What Are You Afraid Of?

[Wilbur Robinson]

"No, its not a bad thing. I like interesting things." Wilbur replied with a laugh. "See where I'm from Polka is a name of a dance. So, its interesting to think that there's a place out there with kids named after music and dances." he shrugged. "Like i said, its better than my name, i don't know where my parents came with Wilbur but its boring."

[Polka]

"But I think Wilbur is an interesting name, too." Polka said. She did mean that, too. Having never come across someone with a name like it before, it did interest her. What other names were there that existed outside of Tenuto? Maybe she did have a reason to want to open up after all. On the other hand... it was too soon. She couldn't do it yet. "I've never heard a name like it before, actually. I guess I really have stayed home too long. If I hadn't, maybe I'd know more names that I wouldn't have been able to hear at home." she explained. As the words left her mouth, though, she began to have doubts about what she had said. Did any of it sound odd? Was the idea of her never leaving home before weird?

"I'm sorry... I must seem really strange to you. I'd understand if... if you didn't want to stay around here. Around me..."

[Wilbur Robinson]

Wilbur cocked his head to the side. "Why wouldn't i want to be around you?" he asked. "I don't think its that strange. I like strange, my life is really strange in general so i don't think its weird. I like hanging out with you. Even if it is in a library." he smiled. He wasn't lying either, Polka was interesting and he was enjoying spending time talking to her. "I mean if you don't want me to be here, i can you know leave..."

[Polka]

Wait... he doesn't know. He honestly doesn't know about you. Why are you pushing him away??

"N-No! I... I mean..."

Now Polka truly did feel clueless. She'd never actually had someone be genuinely interested in her and not afraid of her at the same time. She was struggling with how to react, and because of it she was beginning to feel like she was being torn in two different directions. On the one hand, Polka could let Wilbur go on his way and forget that she had even talked to him. However, on the other hand there was the option of telling him that she did want him to stay. Friends were something she lacked. Perhaps, if she worked at it, she could earn his friendship without making herself seem too strange in the process of doing so.

...No. You can't let fear rule your life forever. You have to tell him you want him to stay!

That settled it. She decided not to let fear continue to rule her... at least for a little while. "I... I'm so sorry. It's just I'm... not used to people really trying to talk to me like this. I guess I was a little nervous about it." she finally explained. That would suffice. It was a simple enough explanation on her part. "I really would... would like it if you stayed."

[Wilbur Robinson]

Wilbur's face lit up again. "Really? Oh, great." he said with a smile. Not used to people talking to her? That didn't really make sense. "Why wouldn't people talk to you, you are really nice." He bit his lip hoping that she didn't catch that. "What I mean is, i know the feeling of people not really talking to you, most people didn't talk to me much either." he shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal but...it is nice to have someone to talk to."

[Polka]

"I'm afraid it's rather complicated. There are some things I would... prefer not to say about myself. Even if we are alone." Polka admitted. Too soon. Too soon to talk about how she was different and only had a relatively short lifespan to look forward to. Even if she did talk about it, there was a chance that Wilbur might not understand. At that present moment, it was something Polka didn't want to talk about. Not until she knew for certain that Wilbur truly wanted to be her friend and wouldn't abandon her if he did find out she was destined to die.

"Still, you are very nice. A lot nicer than some other people I've spoken to in the past. I guess it really shouldn't surprise me that you wouldn't mind if I'm a little odd." she managed to say. "I don't see any reason why people wouldn't talk to you. You seem all right to me." she said. Were they more alike than she had realized?

[Wilbur Robinson]

"Oh well...its complicated." Wilbur replied. "See I'm not the most popular kid at my school, so well, when you aren't popular you are one of three things. Invisible, a geek, or the punchingbag. Unfortunately, i was the third and final thing." he frowned but gave a tiny smile "So yeah, i was the punchingbag or more like kid that got kicked around all the time. So, yeah.." The raven haired teen felt awkward about it. "So, i was by myself most of the time. But you don't want to hear about that."

[Polka]

"Oh..."

Polka didn't quite know how to react to that bit of information. It did seem like they sort of were in the same boat as far as people not liking them went, but she didn't want to say that much. Wilbur was under the impression that she was fairly normal. Why ruin that? "Well, I don't know if this counts for much... but I think you're nice. I mean, you talked to me when you could have just walked away. That's something." Polka said. The blonde girl had admittedly been afraid that he would interact with her, but now that the conversation was going on she was almost glad that they had started talking. It was good to know that at least one person on the island was nice and didn't treat her like a freak. Then again, she still didn't know how anyone else would react to her.

