place on the bookshelf.

“The jellies won’t appear until sundown.”

“Jellies?”

“Jellyfish.” Leah corrected herself. “Let’s go!”

Leah paused when she looked again at Gunther. “Are you coming, Gunther?”

“Don’t mind me, you two. I’ll catch up.”

Leah smiled and thanked him, then seized Elliott by his wrist. “Come on!”

Elliott saw a couple people on the way to the beach. That was how you knew a bigger event was going on. Leah led him past his cabin, over the stream to the tide pools, then walked down the wooden pier over the water. From there, he could see many people already gathered at the more popular, larger dock where Willy’s Fish Shop stood.

“They all claim you get the best views over there.” Leah said, gesturing at Mayor Lewis, Willy, and the others standing in front of the fish shop. “I prefer a more from-a-distance view. It allows for better scenes for paintings… oh no, I forgot my sketchbook!”

“Would you like to race over to your cabin and fetch it?”

“No; it’ll be too late by then. Look! The mayor’s already releasing the candle boat.”

Sure enough, Elliott watched as Mayor Lewis released the shorter rope tying the boat to the dock. The boat drifted out to open sea, only to be stopped by a second, longer rope. He figured that the others would pull on it to return the boat to shore.

Elliott listened as the sound of the town’s chatter suddenly vanished, with the exception of an occasional whisper. A minute passed, and the world remained still. Another minute, then…

“I found one!” One of the town’s children shouted. Everyone turned to where the child pointed, and muted murmurs of excited agreement filled the air. A single, blue jellyfish lit the water, and began floating towards the shore.

“There’s more!” Another shouted excitedly.

Sure enough, a few minutes passed by, and now dozens of deep blue jellyfish swam up towards the shores of the beach, drawn to the dim lights. Elliott was entranced. How did he never realize that they could glow so brilliantly at night?

It was as if he was hypnotized; even as the jellyfish returned to the open sea, he couldn’t help but to stare. Thousands of words couldn’t describe the beauty that nature so willingly bestowed this fine night.

Even after the last jellyfish left, he did not move. He finally awoke from his trance when Leah nudged him with her elbow.

“I told you you had to see this.” Leah said breathlessly.

Elliott nodded. “It is incredible. Thank you for bringing me here.”

“No problem, friend!” Leah sighed deeply. “I’ve got to remember my sketchbook next year.”

Elliott glanced over to the main dock and realized that the bench beside Willy’s shop remained unoccupied for the duration of the night. Perhaps next year he can situate himself there.

“And perhaps then I’ll use the opportunity to see if the view on the main dock is worth competing for.”

Leah got up and began her walk into town and back to her cottage, and Elliott barely remembered how he walked to his own cabin. He lay down on top of the blankets on his twin-sized bed.

Next year. A gust of wind blew, chilling him. Autumn was practically here. And with the autumn, another passing of his birthday. In just five days he would turn 28. His early 27-year-old self would not have predicted him finding his way here in Pelican Town less than a year later.

Was it too late for him to make a name for himself? He hoped not.

Chapter 2: The Lighthouse Keeper

Summer 28, Year 1:

Knowing she likely would be near Willy’s Fish Shop this evening, Elliott positioned himself on the pier, past the shop, lamppost, and bench, and at the edge of the dock. He waved across the water to Leah, who had already crossed the footbridge and past the tide pools to sit at the edge of that pier. Her bare feet dangled over the sea, and her sketchbook rested in her lap with some colored pencils. If it was anything like he bet she would’ve liked to do last year, Leah would simply sketch tonight, and use the sketches and color references from the pencils to create a beautiful painting before winter.

In some ways, Elliott was jealous. It’s faster to enjoy artwork in the form of pictures than in words. And quite possibly easier to create as well. But Elliott knew that that seemed a little much. He was simply discouraged by his own progress in writing a novel. Two more novel ideas came to him over the past year, and now the question was which one to focus on. One week he would read through a Jane Austen novel and a modern writer to find which aspects of romance novels stood the test of time, another week he’d reread one of Timothy Zahn’s science-fiction stories and read in awe of the thorough lore of entire worlds and universes.

