me with a lopsided smile on his face. I wanted to smile back, I wanted to laugh and how dopey he looked, but I kept my resolve.

                “Well”. The short word seemed to cut into him. He flinched slightly, something I had never seen him do before. He looked me deeply in the eyes before speaking.

                “I wanted to apologise. Before you tell me how stupid I was and how I shouldn’t have said it in the first place just hear me out. I sometimes say things that other people find offensive and I only do it when I am new somewhere, which is a lot of the time. I just don’t know how else to meet people and make jokes and fit in. I am truly sorry for any offence I may have caused you and your friends and I wanted to say I didn’t mean it. I am going to apologise to your friends tomorrow when I see them.

                I just want you to know Jenna, that when I saw you asleep the other day I couldn’t help but think how pretty you looked with the sun shining on you. I…I didn’t know how else to say hi, and I feel really bad because I not only didn’t make you laugh, but I offended you as well. I have said it…twice now, but I am going to say it again. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?” His apology didn’t come as a surprise, I had hoped he was going to apologise, but I hadn’t been expecting a speech. I suddenly felt bad; wishing now I’d laughed at his introductory joke rather than bottle it up.

                “I forgive you. I’m sorry too, I didn’t really give you much of a chance” I said, suddenly finding the ground a lot more interesting. I felt something cold and wet on the top of my head, and when I raised my gaze I realised Sethla had licked me. I blushed profusely. He even seemed a bit surprised at what he had done. Our surprise turned to a gentle laugh, and that in turn became a friendly chuckle. We stood to leave, not going back the way we had come but a different, longer route. It took us through a clearing where the moon suddenly decided to show itself. Sethla paused, stopping me with an extended paw. I turned to look into his indigo eyes, a rush of emotion I didn’t even know existed coming into my heart. It began to beat faster.

                “Jenna”, his voice was so soft, so caring. “Jenna, I think…I think I love you”. I blinked, slowly nodded my acceptance, but still no believing what I had heard. I took a couple of steps closer to him, moving my muzzle to whisper in his ear.

                “I think I love you too”.