"And I do know how you feel about being by yourself. That's... kind of how I ended up being a lot of the time. It usually just ended up being my mom and myself." She didn't know why she was divulging that little bit of information, really. Maybe it was because Wilbur had decided to open up a little to her. Maybe she was starting to just feel comfortable around him and felt safe enough to divulge just a little more information.

[Wilbur Robinson]

"Sounds like we are in the same boat then." Wilbur replied with a small smile. At least tehy were able to get across stuff that made them a bit uncomfortable. "Sounds like your mom was nice. That's like my family. They are crazy...but are nice." Crazy was an understatement, his family was insane but it kept him from wanting to run from home. "So, whats your home like?"

[Polka]

She nodded a little in response to the comment about her mom being nice. There were times when it felt like her mom was the only friend she had (though really it went without saying that this was the case), but she wouldn't have it any other way. Polka liked the relationship she had with her mother. Then, the topic seemed to shift again. Polka tilted her head to the side slightly before responding. "My home?" Polka asked. She hadn't expected Wilbur to ask about that. Then again, since they were getting things off their chests she decided it wouldn't hurt to talk about Tenuto.

"I come from a little village called Tenuto. It's kind of small, but I like it all right. There's lots of flowers and it has this great view of the ocean." Polka said. Even talking about it gave her a sort of pang of homesickness. She did regret leaving, but perhaps, in the long run, it would be worth it. Maybe. "I... guess I should ask about where you come from now." she said after a moment.

[Wilbur Robinson]

"Wow, sounds impressive." Wilbur smiled but when she mentioned his home he laughed. "Well, its nothing like that. I come from a big city called Tomorrowland, most of it is pretty much futuristic. It has buildings that could touch the sky. Most of the transporation is really interesting too...well if you call trams and traveling through bubbles "interesting" he replied with a smile. "But it's not too bad, its home."

Wow, he never really talked about home before besides his own house. Tomorrowland was pretty big in its own mind. "My dad pretty much made the town that it was. But its nothing compared to my crazy colorful house."

[Polka]

At the mention of buildings that were tall enough to touch the sky, Polka thought for a moment that she felt her head spinning. The idea of buildings getting so tall seemed rather hard to believe for a little girl from a simple village. Her mouth formed a little 'O' shape as Wilbur described his home, and it was clear that she was rather impressed. Then again, coming from such a small village like Tenuto and then hearing about somewhere else that was larger and, apparently, more advanced would have impressed anybody. But one thing was bothering her. With so many large buildings, she could only imagine herself getting lost and confused. How did city people manage it?

"But don't you ever get lost from looking up so much? I can't even imagine living in a place like that. I'd get lost so easily just trying to keep track of all the tall buildings!" Polka exclaimed. Fortunately, it didn't seem anyone else was around to shush her for accidentally getting louder than she probably should have. She sheepishly lowered her head upon realizing that she probably shouldn't have been so loud, and decided to go back to speaking softly.

"I guess my mom was right. I really do need to get out more so I can know what's beyond Tenuto." she said at length. What followed was a very soft, sheepish sort of laugh. One might have missed it if they weren't paying attention.

[Wilbur Robinson]

At that Wilbur had to laugh. "Well, yeah i suppose getting lost is a bit of a problem. I know i have gotten lost in town a few times, but the people are friendly, you just have to be careful not to go staring up at them too long or your neck might get stuck like that!" he said. "And that, would be painful." he replied before smiling again. "Well, your here now, time for you to go and see the world."

[Polka]

Again, Polka had to laugh just a little. Imagining people walking around with their heads pointed up toward the sky and looking upward at all the tall buildings, only to end up with their necks needing to be cricked to get back to their normal position, did somehow seem amusing to her. No one in Tenuto would have ever thought of it. Now it was seeming like it was a good thing that she had met Wilbur. Knowing someone from a big city somehow seemed right to Polka.

"Do... you really think I could?" Polka asked when Wilbur said it was time for her to see the world. She'd always wanted to go out and enjoy what time she had, but every time before then she'd gotten cold feet and decided against it. It was all thanks to her mom that she was there in the first place, seeing as she had convinced her to finally leave home. Polka didn't even know if she would get to see much of the world from the island. "I mean, I would really like to see more of the world. I just don't know how far I'll be able to get." she said.

[Wilbur Robinson]

Wilbur nodded. "Sure, anything is possible. You just gotta keep moving forward. That's what my dad taught me. It might be hard at first but once you take the first step anything is possible." When did he become so inspriational. That wasn't normal even for him. Oh gosh, maybe he was turning into his dad. "It becomes easier if you have friends to help you." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I mean, considering we are friends right?"