Sunlight filtered through the colored leaves on the trees. A breeze rustled through the branches, causing them to shake back and forth. The last vestiges of summer tried desperately to hold on one more day before finally yielding to the cooler winds of a New England winter. You and Edmund had decided to take advantage of the good weather by studying outside. No computers, no cellphones, and no distractions...at least of the busy, school-day sort.
You sat cross-legged on the blanket, a notebook in your lap. What was supposed to be on the open page was the start of a summary write-up for your literature class. It was clear from the blankness of said page that you hadn't made much progress. Instead, your attention had drifted away from school work toward your surroundings.
Next to you, Edmund lay on his back looking up toward the sky. He had been trying to read ahead for his class on international law, but being outside in the nice weather must have gotten to him, too. The book now covered his face and you could see his chest moving up and down in a gentle rhythm. He had fallen asleep.
You were just debating whether or not to join him when you heard a small popping sound. An nut of some kind had fallen from the tree above you, hit the book on Edmund's face, and rolled off into the grass. A moment passed in complete silence as you waited to see if he would react. Then another nut fell. This one also landed on the book and rolled away. It was followed by another and another. Edmund reached up to remove the book, only to have the next nut land on his face, right in the middle of his forehead.
"Ow," he muttered, sitting up and rubbing the spot with his hand. It was just as well because a whole bunch of nuts chose that instant to fall, right where Edmund's head had been a moment earlier.
"Wow," you said, trying unsuccessfully not to laugh. One might have thought a nut, by itself, wouldn't have been that painful. They would have been wrong. You could already see a red spot forming where the nut had hit Edmund's forehead and it was clear he wasn't too thrilled about it.
"Everything alright here," a familiar voice asked. You turned to see Edmund's older brother, Peter, standing only a few yards away along the footpath.
Edmund turned suddenly to face the new arrival. "If this was you, Pete, I swear," he threatened.
"Me," Peter said, looking absolutely shocked by the accusation, "What are you blaming me for? It's clear some squirrel has it in for you, Ed. These things do happen, you know."
"This didn't just happen," Edmund countered.
"You know, maybe if you paid more attention to your surroundings instead of (Y/N) here," Peter began.
"We're studying," Edmund told his brother, "or at least we were until you decided to interrupt."
"Oh, right...studying," Peter replied, "that wasn't what it looked like from where I was sitting."
"...and where exactly were you sitting," you asked, narrowing your eyes as you looked over at him. It was the first time you'd spoken since Peter had walked up. The two of you held each other's gaze for a moment, as if waiting for the other to back down first. Then, ever so slowly, Peter smiled...
Image Source: sheezuswrites & omginutilidades
Requested by: @alice-c-anna
