There was a twist rousing in her abdomen, and she absently chafed it. It was awkward, but she was determined to make this work. This year, she was trying this thing called “being social.” Prior to her devastating and traumatic experience with Alexander, she was practically a social butterfly. Jane talked to anyone and everyone, regardless of what they wore or what they looked like. It was just how she was. Her mother always thought she should associate herself with the high aristocracy, simply because she was one, but that never stopped her from talking to anyone who wasn’t as wealthy as she was. Besides, money hardly defined who you were, right?
Her hands fell into her pockets, falling into step with him. She went on her toes to find a tree coated with branches that were just made for stepping on. “Right,” she nodded and then jokingly pointed a finger at him. “But remember, no laughing. I haven’t done this in a while.” Actually, she hadn’t done anything in a while, but she left that comment to herself.
Fingers ran over her long hair that fell over her shoulders. Awkward, yeah. She stared at their feet, and took in a breath as she said quietly, “It’s nice to see you.” She looked up and smiled genuinely at him as they proceeded towards the tree, gnawing on her inner cheek as the anxiety returned at a higher octave. Lips pursed and looked up at the bark, and then without saying anything, she mounted the branches firmly and began to scale up. “We going all the way to the top?” she asked, flicking her pale eyes down at him whilst she climbed, her hands and steps rigid and stiff. It showed that it had been a while since she had done anything like this.