Act 11, Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.

Clasping the tool in his hand, he looked at Emily for a moment, before she gave him a reassuring nod, ushering him forward, he waked up to a nearby tree - one that's bark was darker in colour compared to the birch trees that had speckled the path so far, the notches of which.. kinda looked like eyes, looking at him, glaring at him as he commit to this action.

Pressing the tip of the pocket knife into the tree, he started to carve the letters "E" and "K", it was more difficult than Emily's casual way of suggesting it made it out to be, with the knife getting stuck in the ridges of the tree, making him have to yank it back out and recontinue his line.

He felt his heart beat quicken as he continued to dig and carve into the wood, splinters of which fell down onto the floor below, his hairs sticking on end - not just because of the act, but knowing Emily was watching him, probably having put two and two together already..

He blew on the tree, using his hand to rid of the access wood chunks before stabbing back into the bark, digging down with the blade, the layers of tree coming apart under the sharp tool, his breaths were shaky.

He swallowed, taking a minute step away, wiping the sawdust out of the indents of the tree once more, making the indents more clear before wiping his hand on his shorts, the crumbs of bark raining onto the floor. He took deep breath, before looking up at his work, it felt as if a jolt of electricity had gone through him upon seeing it. Upon seeing the physical mark on the world which was physical proof of his love, it helped. It helped a lot. Though he did feel a wave of guilt for damaging nature.

He nodded to himself, before nodding to Emily, handing over the multi tool, she smiled at him, not even offering a glance at his work as they began to walk down the path once more.

"The frogspawn still ok?" He knew it would be, but he was scared the silence was becoming grating.

"Mhm," Emily nodded, one hand in her bag to tilt the jar around, watching the eggs move about in their container "I'm excited to see them turn into frogs.." She smiled to herself, a genuine smile, her giddiness radiating from her.

Walking along the dirt path, Kacper - every once in a while - kicked a rock to the side, amusing himself with the action, but then he remembered something of more importance: "Do you need to reapply your sunscreen, Eve?" her mouth formed an 'o' before she nodded, kneeling onto the floor to set her bag down, Kacper followed this motion, she drug around, finding a bottle of sunscreen which she pumped into her hand, lathering on her face, arms, legs and feet, she tried to reach her back, but failed.

"Need help?" Kacper cocked his head to the side, offering a smile, she laughed and nodded, holding her long white hair out of the way as he carefully rubbed it into her back and shoulders, pulling away with haste - for her comfort.

After the short stop they were walking once more, through the meadows, which had plenty of fresh flowers growing which gripped the air like an aura, causing the area to smell pleasant, past the bush of which they grabbed berries from, down a path - which he realized lead to a carpark - but taking a familiar right beforehand, then back out to where the map was.

"Um," Kacper started, halting beside the map and awkwardly wringing his hands "Thank you.. for, well, taking me out?" He didn't know if that was the right sentence structure, in fact, he winced when the words came out, cheeks flushing a dark red

Emily paused, before smiling once more "No worries, i had fun." she pointed over her shoulder, "Lets get you home, hm?"

-

The following weeks, Kacper had been so enthralled by Emily "Eve" Florence that all means of routine had been lost on him, he had started forgetting things that were usually hard wired into his daily life, things that were heavily built into his schedule that he did on instinct, things that brought him immense comfort, like his skincare. But there was positives with these negatives, his brain was full of just.. Emily, so completely full and overwhelmed with the girl that dubbed herself "Eve" to care about those things that were now minute to him.

This wasn't an idle progression, he had also been getting to know Emily more intimately along side these emotions that were engulfing him, it was like he was drowning, but it was also like he was being rewarded air after being starved of it, all the neurons in his body firing causing a tingly feeling to bloom beneath his skin.

Their bond had expanded past him knowing base-level knowledge that was carelessly passed in mindless conversation, he was not knowing her deeper, inner thoughts on various topics - which he internalized optimally - learning about her thoughts on politics, fashion, her favourite foods.

It was a thrill gaining all this knowledge on her.

Their bond was blooming, festering, there was a feeling just under the surface that neither of them dared to bring up.

One day, after their usual meeting in the schools library Emily had left her phone behind, which Kacper picked up - hoping to find someone to call or perhaps her address to return it, he went to the call log, barely any calls other than to the school reception and various taxi companies. That's when he had spot it:

His number, she had called his number a few months ago half a dozen times at 4:50AM. He wondered how she had gotten his number, this was the day after they had met each other.. maybe she had gotten it off of one of his acquaintances? Or maybe reception. But on that day he wasn't aware anyone had called him, he assumed anyway, given he hadn't picked up..

Despite himself, he felt a chill go up his spine.