He reached his hand in his pocket and pulled out what he concluded served as either a checklist or an unusual shopping list as well as a bookmark. He wasn’t sure if Nicole would still need the checklist function, but he decided he would give it to her just in case.

Elliott found the note towards the end of an Agatha Christie novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. He had decided to reread the detective Hercule Poirot story when he was contemplating his mystery novel idea, as the resolution of Roger Ackroyd’s murder pleasantly surprised him the first time he read it. And thankfully, it was available to him on the shelves of Pelican Town Public Library.

The dock shifted beneath him, and Elliott could detect that people began to line up on the docks in anticipation of the arrival of the Moonlight Jellyfish. The local festival was called the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies, and to this day Elliott was grateful that Leah pulled him out of the library to watch it last year, his first summer in Pelican Town. The sight was magnificent!

For the most part, everyone took the same places as they had last year. Already they knew where they preferred to watch the event. For the sake of returning a simple note, Elliott moved from the dock beside Leah to over here by Willy’s shop. In just a few hours, Elliott would know which pier offered the better sights.

Finally, the whole town was out on the beach, waiting for the arrival of the bioluminescent jellyfish. He heard one person step behind him, then sit on the bench. No one had sat on the bench last year…

Elliott turned around, and sure enough, the lighthouse keeper Nicole sat there. A book sat open in her lap. The shy girl had short brown hair, light like sand, cropped no longer than her chin and framing her oval face. Her wide eyes through the lenses of her round glasses matched her hair in color. Her arms were gently crossed, with her hands cupping under her elbows, elbows appearing out of the sleeves of a pearl white blouse. She wore it with sandals and a calf-length skirt that reminded him of a long Juliet tutu, blue like the evening sky.

They had met just once before. Sometime during her first week living here, he had walked on the docks some spring morning to look over the Gem Sea, and she was on her way off the dock. Instantly she blushed, and managed a brief introduction before quickly walking past him and returning to the Lonely Rock Lighthouse. Elliott hadn’t dared speak to her again since. Was she simply caught by surprise, or was it his own confident and eager introduction that frightened her away?

Whatever the error was, hopefully he won’t repeat it tonight.

Elliott gulped, then cleared his throat, just loud enough for her to hear. She picked her head up, instinctively clutching her book.

“Nicole, is it?” he asked.

Nicole nodded slowly.

Elliott pulled the note out of his pocket. “I found it in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd a few days ago. I wasn’t sure if you still needed it, but just in case…”

Nicole skimmed over the note, and recognized it immediately. “How did you know it was mine?”

“I’ve been helping Gunther computerize the library’s books and records for the past year and a half.” Elliott was grateful Gunther hired him to help him with the daunting project. Very few employment options were available to him that would pay the wages necessary to continue living in Pelican Town. “I also noticed that if there’s a book I want to read that isn’t available right away, it will appear a week or two later with your name on the check-out card inside the book cover.”

Nicole blushed, and for a moment, Elliott worried that he was going to frighten her off again.

“Thanks. I guess I should compliment you on your taste in reading material.” She smiled shyly. “It’s Elliott, is it?”

Elliott nodded.

“You’ve made it quite difficult to stay in my mystery novel phase the last few weeks.” She closed her book, the old checklist marking her place yet again, and she flipped to the check-out card. His own name was signed just above hers. Then she closed the book. It was another Agatha Christie mystery novel: Murder on the Orient Express.

“I’m going to start on the Sherlock Holmes books after this one. And I’d like to read them in chronological order, if you please.”

She said this with a wry smile on her face, and Elliott found himself chuckling. “I’ll certainly try not to interfere.”

Nicole huffed her own little laugh. “Thank you.”

