“You can’t be over here! Why did you come over here!?” she felt a rush of emotion as she stepped into their personal space. Grabbing their arms to push them back. It was easier than she expected.

Willis stumbled. They were smiling, though. “You said I could! I had permission,” they argued. They dug their boots into the sand. Barely putting up much resistance. “I broke the ice. Nothing bad is happening, is it?”

“Well no- but something definitely will if you’re caught over here. That ‘permission’ I gave you barely counts. I didn't even know what you were actually asking!” she bit back. Yet she still had given them permission, hadn’t she? Oh my mother is going to kill me-

“Who’s going to know? There’s no one else here.”

Lily froze.

Who’s going to know?

Her voice caught in her throat, unable to muster up an answer. No one is going to know. I was going to hide being here from my mother anyways.

Does it matter, then?

Willis shifted in her grasp, pulling her out of her thoughts. She loosened her grip, before putting her hands back like she touched hot coals. I can’t believe I did that. I'm so stupid.

They raised an eyebrow at her but kept quiet. The ocean waves licked at her boots. She paid them no mind. Her stomach curled itself into endless knots.

“Are we good?” Willis asked. Head tilted akin to a curious dog.

No, I want to throw up. “I guess,” Lily huffed. Her temple was beginning to ache. Bringing a hand to massage her face. Everything was too much. Her heart still pounded. A buzz of some twisted thrill made her legs tremble. The soft lap of the tide being the only thing to keep her in place.

“Maybe we should start over. Third time’s the charm,” they stepped back what little they could, giving her some extra space. Smoothing out their clothes a bit more before smiling at her. “Hello! I’m Willis. What’s your name?”

“It’s Lilium,” the introduction felt odd on her tongue now that she had the chance to mull over it. So rare that she would need to give one like that. Everyone always seemed to know who she was.

“That’s a very nice name.”

“You don’t need to throw out fake flattery.”

“I’m not! I mean it,” Willis argued. Their ears flattened. “I meant it the first time I said it and I mean it now. Flowers are lovely things.”

There was an odd passion to their voice that made it hard to argue. She simply nodded. The conversation lulled for a moment. Every time she tried to think of more to say, her mind drew a blank. I really need to practice my conversational skills.

“The moon is nice tonight, isn’t it?” they said, gesturing out across the sea towards it. She followed their hand with her gaze. It had risen much higher now. About a quarter way up the sky, luscious light bathing them both.

“Of course,” she would be a fool not to agree. She had seen it hundreds of thousands of times, yet it never failed to enrapture her. No matter what happened it was always there. Even on nights of the new moon, it watched over her. There was a gentle peace about it. About nighttime. It would be so easy to forget everything out here.

If only it could last.

“I need to leave soon,” she muttered, almost to herself. 

Willis picked up the comment though, “Do you have a curfew or something?” The question could have been mistaken for mockery if not for the sincerity of their voice. They looked at her curiously.

She sighed, “No, technically not. But my mother doesn’t like me being out too late. I’m not- supposed to be out here.” 

“Oh. Why not?”

They love to pry, don’t they? Yet she still answered, “It’s dangerous out here.”

“Dangerous like me?” they chuckled. Flashing their fangs and curling their claws like a kitten trying to look intimidating. She rolled her eyes.

“I still don’t think you’re entirely harmless. But I suppose the worry might have been a little exaggerated to me,” she admitted carefully. They kept smiling at her.

“I can hiss if that would enhance your experience.”

“I’ll pass.”

They tisked, “Maybe another time?”

Lily’s ears perked up. “What makes you think there’s going to be another time? I’m not supposed to be out here.”

“Yet you are,” Willis pointed out. They held their hands, fingers tapping the back of them. “We still haven’t gotten to talk much.”

“We shouldn’t be talking at all,” she retorted. She shook her head, taking a deep breath, “This was a one time thing.”

“Do you want it to be?”

I don’t know. “Does it matter?”

“I mean, even if I don’t know you well, I think I can say what you want matters,” they said simply. “Doesn’t it?”

No, it doesn’t. “I suppose.” 

The tide rolled in steeply. Coming up to their ankles. Lily stepped back with a yelp and Willis did much of the same. She shuddered.

“If you don’t want to talk again I understand. Though I really would like to, Lilium.”

She looked at them. They didn’t quite meet her gaze. “Why?” Aren’t you scared?

“Well, there’s not a lot of people out there in the same position as us. It would be nice to know someone like that,” Willis sighed. There was an exhaustion to their voice. If only for a moment. They still smiled.

Empathy welled in Lily’s chest. They’re right. My mother might understand the weight of everything but… I can’t exactly talk to her. Her and Willis were likely the same age. Or close enough at least. They were at the same crossroads she was. It was almost cruel. 

“I shouldn’t be doing this again,” Lily muttered. She closed her eyes, letting out a deep sigh. “But it wouldn’t hurt to at least once.”

“Really?” Willis leaned back into her space, practically bouncing up and down.

“Once! One time! If even that!” she hissed, stepping away. It calmed some of the other’s enthusiasm. “I simply think it would be nice to have a proper talk. Especially since one day we will be ruling alongside each other.”

They nodded vigorously. “Of course, of course,” it didn’t sound like they particularly agreed with her reasoning, but clearly it was good enough. They stood up tall. “How about a day or two from now? Same time, same place.”

“Two days.”

“Deal!”

“Great. Now go back to your side. Please,” she tacked on the plea with a huff. Shooing them away. They obliged with a nod. Thankfully not falling over this time when they lept.

“See you later, Lilium!” they bid her farewell, waving with a toothy grin. Her jaw dropped when they crouched to the ground, transforming to a beastly feral form in an instant. Barely a second to process it before they darted off. Leaving her with the moon and tides. She blinked.

What have I gotten myself into?