1.2- Friendship?

It's been a few months since I, Ivy Dare, moved here to Lunar Lakes.

I hadn't really gotten used to living on a different planet, and my need for solitude was stronger than my will to fit it. The only contact I had with anyone at all was when my sisters managed to get a call through to me from Twinbrook. As much as I liked those phone calls, they made me homesick.

Back home I'd grown up with Bonehilda to help around the house. But now it was just me. So I had to learn pretty quickly to fix things myself. I didn't have any money to go wasting on trivial things like repairmen.

But one day about six or so months after I moved in I decided it was time I got over my own shyness. I made a deal with myself that I'd go out into the town a couple of times a week and meet some of the locals.

I went down to the community pool by my house and happened to see one of the locals. My instinct would have been to leave him be and go to one of the smaller pools, where no one was swimming. But I was being silly so I just took the plunge, pardon the pun, and joined him.

His name was Jarrett. He was of middle age and quite a handsome man. We made small talk as we swam laps around the pool and soon my nerves dissapated.

After the sun set Jarrett needed to go, so we shook hands and left it at that.

A few days past and I was busy at the house so I didn't get to go out and meet more locals. And I couldn't get Jarrett out of my head. He was just so nice to me that afternoon, and he was so charming.

It was a big surprise then, when Jarrett called me. He was an influential business man, he told me, and he'd managed to track me down. We talked on the phone all that afternoon, and every day for the next month. I thought it was weird at first, but talking to Jarrett was nice and it soon became the highlight of my day.

I found I was relying less and less on my letters and calls from home. But it was nice every now and then to see how my sisters were doing.

And while Jarrett was working I continued to hone my skills with my wand. My only reason really was so I could teach my future kids about their skills should they inherit my witchcraft.

And I started visiting the community garden down the road. It was a short broom ride away and I loved getting the fresh air.

I could tend to the garden under the dome for hours and be completely at peace.

I hadn't really seen Jarrett since that day at the pool. But I'd been talking to him for months now and even though I'd told him about my new favourite spot at the garden, it was a surprise that he showed up there.

 It was an even bigger surprise when he kissed me.