As they waited for Mayor Lewis to prepare and launch the candle boat, they talked with each other about other books they have read, and a little about each other. Growing up, she used to live next to a library and would often visit and spend hours each day reading. She made that part of her life sound magical. He mentioned that he writes on his own time, and how he’ll frequently read and reread books for ideas. And she seemed genuinely curious about his work.

Where was she when he was trying to gain support back at his hometown?

Finally, the chatter on the beach disappeared. All was quiet. The mayor let the boat drift out to sea, a signal that would entice the jellyfish to follow its light to the shore. And just minutes later, they did.

The children in the town pointed and shouted. “Over there!”

Nicole glanced out, and softly, she gasped at the sight. Soon, dozens of ethereal blue jellyfish appeared, some even floating under the dock. She was among the few who looked under her feet between the slabs of wood at the glowing jellyfish.

“It’s even better than I dreamed.” She whispered to herself.

“You weren’t able to see this before?” Elliott asked. He had known from whispers among the other villagers that as a little girl she had visited her grandmother’s lighthouse during summers.

Nicole shook her head. “Dad and I always had to use the last day of summer to get back home before school starts. I’m so glad I don’t have to anymore. I can’t believe I’ve been missing this all this time.”

“I didn’t even know that they came here until last summer. I moved here only a year before you.”

“Oh.” Nicole shivered.

“Oh?”

“That explains why I haven’t seen you here as a kid.” She answered shyly.

“Oh.”

They resumed silence once more as they watched the jellyfish swim around them as if they floated. It was not dissimilar to how fireflies looked like fallen stars in the darkest hours of night. As more time passed, he watched her continue to shiver as the wind picked up. Without a word, he shed his favorite crimson suit jacket and hung it from his hands, offering it to her.

To his surprise, she gently pushed it back towards him.

“I’ll be fine.”

“You have a longer walk home.”

“The walk will warm me up.”

“And the jellyfish will still be here for a little while.”

Reluctantly, she accepted the coat, draping it over her shoulders and hugging the fabric close to her. Slowly, the shivering ceased.

Fifteen minutes later, the jellyfish finally floated out to sea to continue their migration south. In small groups at a time, people began to move off the docks and make their way home. Nicole remained seated until almost everyone left.

When the docks were finally clear, Nicole stood up. She and Elliott walked slightly staggered on their back to the beach. When their feet met the sand, she began to take off his jacket.

“You can bring it back to me tomorrow morning.” He quickly assured her.

“But I have to run some maintenance on the lighthouse in the morning.”

“Come when you’re finished. I live in the cabin just over there.” He gestured across the water towards the shabby shack he called home.

Nicole stared at it for a few seconds before she nodded. She hung his jacket back over her shoulders and held her book closer. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“I look forward to it.”

Her cheeks colored pink again, but he only caught a glimpse of it before she turned away, starting her journey to the blue lighthouse that towered near the edge of a cliff along the Cindersap Forest. “Good night, Elliott.”

“Good night.” He watched her take a few steps, then whispered to himself. “Nicole.”

Chapter 3: The Thawing Heart

Summer 28, Year 2:

Elliott returned to his viewing place on the dock. He thought happily of his last interaction with a publisher in Zuzu City. He had just finished a complete draft of his first novel, Blue Tower, and even transcribed it from pen and paper to typewriter for the meeting (with some edits, of course). The publishers seemed intrigued by its premise. Within the week, he should hear of the company’s decision on whether to make a publishing deal with him. Since then, he began typing its next draft, keeping in mind the suggestions the editors made.

Tonight, though, he will rest, at least long enough to enjoy this festival.

He heard light footsteps tread his way, and instinctively Elliott stood up straighter. He sensed the arrival of Nicole the lighthouse keeper. His nerves tended to be more acutely aware of her presence recently, and Elliott prepared to talk with her about his recent visit to Gem Sea Publishing.

He enjoyed talking with Nicole about stories they liked. And ever since he told her last year he is a writer that first morning of fall, she gave her quiet but very present support and encouragement. Elliott would tell her of his progress, and she would congratulate him when it was good, or console him if it wasn’t. Through the novel’s thick and thin, she stood, like a beacon on a cloudy night.

