<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #0000FF">"Ugh! D-don't do that!"</span> David spluttered in embarrassment. His alabaster cheeks steadily turned scarlet in color. He turned his head to the side, to hide the flush on his face. Why does she do that all the time? Yuck. It was. . . Gross. He scrubbed at his cheek with the palm of his hand. <span style="color: #0000FF">"Ew!"</span> He voiced in displeasure.<br/><br/>He pouted slightly put off, but listened to the voice of his friend with interest. Peering at her from underneath his blond bangs. So she had been better for awhile. He furrowed his brow as he thought badly of her physician. Even though part of him understood the benefit of the man keeping her inside, for the sake of others, he was still upset. Resentful of the fact that he had kept Catherine inside away from him. David stared at the small girl in front of him taking in her appearance. She did not look all that different. Almost as if she had never been sickly.<br/><br/>David was pulled from his thoughts as he realized Catherine was walking away. His eyes widened and he skipped a few steps to catch up to her. Landing at her side, he slowed his pace to match her leisurely one. <span style="color: #0000FF">"I have been well."</span> He told her. He ravaged his brain for a reason to tell her. Why had he not been outside? Easy. He did not want to play with anyone else. If Catherine was not out, he would rather play alone. That was not strange. The other neighborhood children were all slightly older than the two of them. Bigger. Though that was not saying too much. David was considered small for his age. Even Catherine was a bit larger than him. <br/><br/>If he were completely honest, he was slightly-- just slightly --scared. Now, that was not to say that what he told his mother earlier was a complete falsehood. As if to make up for his meager size, David was exceptionally smart. He often thought of others as stupid. It ran thick in his family's blood he supposed. <span style="color: #0000FF">"I was busy."</span> He settled on telling her. <span style="color: #0000FF">"Lessons."</span> He stated.<br/><br/>At Catherine's invitation, David could not help the smile that lit up his features. <span style="color: #0000FF">"Yes!"</span> He exclaimed.<span style="color: #0000FF"> "Beat you there!" </span>He challenged before taking off in a sprint. Weaving his way skillfully throught the crowds of people in the market place towards the shoreline.</span>