The sun was hot on Leora's head. As she sat in the tall, golden grass, the wind moved it in waves around her. Leora's yellow, gauzy dress was bunched high around her thighs. She thoughtfully twisted a lock of her long, auburn hair around her fingers as her light grey eyes stared off to the distant rocky cliffs. It was starting to get pretty hot. She blinked up at the sky. No clouds.
Leora Zale was 18. She lived with her father on a small vegetable farm on the planet of Caprice. It was a meager life, but they were happy there.
A tall, thin young man with black hair waded through the grass to Leora. He was about her age. "Hey!"
Leora turned her head. It was Donovan, her neighbor and best friend. "What's up?"
He stopped and looked down on her. "Wanna go swimming?" A bead of perspiration glistened down his forehead. Donovan was wearing a t-shirt and swimming shorts.
Leora yawned and stretched her arms in the sky. Her firm, young breasts stuck out in front of her. Donovan had a glance. Leora was enchantingly beautiful. She was his very closest friend, but things started changing. He thought of her quite often and not just in a friendly manner.
"Yeah, I do." She held up her hand to Donovan. "Help me up."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. Donovan enjoyed the way her smooth hand fit into his.
She turned to walk away to the small farm house, her dress blowing in the breeze, capturing the frame of her body perfectly. "Let me get my bathing suit."
Donovan kept hold of her hand and she looked back at him, turning her head to the side.
"You don't need one...we can go skinny dipping," he smiled mischievously.
Leora's hair blew in her face as she stared at him for a moment. Donovan recently started adding subtle sexual notes to everything. Not that she wasn't amused it, but it often caught her off guard. She dropped her eyes bashfully and shook her head. "We can't."
To Donovan, it appeared that she was actually considering it. "Sure we can," he pressed.
Leora pulled her hand from his and pushed him. "Whatever, Donnie." And with that she started skipping down the grassy hill. "I'll meet you there!" she called over her shoulder.
Donovan sighed. He wanted to make a move on her, but didn't know how or even if he should. Donovan frowned while he made his way to the secluded pond in which they swam often. What would it do to their friendship? They had known each other all of their lives. Did she see him as a brother type and no more?
Tall trees and a high rocky embankment surrounded the clear pond. Some of the trees that framed the water were flowering fruit trees which were in bloom. Tiny pink petals fell from the sky to the ground and pond's surface as a gentle breeze blew. Water lilies dotted the far side of the pond. A Fire Turtle, named for its blazing orange color, swam just below the calm water.
Donovan climbed to the top of the embankment, which was about 15 feet from the surface of the pond. He removed his shirt, kicked off his sandals and ducked behind a large tree. Donovan watched the trail and waited.
It wasn't long before Leora appeared. She wore a striped, one piece bathing suit and had a large white towel in hand. "Donovan?"
He didn't answer and ducked down.
Leora shrugged, putting the towel down and taking off her sandals. She padded over to the edge of the water and touched her foot in. Despite the recent hot weather, the pond was still cool. Leora walked slowly into the clear water. As it enveloped her thin frame, her skin turned to goose flesh. She shivered hard when it reached just below her breasts. Her nipples were very hard and stuck out. Leora sucked a deep breath into her lungs and dipped below the surface. How the water felt so good.
Donovan came from cover and stood looking down at the pond and Leora. Just as she came to the surface, he jumped. He tucked his body into a cannon ball as he fell towards the water. "Weeeeee!"
Leora squealed with surprise as he landed in the pond next to her. "Donnie!"
He laughed as he burst through the water.
"You dork!" Leora laughed and splashed him.
Donovan's black hair hung wet down his face. He pulled his hand up, pushing his hair back. He sported a big grin, showing his brilliant white teeth. He got closer to Leora. "Surprised you, didn't I?"
"Yes, you ass!" She looked at him. It never dawned on Leora how incredibly handsome Donovan was. His shoulders looked broader that she remembered. And his face...beautiful green eyes...and those lips. Leora was unaware that the smile was slowly fading from her face as she looked at him.
Donovan watched as Leora's expression change. He slowly drew his hand from the water to pull a piece of her wet hair from her cheek. His index finger traced her jaw line lightly.
Suddenly becoming uncomfortable, Leora blinked. What was happening? Not to make things anymore awkward than they were, she smiled and shoved Donovan back into the water. "Sucker!"
"Hey!" He laughed as he disappeared under the surface with a splash.
Leora laid back to float on top of the water. Her eyes closed. The water was very relaxing. "What are you going to do now that we've finished school?"
"Well, I'd like to go to the space academy, but I don't think we have enough money for me to get in." Space seemed like a far away notion at that moment. Only the wealthy got to enjoy space and the luxury of traveling to other planets.
"I'm sure something will work out. It always does."
"Yeah..." Donovan sighed. He noticed the white lilies on the side of the pond and swam towards them. "What about you?"
"I'm not sure. I always thought I had plenty of time to decide so I never gave it much mind."
Donovan picked the whitest lily and swam back over to her while she spoke.
"I would like to travel or meet different kinds of beings maybe. I'm sure that won't happen though. End up working on the farm forever."
He watched her for a moment. She floated weightlessly on top of the pond. She reminded him of an angel. That thought brought his mind to something else. He obviously wasn't the only that thought so. "I can't believe the prince asked you to marry him," Donovan said quietly.
Leora opened her eyes and stared at the tree tops. Sunlight beamed through holes in the canopy. "Yeah, me either. I don't understand it...besides being just terrible to look at, he's so much older than I. What would he want in me?"
She was completely unaware of her womanly gifts, Donovan thought. "I guess just like all other men, he can tell what an incredibly beautiful woman you've become." He always had thought she was incredibly beautiful.
"Right. A lowly poor farmer's daughter."
"Station has nothing to do with appearance. You look beautiful as you are, I can't imagine what you'd look like in one of those expensive beaded gowns with your hair all fancied up."
"You think I'm beautiful?" Leora smiled.
Donovan's heart skipped a beat. What had he done? He decided he might as well make his feelings known. Donovan gulped, gripping the lily tightly. He waded to her and took her hand.