Elliott smiled at the very suitable analogy. And when he saw her step onto the docks and smile in his direction, he couldn’t help but to smile just a little wider.

“Hello, Elliott.” Nicole said merrily.

“Good evening.” He replied. “I trust that your lighthouse is in good order?”

“It is, thank you. And Jiji’s keeping his eye out over the fishes, of course.”

Elliott chuckled at the mention of her mischievous black kitten. The kitten liked to paw at the crustaceans Nicole kept in her fish ponds, and even one time swatted Elliott’s own crab friend Ferdinand. Jiji was lucky not to have been pinched by Ferdie in that incident.

Nicole sat down, this year at the edge of the dock rather than on the bench. Elliott sat down beside her.

“So how did your trip to Zuzu City go? What did that publication group think of your novel?”

“They thought it was promising.” Elliott responded happily. “I’ll hear officially from them in a week if they will publish.”

“That’s great! I hope they’ll green light it.”

“Me too.”

“I have an idea. Your 30th birthday is about a week from now, yes?”

Elliott nodded. She remembered his birthday? The thought warmed his heart.

“You should hear back from them on the day. If they’re publishing, we can celebrate with dinner and wine at the saloon. And if not, well, we can just go anyway and commiserate instead. I bet it’ll be the former.”

The beach suddenly fell quiet when Mayor Lewis let the candle boat drift out to sea. Nicole, having spoken one extra syllable into the quiet, blushed. She seemed to hate accidentally drawing attention to herself. But Elliott liked the occasions when it happened; her cheeks would color in a light shade of pink that still looked prominent against her freckled face. Not that he’d tell her this; she might blush again then try to avoid being seen like she had when they were first getting to know each other.

They listened to the waves crashing below them, and waited for any sign for a glowing jellyfish. Finally, Elliott glanced up and saw Leah’s eyes widen. He looked at the direction she was staring, and spotted a single blue jellyfish. He smiled then turned to Nicole, who also quickly turned to him to point out the jellyfish. He could feel his face flush as they quickly turned their heads away from each other, then out towards the now dozens of jellyfish coming their way.

The others in the town began seeing the jellyfish too, and a low hum of chatter stirred as the jellyfish swam up towards them.

“Well, however this week turns out, Nicole, I’m grateful for your optimism and support.”

She smiled. A sweet little smile that showed no teeth, yet still seemed as if she glowed. Then she peered back to the jellyfish.

“I still can’t believe you won’t let me read your draft, though.” Nicole finally said. “I’ve done editing work before. I’d like to help you out in some other way than just cheering you on.”

“With time, my friend. Trust me.”

But in truth, he didn’t want to have her spoil the story for herself before she could read the final draft of the entire work. Of all the people to disappoint with his stories, she was the one he hated the most to consider the possibility of her disliking them. Somehow her, above the people at Gem Sea Publishing, and even above his own family who had discouraged him from trying to write. It would crush him to see someone so optimistic and curious about his work to be disappointed because of a string of words he had yet to perfect.

It seemed as if no time had passed when it was time for the Moonlight Jellyfish to depart once more. He watched Nicole as she stared intently at the school of jellyfish, and when the last one disappeared at the edge of the horizon, she sighed deeply, disappointed.

“I was hoping to see a green lunaloo.” She confessed. “They’re quite rare, and I’ve read interesting research papers about them when I was in college.”

“Interesting?” Research papers? “How so?”

“They’re mysterious.” She answered simply. “One of my professors suggested that it’s possible that they may be evidence of magic. Not that I could take it away from its herd to study it, but perhaps upon observing one for myself I might be able to understand.”

Elliott nodded. It was true that the jellyfish seemed to carry an air of mystery and perhaps magic like she suggested.

Again, time seemed to run away with him. They became the only two people left on the dock, besides Willy who he presumed already retired to his bed in his Fish Shop.

