These Sweet Summer Nights

The summer breeze nipped at the thin green reeds, tossing them aside as it snaked across the marshy shores of the lake. I trudged through the tall grass, making a point as I went to lift my knees dramatically over in a sassy strut. The beach was dead  silent, save for the annoying caws of seagulls drifting above and the occasional fluttering sound as a beetle made its way through the air.

My blue and white striped towel was draped over my back, and it too, wavered in the wind's embrace. I clenched a rather heavy basket in my teeth, which swayed with every step I took. I finally broke from the cluster of vegetation that hugged the curves of the land, my gaze overlooking the entire beach from this perfect viewpoint.

Nothing had changed since the previous year; the lake was still, and you could see dozens of tiny little insects buzzing about on its clear surface. Fragments of rock and driftwood lay embedded in the pale yellow sand. The beach gave way to a layer of stones varying greatly in size, which lined the water's edge and remained for the drop into the lake. I inhaled deeply, the intoxicating aroma of flowers and pleasant things a such wafted in from the east.

"Ahh." I sigh contentedly as I scouted out the perfect spot to rest. The vast expanse of shore offered many potential spots, but I decided upon a particularly nice-looking patch of sand, illuminated in the spotlight of the sun. I laid down the towel, allowing into flutter gracefully down before I flattened it just so to appease my touch of OCD. From the woven basket, I withdrew a half-empty bottle of sunscreen, some bugspray, a pair of large, squared sunglasses and an an egg salad sandwich my mom had made for me on my way out.

I can still recall the first time, a few years ago, that I met my mom. Ever since then, my adoptive father, Diamond Crescent has let my mother stay with us in our place while she looks for a job - he even lets her come to our summer cabin! My friends always say I'm so lucky because I have young parents, which means by default that they must be cool. They've steadily settled into the unofficial role of married parents. I used to think lovey-dovey antics were gross, because of cooties and the like, but their relationship has just become another part of my life. I fact, it is a nice feeling to finally have a somewhat complete and normal family.

I love our cabin; with its cute little decor and the crisp smell of freshly-washed bedsheets always in the air, I find it difficult not to love every second I spend out here. The beach is a great place to get some solitude when I need it most, to maybe crack open a good book and have a quiet lunch all to myself. Such was the case with today. The place is generally quiet... a little too quiet if you ask me. There is nopony around other than Diamond and Magenta, so we tend to get a little grumpy with each other if we're cooped up together too long. The house next to us has been vacant for years, ever since the old Pegasus couple moved to a retirement home in Cloudsdale, so we don't often get any interesting visitors.

I sighed openly as I smeared a gob of white sunscreen onto my forelegs, carefully dabbing some on the tip of my muzzle and behind my ears. Dad has some weird phobia of getting a sunburn or something like that, so he taught me to apply sunscreen generously.

My ears stood erect as the distinct sound of a door slamming sounded from a little ways behind me. I blinked in surprise, turning to see a colt with a shaggy black mane and tan coat slink from the creaking porch of the neighbouring cabin. He was quite cute despite his bedhead mess of a mane, and hallelujah! - he appeared about fourteen or so, just like me. His dark eyes were cast down and his ears drooped as he walked. As he neared the cliff of dirt that sloped down to the sandy beach, his dismal trance was broken as he noticed my presence. His storm-like eyes locked on me with a mixture of shock an utter terror.

"Hey!" I called with an idle wave of my hoof, brushing one of my curled locks from my eyes. "What's your name?"

The silence was deafening as it filled every nook of my ears. Even the gulls seemed to hold their breath as he stared at me blankly. "I don't bite!" I giggled, a gentle smirk curved on my lips. "My name is Viola."

His mouth opened slowly and hung ajar for some time as he fumbled for the right words. "I'm... Nightheart." he finally gasped after what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence. He looked away from my searching eyes, a hint of a timid blush hung on his cheeks.

"Nightheart, huh? Cool name! Are you, uh, staying here for the summer?" I inquired, standing to my hooves. He gave a slight nod, not saying a word. His eyes flickered for a fleeting moment to the beach towel, and then back to me. There were shadows beneath his eyes, those from lack of sleep and... what appeared to be the beginnings of a black eye forming on one. "Are you alright? Where did you get that?"

"I fell." came his meek response. It was evident he hadn't simply 'fallen' from the bruises and cuts that scattered his thin body. However, I knew it would be an unwise decision to prod him further on the matter. Searching for a distraction, I settled my flank down on the beach blanket, patting it gently.

"Would you care to join me?"

"Um, sure." he replied with a weak smile, and trotted over to my side. I couldn't help but notice the faintest of limps in his right foreleg, a stagger where several scars ran up and down like a failed pattern. I tried my best not to stare, but I could see him catch my non-chalant glances to his wounds. "I was injured." he blurted in explantation.

"Oh." was all my mouth could muster at that moment, for I, too, was at a complete loss for words. He was cute, but unbearably shy. I'd have to be patient if I wanted him  to warm up to me. A sudden growl of my stomach nagged for attention to my growing hunger, I hadn't had breakfast, so I was starved. I reached for my sandwich and broke it in two halves, offering one to the colt. "Want some?" I offered after I had swallowed a large bite of my half.

"You wouldn't mind?" he asked, his eyes shining like a lone star drifting in a sea of black. He was reacting as though I had just spared him from certain death, not simply handed him a bit of egg salad sandwich. I shake my head and shrug. "Wow, thank you!" He gingerly took the sandwich half from my hoof and took a bite. Nightheart smiled silently as the creamy taste filled his mouth.

"No sweat. It's just a sandwich." I laugh. To my surprise, he joined with a slight chuckle.

"Listen, I-" he began, but his words were interrupted by a loud shout. I craned my neck, making out the silhouette of a tall, muscular-looking stallion standing on  Nightheart's porch. He yelled once more, calling the colt's name angrily. There was a hint of ice tainting his voice as he made his way down the stairs. As he neared, I could see his lips were curled into a stern frown and his muzzle was covered with bristly stubble. I could sense the fear pounding in Nightheart's mind as his father approached us. He trembled in his place, dropping the sandwich onto the towel.

"Hey, dad..." he half-said, half-whimpered, lowering his head to avoid the icy glare of his father. The stallion peered down at me and snorted, his eyes sending a clear message: Beat it.

"Aww, you makin' some friends?" the stallion mocked, his tone babyish and pouty, only to harden as he continued to speak. "Get inside, now, we got work to do." Obediently, Nightheart stood up and galloped off towards his cabin. For a brief moment, his entrancing eyes darted back to me and our eyes locked once more, before her vanished into his home. The stallion gave me an unimpressed look, and I cringed as he spat at the ground near my hooves. My eyes followed him as he sauntered back to his cabin, a smug smile on his face.

When he had finally disappeared from sight, I hastily gathered my things, tossing them into the wicker basket, and ran for home. As I dashed across the field, the welcoming sight of my mother lying in a hammock with a book in hoof greeted me. Calmed my mind for a moment, but it quickly returned to dwell on Nightheart. My thoughts couldn't help but wander to all that I had just witnessed. Everything about this timid colt falling together, and I could clearly see his world crumbling before my eyes. I couldn't help but wonder...

I couldn't help but wonder where he got those scars.