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"no, just embarrassed." She stated boldy. "I've never been asked to dance before."
She turned to walk away, but turned back.
"Dancing is an intimate thing to me, so anyone who asks me, I'll probably blush, no matter what." She added quickly.
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"Ohh, ok," River said with a nod. He glanced over Aspen's shoulder and smiled fondly when he saw Daphne laugh at something Maya said, the two of them looking at ease and happy.
Aspen followed his gaze and also smiled softly.
"It's nice isn't it, to watch two people who're obviously in love." She said wistfully, turning her gaze back to River.
"It'd be even nicer if the loop allowed that love to last," River replied, wondering how Maya endured that type of pain each and every day. He hoped he would never know what that felt like.
Aspen nodded sadly.
"Yeah, I think the people in the Chateau who fall in love with someone else also inside the Chateau are very lucky." She said wistfully.
"Definitely," River agreed. "At least Mrs. Finch lets the others in the Chateau go out into the modern world sometimes, to get books, games, and other stuff. That probably keeps them from being too bored."
Aspen nodded.
"I wonder if it's hard though, being elderly but stuck as a kid or teenager." She said aloud, staring off into the space behind River.
"It probably is, since no one would take you seriously," River said, looking thoughtful. The loop was interesting; it was a paradise, yes, but after so many decades could it just be seen as a beautiful prison cell?
Aspen pressed her plump lips together so only a bit of pink remained and turned towards him.
"Come with me." She said and then blushed and frowned "please?"
"Sure," River shrugged. "Where to?"
"Up there." Aspen said, pointing to a small cozy looking cottage tucked behind the inn, on a slight hill. "I want to see if anyone lives there."
River looked to where Aspen pointed and nodded. "Okay, sounds good."
Aspen linked her arms through his and looked down at him, the pale rose she sat behind his ear blocking one of his brows. She quickly looked away and matched her pace with his and began to make her way towards the cottage.
River stumbled a bit as he walked, not used to linking arms with someone while walking. He quickly got used to it, taking in the beautiful scenery around him.
Aspen did the same. She stopped sometimes to look at the flowers growing on each side of the path and bent down to sniff them before moving onward.
Finally, they made it to the door of the cottage.
There was a plaque in front that said The Virk cottage and Aspen bent down to read the words under it, reading out loud to River as well.
"This cottage once belonged to the Virk family, the teenage daughter, Reena, was murdered savagely by her classmates and the cottage stands empty because of rumour of her haunting. Every year there is a Rose festival to celebrate Roses, Reena's favorite flower. At the end of the night roses are placed outside the door of the cottage to show respect to Reena's memory." She read aloud and then straightened up.
"How terrible." She said honestly and untangled her arm from River's, heading forward and taking the rose from behind both of her ears and placing them on the doorstep of the cottage.
"Yeah," River said quietly, taking the rose from behind his ear and putting it next to Aspen's.
Aspen stepped back and gazed at the cottage.
"It must've been terrible for her parents." She said aloud.
"I'm just wondering what she did to get murdered by her classmates," River said, wondering exactly how recent her death was, looking at the plaque. Because if this only happened a couple or so years ago, then the homicidal classmates could still be around.
"Yeah," Aspen said sadly "though maybe she didn't do anything, people can be cruel."
She turned away from the cottage and wiped her eyes on her sleeve quickly before turning back around.
River stayed at the cottage a while longer. He was tempted to go inside, but after a few moments of hesitation, he followed Aspen.
Aspen smiled sadly down at him as she once again linked her arm through his.
"Well," she said, making her voice stronger purposely. "We have to make sure we dance super hard later, for Reena."
"Thanks for the extra pressure," River chuckled, walking alongside her.