Nicole rubbed her arms, as if to warm them. She remembered a warmer jacket this year, but the autumn chill filled the void the Moonlight Jellies left, and it looked as if it pierced through to her skin. Elliott began taking off his own suit coat.

“There’s no need, Elliott.” Nicole said as she stood up. “I’m just on my way home anyway.”

“Then please accept my company as I escort you home?” He found himself saying as he stood up to follow her. “I would hate to hear that you succumbed to the cold before you could make it back.”

Nicole’s cheeks turned to pink, and she tried very hard not to seem flustered by his offer. “I suppose you may. I don’t want to impose…”

“Nonsense. It would be my pleasure!”

Elliott pretended that he didn’t see her entire face down to her neck flush more deeply red. Yet he smiled to himself at the thought as they walked the path into town. He always found it amusing how the customs and proper etiquette he learned from where he grew up came across as romantic, and sometimes, flirtatious, to others that did not grow up in that type of environment. He considered how flustered his companions would become as an indicator of how well he retained the behavior, and Nicole had been wonderful for his ego. Not that he could ever tell her; that would interfere with future results.

After the two crossed the cobblestone bridge into town, Elliott noticed that although Nicole no longer was blushing or flustered, her ears were bright red, and her face pale like fine sand. Without a word, he shed his suit coat and placed it over her shoulders. He kept his hands on her shoulders even when she tried to shrug it off.

“Elliott…” she protested.

“Not to worry. I’ll take it home with me next time.”

“That’s not the point. I don’t want you freezing because I was inadequately prepared.”

“I won’t freeze.”

Nicole sighed deeply, but made no further attempt to remove his suit jacket. In silence they walked west towards the Cindersap Forest and over a wooden covered bridge just before the ranch to the Lonely Rock Lighthouse. They listened to the chorus of crickets and frogs in the still night as they walked quietly past Nicole’s fish hatcheries and to the lighthouse. Elliott may have heard one insect immerse itself into the water and lose itself to a fish in the pond below.

The lighthouse was never an eyesore. It towered from the side of a little blue house like a chimney would, except instead of classic red bricks, the lighthouse itself was white. The better to see on dark and stormy nights. Inside a window just upstairs, Nicole’s black cat Jiji slept, curled up against the glass. Elliott nearly missed the cat, he blended with the darkness so well.

And like that, the two found themselves at the front door to the house. Nicole reached for a key in her pocket, and held it in her hand.

Unexpectedly, Nicole turned away from the door to face him, and nearly bumped into his chest. Her cheeks revealed a slight hint of color when she looked up to him, up because they were so close, and his chin nearly bumped her forehead. Her glasses may have even slid, her head craned up so much.

“Sorry.” Nicole muttered. She took half a step back, and her hand lingered on the door handle. She then remembered she was wearing his suit coat and quickly shed it off and draped it over her forearm before handing it back to him.

“Thanks. Good night.”

She waited for him to bid good night as well before shutting the door.

Elliott felt as if he were in a daze. The last minute passed quickly, for one. And second, he realized for the first time that he just might be falling in love with the girl who became one of his closest friends.

As he turned back to make his way to the beach and to his own cabin, he noticed a light was on in Leah’s cottage, and what’s worse, she was peering out the window at him with a smirk on her face. He turned away, pretending he didn’t notice her cheeky grin.

She would never let him hear the end of it, would she?

Chapter 4: The Rising Moon

Summer 28, Year 3:

Penny walked with her mother to the beach. She looked forward to seeing the moonlight jellies again, as she always did. She couldn’t help but to admire their beauty and long wistfully to be like them: able to drift with life’s current and visit places she has only read about.

But today, her usual spot was occupied by another.

“Leah?” she asked.

Leah turned to see her. “Hi, Penny.” She smiled. “Would you let me sit here tonight?”

Penny blinked, stunned.

“Let’s just say I have a very particular feeling that I should draw from here tonight.” Leah explained with what she thought of as some secret smile. “You can either sit by me and stay as well, or you can go over to the dock by the tide pools. Please? I’ll even make you a sculpture, painting, whatever you like.”

