The Abelton trolley system was a bit strange, but it made it possible for the city’s inhabitants to get anywhere in the city in a reasonable amount of time. Usually. The tracks went in a circle through the city. There was only one set so the trolleys only went in one direction. 

Iliana wondered sometimes why someone hadn’t yet thought to construct another set of tracks, allowing the trolley to go in both directions. That way people wouldn’t have to keep deciding if it was more convenient to sit on the trolley longer so they wouldn’t have to walk, or not take the trolley so they could get to their destinations faster. As it was, people just dealt with it. 

Iliana and Celsey rode the trolley every morning, Celsey getting off near the flower shop, and Iliana continuing on to the city entrance that led to the meadow. At night they walked home together as always. They could have ridden the trolley, but it would take them all the way around Abelton, almost an hour-long trip. Walking was faster for them at the end of the day.

“There you are!” Celsey cried when she saw Iliana. Her friend was sporting a well-fitting dress with a floral pattern today, with a ruffled skirt and sleeves all the way down to her wrists. Iliana felt only a little self-conscious of her own rough, hand-made brown dress. Celsey had an outgoing personality, and so it was only right that her outfits match. “Finally!”

“Sorry,” Iliana replied and she ran up to the trolley station. “I made breakfast and lost track of the time.”

“Yeah, yeah, you always do, just hurry up!” Celsey hopped up onto the steps of the waiting steam-powered vehicle, Iliana right behind her. They rode the trolley in silence, seated on a bright red bench close to the rear. When they came to the stop Celsey got off on, her friend glanced behind her, then stopped when she realized that Iliana wasn’t getting off. “You’re going to be really late, you know,” she said disapprovingly.

“It’s better than being early without any flowers,” Iliana pointed out. The trolley began to move again. “See you later.” Celsey gave a wave and dived into the crowd of bustling people on their way to their day’s work. 

Iliana rode the trolley to her stop, and when she got off there was a giant crowd. Iliana hated crowds. She excuse- and pardon-me-ed her way through, and when the crowd finally thinned she let out a big sigh. Her mother said she had a mild case of claustrophobia, but Iliana never experienced it in small spaces, just when she was surrounded by too many people.

Iliana could see the meadow now as she neared the edge of the cobblestone streets, and she smiled, swinging her basket in time with her hurried steps.

“Fancy meeting you here,” a voice said. She startled and looked to her right, and saw Dray standing beside his carriage, feeding Kestral from a bag of oats.

“Dray?” she said in disbelief. He gestured for her to come over to them, apparently not registering her shock at seeing him. Iliana took a few steps towards him, again marveling at the shaggy-haired creature standing before her.

“I was wondering when you were going to get here. I’ll just finish feeding Kestral, and then we can go.”

“Go where?” Iliana asked, still not understanding why he was there.

“To the meadow, to pick flowers,” he said, as if it were obvious. “I can’t sit idly by and let you walk all that way, not when I can easily give you a ride.” Dray looked up at her, smiling widely. Then he saw the look on her face, and his smile wavered. “Unless… you don’t want me to go with you.” His eyes seemed so sad as he gazed into her own.

I am running extremely late today… and he only seems to want to help.

“I guess I don’t mind,” Iliana said tentatively.

“Excellent!” Kestral snorted into the bag of oats, and Dray quickly took the strap of the bag off of her head, and flung the bag underneath the seat of the carriage. “All done then? Let’s go!” Dray climbed up onto the driver’s seat, and helped Iliana up beside him just like the day before. Iliana sat down and held her flower basket in her lap. Dray whistled and Kestral immediately began cantering down the dirt road towards the meadow.

This is alright, isn’t it? It’s just flower picking….

They drove in silence for a while, but then Dray spoke up. “You’re not wearing the flower I gave you,” he said, sounding disappointed. She was surprised at the abruptness of his remark.

“Oh… those don’t last very long out of water.” He seemed to think about this for a while. She wondered what he was thinking, but she was still too shy around him to ask.

Dray brought Kestral to a stop in the meadow, and Iliana got down quickly by herself.

“Sorry, I need to be fast since I’m already a bit late.”

“No problem, I’ll just wait here until you’re done.” He offered another warm smile and she smiled back, then turned away to begin picking what she needed. Iliana picked small bunches, and only the ones she knew the shop was getting low on. As always, she left the Blue Jewels for last.

Walking back to the carriage, Iliana could see Dray leaning against Kestral, scratching the shaggy fur between her horns. He was an objectively handsome man, Iliana had to admit. His long, shining black hair and strong jawline were enough to make any woman swoon. But why is he paying so much attention to me?

“All finished?” Dray asked as she approached.

“Yes, ready to go.” Instead of hauling her up by one arm as he had before, he took her gently by the hand and the arm, and helped her climb up onto the driver’s seat, his hand lingering at her elbow until she had steadied herself.

They arrived at Madame Suri’s Flower Shop in no time at all. After helping Iliana down again, Dray gave a bow and a wink.

“Thank you for allowing me to accompany you this fine morning, Iliana. I hope it was as enjoyable for you as it was for me.”

“Thank you for giving me a ride again… Is… is this going to become an everyday thing?” Iliana asked, surprising herself at the direct question.

“Not if you don’t want it to.” Dray stood before her, waiting for an answer.

Do I want this to be an everyday thing? she asked herself. The meadow was her special place, a place to escape the cares of life, even if it was just for a little while. A place that always made her feel happy and at ease. Do I really want to share it with him? She looked into his blue eyes again, so calm, so… She didn’t know why, but… No, I’m being silly. Why am I so worried?

Iliana smiled up at him. “I don’t mind it very much.” Dray gave her the biggest smile, bowed again, and then climbed back up onto the carriage. With a whistle and a wave, he was gone again.

            I don’t like this at all… this could ruin all of my plans… Time to try something different… something more pointed… I can’t allow this to continue…