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“It was nothing,” he said. “Put these on.” Felix held out a pair of soft moccasins. They were comfy and warm, and they would protect her feet on their journey.
“You really are prepared for anything. You’re like a Boy Scout.”
“A what?”
“Oh yeah,” Tabitha looked up at him. There was something strange on her face, something he couldn’t quite pinpoint. Then he realized that it was pity.
Why did she pity him?
“You don’t know about a lot of stuff, huh? At least, not stuff about the outside world.”
That was true, but the realization stung a bit.
“Perhaps,” Felix said vaguely.
“Well, a Boy Scout is someone who kind of like, trains to be ready for anything. There’s this saying that a Boy Scout is always prepared. I get that vibe about you.”
“Vibe?”
“Yeah. A feeling. You know, it just seems like you’re always ready for anything that might happen. You’re pretty smart, Felix. I like that about you.”
She liked him.
She liked him, and she was paying him a compliment. He waited to see what the negative side of that compliment would be. Maybe she’d follow it up with an insult about his appearance or maybe she’d mention the fact that he had terrible morning breath, but after a moment, it was clear that Tabitha was done speaking.
There was no other negative comment.
She didn’t want to say anything else to him.
“What is it? You’re looking at me like I’m crazy.”
“I’m just surprised you didn’t say anything mean.”
“Why’s that?”
Because Ursula had been a cruel-hearted bitch who deserved to die.
Because she’d colored Felix’s understanding of relationships.
Because she’d stolen everything from him, including his ability to relate to other people.
“No reason.”
“Not buying it, but I’ll let it slide.”
Tabitha stood up, shoes on, and offered Felix her arm.
“Shall we go?”
“We shall.”
They left the cave carefully. Felix took care to move the boulders back into their appropriate places. He didn’t want to reveal this cave to anyone. It was his own secret place. As Tabitha called it, this was his Fortress of Solitude, and he didn’t want to make any sort of mistake when it came to this place being found.
“You’re strong,” she commented, watching him.
“Thanks.”
“You work out a lot, huh?”