“Um… sure. Okay.”

“Great! Thank you!”

Slowly, Penny sat at the edge of the dock beside Leah, wondering just what happened. What art would she even ask for? Some art inspired by a scene in one of her favorite books? A gift for someone come Feast of the Winter Star? Maybe something that Jas and Vincent would enjoy to put over their new classroom in the restored Community Center.

Penny peered over Leah’s shoulder, and watched her sketch. As the minutes passed, she could see the outline of the sea beside the Cindersap Forest and the Lonely Rock Lighthouse, towing over the cliffs. It was a lovely sight, and just when Penny thought Leah would finish drawing it, Leah would add more shading to the drawing, making it look more and more realistic with each scrape of her pen.

Finally, Leah paused her drawing, and she clipped her pen onto her suspenders and exhaled deeply. She kept her sketchbook open.

“That looks amazing, Leah.” Penny breathed.

“Thank you!” Leah smiled at her. “For the last couple summers I’ve been drawing this night with the moonlight jellies, and for the next week or so after I’ll use my sketch and make a painting from it.”

“Could I… have a painting?” Penny asked shyly. “It’s okay if not. I wouldn’t want to give you too much of a challenge.”

“Nonsense!” Leah smiled. “I’d be happy to make you a painting. When’s your birthday?”

“Two days.”

“Drat. Too soon.” Leah muttered. “Could I make it a late birthday present? Maybe an early Winter Star gift? I have an urgent commission I’d like to finish first.”

“Of course. Take all the time you need.”

“Thanks.”

A minute passed, then suddenly Leah snatched her pen once more and poised it over her drawing. She looked out, as if waiting for something.

Penny stared out in the direction Leah was looking, hoping to see what Leah saw. Then she did. In the distance near the base of the cliff, a small rowboat floated out into the water. She could barely see the silhouettes of two people. One rowed the boat into the open water, while the other held a dimly lit lantern.

Penny sighed. Wouldn’t that be such a romantic way to see the jellies? But who could they be? Penny twisted her back to see behind her for anyone missing from the docks, but a good number of people were hidden by Willy’s boat house and Fish Shop. Whoever was missing was missing from that particular part of the dock which she couldn’t see. She leaned, straining to see who could be missing. Past Sam’s parents, she spotted Haley’s older sister, and she had to scooch over more to see the blacksmith.

The blacksmith was the last other person on that stretch of the docks.

Penny turned back around and sat up, and strained her eyes at the rowboat. Upon realization, she gasped softly.

“Is that–”

“Shush!” Leah hissed. She quieted her at the same time the rest of the docks fell quiet. Mayor Lewis had released the candle boat.

Not another word was spoken until others began to whisper. Then, under her breath, so quiet Penny could barely hear it.

“Don’t let everyone else in town know. It’ll ruin their moment.”

Penny nodded, understanding. She and Leah stared out south toward the sea, each trying not to be obvious as they stole glances at the rowboat. Please, don’t let the first jellyfish appear this way, she begged to Yoba. She held her breath as she stared out toward the sea, until…

“Over there!” Jas squealed. Penny looked over to her, and she pointed out and away from her. Everyone else began shuffling their feet, inching closer to see the first of the moonlight jellies swimming towards the shore.

And more importantly, away from the rowboat.

Penny sighed in relief. Leah began to draw the boat, and would draw the jellyfish around it before finally, the two people in the boat.

Vincent, who had been standing by Sam further down the dock, walked over to her. “Miss Penny, they’re this way. Wanna come?”

“In a minute, Vincent. Make sure Sam and his friends can see them.”

“Okey-dokie!”

Vincent ran back down the dock, and Penny resumed watching the two shadows on the boat. The jellyfish were always pleasant, but this…

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Elliott sighed in relief when Nicole accepted his offer to join him on the rowboat’s first voyage since its repair. But he knew it only meant more nerves to face.

