The walk to the lake wasn't long, but it was quiet.
Ella walked beside me, keeping her hands clasped in front of her like she was holding something fragile.
Her eyes would peek at me every so often, only to dart away the moment I looked back.
Cute.
She didn't speak much, but she didn't exactly need to.
The breeze was gentle, the path lined with soft grass and wildflowers, and up ahead, sunlight glinted off the calm, silver-blue surface of the lake.
Trees surrounded it like a natural curtain, hiding the world away.
And just like Ella had mentioned, it was very quiet, with us two being the only ones here.
It's strange to know that she's only been here for a few hours and has already found a place like this.
Not even I knew about this.
When we reached the edge, Ella stopped, her gaze drifting to the water.
"It's beautiful," she said softly.
"I've seen prettier," I replied, glancing at her.
She caught that—and blushed again, lips twitching into a helpless little smile.
