As Lukas got out of bed, the two other Fortissimo members present quickly shut up. One of them offered Lukas his crutches, saying that he left them outside. But that only served to confuse Lukas. How could he have left them outside if he went to his bed last night?
When he moved to stand, the other member moved to help Lukas. But Lukas stood without any aid, much to his surprise. He still struggled to walk a little, but by tomorrow he should be able to help Skyla instead of doing nothing.
The two other Fortissimo members, after seeing Lukas' recovery, left his crutches by his bed and left. Seeing as they weren't needed, they went on with the rest of their duties.
Lukas skipped his breakfast that day, leaving the station and walking to the riverbank. There, he found Kai staring across the river longingly as he sat.
Lukas, with nothing of importance to do and still recovering, joined Kai on the soft sandy riverbank. Kai didn't notice Lukas or didn't care that he was there. That distinction was difficult to parse.
The two sat in silence, allowing the gentle breeze and soft smell of spring to flow past them. Neither of them said a word or moved a muscle until Kai interrupted the silence.
"Lukas was your name?"
Lukas flinched at the sound of Kai saying his name. But he simply nodded in return.
"My name is Kai... Oh, but you knew that."
Lukas nodded again, but Kai had nothing more to say. The two remained in silence for what felt like an eternity to Lukas. Maybe only a moment passed, or maybe it had been an hour or two. But Lukas wanted to enjoy the moment.
Once more he was lost in thoughts about his choices and what the future held for him. For once, he wasn't thinking of what he did, but what he could do.
"Your eyes are glowing."
Lukas nearly jumped back. He turned to Kai who was staring at him blankly.
"Oh, never mind, they aren't anymore."
"Wait, what do you mean they were glowing?"
Kai turned away, facing the river. He looked down and picked up some of the grass.
"They were glowing green, like this grass."
"Green? My eyes are yellow, not green. So is the grass."
For once Kai showed emotion, but it was confusion at what Lukas had said. Then, something unexpected happened:
Kai laughed.
He fell on his back laughing at what Lukas had said. His eyes had a flicker of life in them, and his voice carried meaning in its tone. He was laughing like a little kid.
"They're green silly. Do you know what green is?"
Kai's voice and eyes continued to echo with emotion. But Lukas struggled to pay attention to Kai, he was more preoccupied with being embarrassed. He was being laughed at! Lukas was being laughed at about colours!
But when he calmed down he realised how lively Kai was. He was an entirely different person now, even the air around them swelled with the hot rushing air of an oncoming storm. But more importantly!
"OF COURSE I KNOW WHAT GREEN IS... I think... I KNOW IT'S NOT THAT!"
Kai continued to laugh, and laugh, and laugh until his sides hurt and he began to gasp for air. Even Lukas couldn't resist cracking a small smile at Kai's jubilance.
When he stopped, he grabbed a small budding flower.
"What colour is this?"
Lukas paused, it was almost identical in colour to the grass. Was Kai messing with him?
"...Yellow...? NO, GREEN!"
Kai erupted in laughter again. Reeling from the pain in his sides.
"No, it's red!"
Lukas grew more embarrassed and annoyed with each passing second. But he let it wash over him, at least Kai was amused and lively. He reminded Lukas of his younger brother Caleb, and he didn't want that spark to flicker and fade. He wanted Kai to enjoy himself if he could help it.
The two boys sat there laughing at colours until the sun had faded. It was the second time Lukas had met Kai, but the first time Kai had gone against everyone else's description. But when Skyla returned from the forest, Kai became silent again.
Her clothes were covered in small rips and tears revealing the myriad of small cuts all across her body. She looked exhausted, yet moved and acted like she still had plenty.
"How do you feel Lukas? Have you been here the whole day?"
Lukas found it strange she had nothing to say to, or about, Kai.
"I feel better, enough to join you tomorrow I think. And, yes I have been here most of the day."
A childish thought popped into Lukas' mind, and he couldn't help but crack a smile at the thought. He picked at the grass and held a few blades towards Skyla.
"Hey Skyla, what colour is this?"
She tilted her head in confusion before looking at the blades of grass more closely. It was dark out by now, and the closest source of light was too far for it to illuminate anything around the trio. So as she brought the grass close to her face, she snapped the fingers on her empty hand.
"Rei"
A small point of light appeared on the tip of her finger. Simultaneously, a warmth washed over Lukas, like that of the midday sun.
Skyla's confusion grew after seeing the grass more closely.
"It's just green? Why are you asking?"
Kai let out a soft chuckle, and Lukas cracked up in laughter. Skyla's confusion only grew after their reactions.
"What got into you?"