Elliott extended his hand, and Nicole took it as she climbed into the boat and sat at the bow, setting the lantern on her seat. Elliott followed into the rowboat, sat at the stern, and untied the boat from the post. He then picked up the oars, set them in place against the oarlocks, and began to row.

“Won’t I obstruct your view?” Nicole asked cautiously.

He shook his head. “Not enough to be a problem.”

Nicole tried to relax. She turned to face forward from the bow and inhaled the salty scent of the sea. She looked toward the quarter moon in the sky, and Elliott could feel his heart skip a beat as she turned and he could see her gentle smile.

“This was a great idea.” She whispered. “Just imagine, watching the lunaloos swim around us. We just might have the best view of it from here. Maybe we’ll see a rare green one. With the water becoming cleaner… oh, I hope we see one!”

Elliott hoped they would too.

When he finally rowed out a good distance, he slowed the boat with the oars. He pulled up the anchor from the floor of the boat, and let it drop into the water. He didn’t know how to thank Willy for helping him come up with the right length of rope for the water’s depth here, except catch him one of his favorite fishes and cook it, perhaps.

Elliott felt the jerk of the anchor as it reached the bottom of the sea floor, and kept the boat floating in place. Then he set the oars back down in the boat; tonight would be an awful time to find himself without them. As discreetly as possible, he tried to steady his breathing. He was both assured and more nervous when he felt for the poems tucked away in his coat pocket.

Nicole rested her hands at either side of her, loosely holding the seat under her while keeping the lantern in place. Her eyes wandered around her, and when she finally looked at him, it seemed a challenge to look him in the eye.

“I finished reading that draft of Camellia Station you gave me.” She finally said.

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow.

Camellia Station was their accidental thought experiment after Blue Tower was finally published. He knew she enjoyed many book genres, but she flushed so red when she finally confessed her enjoyment of the romance genre. But only the specific sub-genre that does not involve smut, she had said. And Yoba forbid anyone misunderstands what she means when she enjoys romance. The embarrassment that may come from a severe misunderstanding would cause her to hide away in her lighthouse and rarely, if ever, come out.

Since the confession, he started asking her what tropes she liked or disliked in a romance story. With each trope mentioned, they started coming up with a hypothetical romance, one that hit many enjoyable tropes (enclosed spaces and accidental embraces, easily set up on a moving train) and mocked less enjoyable ones (setting up what looks like a loathsome love triangle, but it turns out the second love interest had no romantic interest in the heroine and the heroine never saw the second “love interest” as such after all). And thus Camellia Station was formed.

“I couldn’t stop rereading it.” Nicole blushed. “Clara and Horatio are just too sweet together. I love how they tease each other and add to each other’s happiness.”

How obvious was it that Elliott based the two characters off of his own interactions with Nicole? He didn’t dare ask. Not yet.

“I know you meant it as a satire, but if you finish it, Camellia Station just might unironically beat out Blue Tower as my favorite book.” Absentmindedly, Nicole used two fingers to push the bridge of her glasses up between her eyes, her face still a flushed pink shade. “Speaking of your book, how has it been doing? Top of the Ferngill Times book list yet?”

Elliott shook his head with a smile. His book has been out for a while now, a little more than half a year. “It’s not a best-seller or anything, but it’s been getting some good reviews from the critics.” He was still grateful that Gem Sea Publishing reached out and accepted the publishing deal. On his 30th birthday, no less. The income from book sales were just enough to comfortably sustain him another year in Pelican Town. “And I really couldn’t have finished it without your moral support.”

He looked at Nicole, who simply raised an eyebrow at him as she smiled wryly. You sure about that? She seemed to ask.

He couldn’t help but to chuckle, and she laughed as well. “Actually, that’s not true at all. I would’ve finished it either way.” But her presence in his life seemed to have sped up the process. “But I am grateful that you believed in me… in my vision.”

Nicole blushed again, but made an effort to stare at him more directly regardless. “Of course, Elliott.”

They fell quiet for a long few seconds. Elliott’s thoughts raced as he thought both of the pleasantness of his name on her lips and how to say what he wanted to next.

