A laugh broke the silence. Lyssa looked around to see movement a few rows away from her. She stood silently watching.
“I told you to catch the bag not me.” A girl’s laughing voice echoed through the trees.
“I couldn’t let you fall—again.” A very familiar voice replied.
Lyssa was sure it was Toby and pushed herself through the trees closer to them. They laughed and made small talk as she came up behind them.
A girl with dark hair stood in the crook of a tree limb with a basket hanging from her side as Toby looked up at her with his back to Lyssa.
“Are you just about at the top?” Toby asked as he turned his head and met Lyssa’s eyes.
“Lyssa,” he said almost startled as he walked towards her.
“Here,” the girl said tumbling to the ground and landing like a cat. “Toby.” Her voice questioned when he wasn’t there to catch her.
“What’s going on?” He asked with his back to the girl.
“Not much, just out for a walk,” Lyssa said with crossed arms as her eyes darted between Toby and the girl.
The girl came up beside Toby with a few leaves stuck in her long dark hair. She was tall, but not as tall as Toby. She stood beside him and to Lyssa they looked like the perfect couple. She then smiled at Lyssa.
“Lyssa, is it?” She said. “My name is Lizzi and we haven’t been introduced, but I’ve seen a lot of you from scrying.”
Lizzi extended her hand. “It is so nice to meet you personally.”
Lyssa hesitated, then shook Lizzi’s hand and couldn’t stop looking into her bright blue eyes. “Scrying? You mean you were watching me?”
“Oh, not like that. I’m sorry sometimes I don’t explain myself very well. I was watching you for Zoey through a scrying bowl. That is until you got here and I’m glad you are.” Her smile was warm. “Well, the apples won’t pick themselves.” She looked at Toby.
“Lyssa, do you want to help?” Toby asked.
Lyssa felt like Wes’s wooden sword had been stuck through her stomach as she tried to compose herself.
“No, I’m a little tired. I think I will go inside.” Lyssa turned quickly hoping Toby would come after her, but he didn’t.