To my utter astonishment, that proper English girl was knee deep in the swampy water, holding her dress out of the ooze the best she could. Her face was as white as a ghost, drained of all its life.

"C-Charlotte? What in the world you doin here?"

Her head shot up towards faster than lightning.

"Tucker! Forget questions, just help me out of the water, please please please!"

She bounced up and down, her feet stuck firmly in the mud.

Ridiculous!

I didn't hesitate, my legs moving on their own as I grabbed her hand, yanking and pulling until she flew out of her boots, tumbling forward and landing hard on my chest. She let out a dainty grunt as her hand landed in the mud beside us.

"Ah! No no no! Disgusting!" She continued to shout, trying to push herself up as her hand sank deeper into the gunk with every struggled movment.

I slid out from underneath her, reaching down and grabbing her arm, doing my best to try and pull her up.

She winced as if it caused her pain the moment I began to yank on her arm.

Just... let her go, ya dang swamp!

The mud beneath her let out a gargle as it finally relented, releasing her from its grasp.

Once on her feet, she flicked her mud soaked hand, sending wet clobs of filth into the air, and all over me.

"This is so gross! How does anyone touch this stuff?!"

I raised my thumb, wiping off a clump of mud that had made its way onto my cheek.

"Easier to do that when it's my choice." I said in an annoyed tone.

She finally looked over at me to see that half of my body was polka-dotted with brown and dark green mud from her frantically flickering the mud from her hands.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"S'fine… What ya doin here anyways? "

She straightened her posture as her cheeks flashed red.

"I-Its nothing… I just-"

She lowered her face, hiding her eyes from me.

"I was… looking for your pole… That's all." She whispered, barely loud enough for me to make out what she was trying to say.

For a moment, I didn't react, far to stunned that this little girl was rustling through slop for… me.

I mean, granted, she was the one who lost it in the first place. But, the last thing I would have ever expected was for her to do... that.

She finally decided to raise her head a little, revealing cheeks and a nose the color of red crimson.

I couldn't understand at the time why that look almost floored me, my face growing far hotter than hers at the sight

"I'm sorry." She whispered, her tone quiet and solemn.

I nearly fainted, the tips of my fingers stinging like a sleeping arm or leg finally waking up. A static and shocking sensation.

"D-Didnt I say it's fine!" I yelled, quickly tightening my fingers around the heavy hammer still in my hand.

S-She's castin that spell of hers again!

I turned to try and storm off, completely forgetting my plan to work on the boat.

"Wait!" Her voice rang out across the alcove.

I stopped with my foot still hovering mid step.

"W-What…"

I couldn't bring myself to turn and face her.

"I saw you by the way…" that familiar smugness ran through her tone like before. Whatever embarrassment she had just a moment ago was completely and utterly gone from her voice.

A complete one hundred and eighty degree turn in her attitude.

"What you talkin bout?"

I heard her footsteps confidently begin to stroll towards me, each step proud and steady.

"I saw you help that girl after school. I mean, everyone else just passed right on by, including myself actually."

She finally leaned into my view, a wide cocky smile strewn across her face.

I couldn't believe it... Where was the embarrassed and apologetic girl that I had just tried to run away from? She was no where to be seen. Instead, the girl looking up at me was cocky, excited, and all too proud of herself.

Wait... Was she… fakin all that nonsense… to try and see what I would do? To watch me get flustered? To tease me?

Was I just a puppet in a little play she was putting on?

No way... No one is that crazy and unhinged...

"S-So what if I did help her? Ain't nothin!" I responded.

She giggled.

"Oh, I feel like I'm finally starting to get a bead on who Tucker Greenwood really is."

She finished stepping her way in front of me, her long golden hair flowing behind her like the leaves in the trees.

"Whenever there is someone in need. Someone in trouble. Someone struggling..."

She leaned back, placing the back of her hand on her forehead like a storybook damsel in distress.

"Tucker Greenwood comes rushing to their side, cape flowing behind him like the true hero he is."

I grit my teeth, my bottom eyelids twitching.

"Shush it! I ain't no knight from your stories, lady."

She let out a playful laugh, holding her stomach like each exhail hurt her.

"Oh, but you are. Let's begin the list!"

She straightened her posture again, lifting one finger towards me, her eyes closed and brows raised.

"Number one! On the day we first met, you let me use your favorite pole, leaving yourself the bad one." For a moment, that cocky smile softend, turning into a thoughtful grin.

"Don't think I hadn't noticed that." She whispered quietly, reminiscing on the moment like it was from ages long past.

"The one you gave me had fresh string and was way better taken care of than the one you kept for yourself. Honestly, it surprised me. The words you were saying to me were snappy and bitter. But, your actions spoke much louder than that."

She slowly opened her eyes, their bright blues looking deep into mine.

"You're a kind person, Tucker..."

That genuine smile on her lips sealed mine.

She winked at me before leaning forward, flashing up two fingers this time.

"The second reason! When I lost your favorite fishing pole, you didn't snap and insult me. Sure, you got upset at the situation. But, I would say that much is understandable. I mean, some random stranger barged into your life and lost something you cared about. But, what matters is that you didn't call me names, or start harassing me. You didn't force me to search for it. And you didn't curse me out."

I began to raise my shoulders, trying to hide my face, embarrassment taking over.

"I really am sorry for that Tucker. Truly, I am. But, you are compassionate... I... ran away that day because I felt horrible about making such a dreadful first impression. It was nothing you said, I swear it!"

She flicked up a third finger.

"The third reason how I know Tucker Greenwood is a good person!"

She smiled warmly at me.

"Not only did you forgive me the very next day, you offered to teach me how to do that kind of stuff myself. A selfish person wouldn't have done such a thing!"

She slowly began to walk towards me.

"And the last two reasons…"

She stopped directly across from me, far too close.

"You helped that girl out today, even when no one else cared in the least bit. And, when I decided to test you just now to see if I was actually on to something, you passed in an instant, no hesitation. Just like that!"

She turned to walk away, glancing over her shoulder at me.

"The conclusion is rather simple, you see. Tucker Greenwood is kind, compassionate, helpful, forgiving, and best of all-"

Her eyes narrowed, seeming to attempt to search the depths of my very soul.

"A knight in shining armor. See you around, Sir Tucker."

With that being said, she left me standing in complete bewilderment, my boat project being completely forgotten behind me.