For better or worse, this was when the Moonlight Jellies began making their way towards them. Nicole smiled at their sight and turned so she could see them better.

She was right; watching them swim from out in the water was absolutely stunning. He thought back to a couple years ago when the jellies swimming around him reminded him of fireflies blending in with the stars in the sky. This must be what it looked like to literally sail through the galaxy: they were surrounded by beautiful hues of blue.

Soon, the jellies held steady around them. Nicole looked at them with such reverence. Elliott did not wish to interrupt, but this seemed like the best opportunity to tell her. If he didn’t speak now, he may never.

“Um, Nicole?”

She turned to him, her smile unchanged. “Yes?”

Suddenly, everything he planned to say vanished. He tried to speak, but only short sounds came out. “Ah… well… How do I say this?” He took a deep breath, trying not to panic. “Well, we’ve been friends for a while… but I’m… I’m not sure if I feel that way about you anymore.”

“What?”

Elliott knew he already messed up when Nicole looked crestfallen.

She took a breath. “Well, I wish you would’ve said so back at the docks before bringing me out here.” She gently set the lantern on the boat’s deck near her feet, which confused him. “I’m sorry.”

Nicole began to stand up, and he realized just what she was about to do: jump out of the boat and swim back to shore. He had to act fast.

“No!” Elliott stood up just long enough to grab her hands, and the force of sudden movement rocked the boat strong enough to force both of them to sit down once more. “I’m not saying I want to cut all ties with you!”

Nicole seemed relieved to hear it. “But–”

“In fact, quite the opposite.”

Now she was confused. Realizing he was still holding her hands, he quickly let them go, feeling awkward as he did so. Then he combed his hand through his hair. Already he screwed up so horribly. But still, he had to try. He couldn’t leave Nicole in confusion forever. “…Let’s see, how do I put this? For once, I’m at a loss for words…”

Elliott didn’t know how long he was lost in his thoughts, trying desperately to find the right words so she wouldn’t misunderstand. But his thoughts were interrupted when he felt something warm rested on top of his hand that rested on his knee. A smaller hand.

He had never known Nicole to be so forward. And she seemed nervous to have made it this far.

“If you can’t say it, maybe you could show me instead?” she whispered, her voice quivering slightly.

There was one way to show her. Once more, Elliott took a deep breath. He turned his hand over to hold hers in his, then with his other hand, he reached for hers. Finally, her hands on top of his, he leaned slowly towards her. Nicole held her position. He yearned to kiss her lips, but instead kissed her cheek. He dared to hold his position there, his lips twitching slightly when they brushed against the corner of her mouth. He feared he may have already overstepped, but hoped that the kiss correctly conveyed his message: innocent enough to be considered friendly and respectful, yet intimate enough to express his love and romantic interest.

Nicole shuddered in his hold, but Elliott finally pulled back when he tasted a salty tear drip down her cheek.

“Nicole? You’re trembling…” Was she angry? Cold? Elliott, who would have begun taking off his suit jacket, stayed still. He just didn’t know how to proceed.

“I…” Nicole used her hand to wipe her cheek. “I never thought… you’d feel that way about me.” Still more tears fell. “Do you mean it?”

“With all my heart.” Elliott began to smile, relieved that she didn’t seem adverse to his advances. “I love you, Nicole. More than I can say.”

“Then take all the time you need to figure out how to say it.” She giggled. Though tears remained on her glistening face, she put both her hands in his once more. Her smile was more radiant than he had ever seen it before. “I… I’m happy, Elliott.”

“So am I.” His heart felt as if it could soar. He lifted his hand to rest it on her cheek, the one he had kissed, and gently he wiped away a tear that rested on her cheekbone with his thumb. Once more he leaned towards her, this time stopping when their noses touched. Her lips tickled his when he spoke. “May I…?”

She closed the gap between them and answered his question by kissing him.

Elliott closed his eyes and slowly kissed back, focusing on nothing else. Both would miss the mint green lunaloo that swam by them.