The lakeside

Bartholomeo walked along the side of the beautiful lake. He smiled to himself and watched the cranes fly over head. He always wonder where they were flying, or better yet, where they are flying from? Anyways, he looked back down at the shimmering lake and studied the ripples that's formed by the tiny frogs that lived in it. "Hello." He whispered to the frogs. Yep, today was a peaceful day.

Rikoka was walking along the lake with a long and flowing blue dress covering most of her body. She soon smiled as she saw some birds fly over head. She then noticed a boy talking to the frogs and decided to investigate. "Greetings." She said to the boy as she walked over to him.

Bartholomeo's heart skipped a beat when he heard the girl's voice. "Hm....hi.." he said back in a whispered tone. He walked closer to the shore of the lake and tossed a pebble in it. After that, he turned back to the girl and looked down.

"Is there something wrong?" Rikoka said as she walked closer to investigate. She showed concern though her eyes seemed to be searching for something in him as she tried to make sure she had his attention.

He looked down again and rubbed his arm. "W-why do...do you think somethings wrong?" He whispered and backed away some. "I..I'm not stupid." He looked up a bit, then back down.

"well, you are...stammering as well as acting withdrawn. So there must be something wrong." Rikoka said as she blinked a few times. Her eyes adjusting to take his features in more while walking closer to him. She seemed concerned more then ever since he seemingly has backed up.

He backed up some more until his heel touched the water. Barth started to twitch a bit. "Hm..." he looked down from her. "Hm..." he rubbed his head some and took out a card. "I..am..okay." he read from it.

Rikoka stood and stared at him while she thought about his behavior and how odd it was, even for a boy so young.

Bartholomeo looked down."stop staring at me.." he whispered and rubbed his arm. "S...stop.." he said backing up some more.

"Strange behavioral patterns." Rikoka said to herself as she let her analysis start of the boy. She then systematically evaluated him in her mind as her stare turned somewhat into a mix of curiosity and a cold brutal stare that would give even the boldest of people a chill.

He looked confused and started to walk away."not safe." He mumbled and continued his walk.

Rikoka sighed as she looked at the frogs for a few moments. Then she sat down by the water and hummed softly to herself. After awhile though she started to talk to herself, "I wonder what was wrong with that boy. Oh well, guess it can't be helped now." Rikoka then layed back and stared into the sky.

He heard her and turned back. "N..nothing is wrong with me.." He whispered and rubbed his arm again.

"Then why are you displaying such abnormalities in normal human behavorial processes?" Rikoka asked curiously while staring at the boy.

He blinked and rubbed harder."stop it...stop making me feel stupid." He whispered and looked down again.

"Stupid? What is stupid? Is that some kind of meal?" Rikoka said with a small sigh as she just realized that she didn't know the word that he was saying.

He shook his head and rubbed his arms again."N..No.." he said and looking down again.

"What is it then? An animal?" She asked with a confused look. While her eyes took in his reaction she kept on thinking about what it could be.

He shook his head. "Stupid...is...being dumb." He mumbled and wiped his eyes some. He watched the frogs again.

"Dumb? Is that the same as ignore?" Rikoka asked as she sat up. Her chest starting to show a bit although it stayed snugly tight on her. Her eyes looked at him with an intensity that could give one the feelings of curiosity.

He looked at her chest a bit then looked away. "N.no.." Barth sighed and sat underneath a tree. "Stupid is me." He whimpered and wiped his face.

"So it's you? As in a name?" Rikoka said as she tilted her with confusion. She then sighed and layed down on her side and pretended to be dead before she sat and looked around.

He sighed and covered his face."It means that I don't understand things!" He yelled and bit his lip.

"I see." Rikoka said before sitting up and staring at him.

He glanced at her, then looked away."what?"