Phineas gave a small wave from the door, watching him run off before closing it. He leaned against the door, sliding down until he reached the floor with a sigh. "This is bad…this is really bad. Get it together Phineas, you can't start feeling things now, even if he is cute."
Nyoka just about skipped home, feeling happier than he had in a while. He hoped he and Phineas wouldn’t get caught tonight. He wanted to ask a fee more questions while he got his bandages changed. His back felt so much better now, and thr cut on his back no longer felt hot and inflamed. He got inside his house and immediately ran to bed, eager to take a short nap before he had to start supper.
Finny stayed in his room for the remainder of the afternoon, muddling over his thoughts and listening for his family to get home so he could make a plan to avoid them.
They returned a little before sundown, he could hear the stamping of many feet and his father's voice. Perfect, dinner wouldn't be until after sunset so it would be much easier to sneak across the house to the garden to help out his new friend. He'd have to be careful, yes, but he had the upper hand here.
Nyoka had finished cooking and eating supper with his family before sundown, and had shooed his parents off to bed, insisting that he had the last of the evening chores under control. His parents looked rather proud that he was acting the way someone of his status was expected to by society, taking care of the house until he was the last one standing. He hurried through the evening and once it was dark and he was sure his parents were dead asleep, he slipped out the back door and hurried across the road in the darkness, slipping through the neighbors’ garden again, this time avoiding the roses. He tread softly, trying to keep his footsteps silent, not wishing to be spotted by someone else who might wish him ill.
(Heathen)