THEY WERE being awkward. Not the “I'm awkward all the time” awkward, but the “I know something you don’t” kind of awkward. When Bert left, I tried to call him back. He had turned around, but I don’t think I said it loud enough for him to hear. It was still quite early; only four-thirty. I had stayed up almost all night with Peter, and we left each other during the wee hours of the day to get at least some sleep. I was overjoyed when we got Peter signed up, he was placed in the room next to Bert’s. Now, they can learn to get along. I thought. Things have been going rather swimmingly, after all, they did have a friendly argument about a topic of which I have no idea. That raised some suspicions, but I went along with it. I stood in the hallway between the servant’s rooms and the wall leading to the outside, in Peter’s arms, staring into his deep blue eyes. It was very drafty and cold in the early spring weather. Cobwebs lined the corners, and the floor was dusty with mud dragged in by servants with muddy shoes. It made me wonder, who cleaned the servant’s level? “Are we going or not?” I asked, breaking the silence that was stretching to be much too long for my liking. “It’s too early.” “Ugh,” “I know,” Peter said sympathetically. “I feel the same way.” “What do you want to do until then?” I thought for a moment, ignoring the way Peter was inching me closer. “Let’s go to your room,” He smiled and tangled his fingers in my hair, stroking my cheek with his thumb. I practically melted. I wondered if he knew how I turned to total mush when he did that. “Why not yours?” I shook my head, at a loss for words. Peter’s grin turned brighter and reached up to grab my sleeve so he could pull me to his room. A few steps in, I loosened his clutch and tangled my fingers in his, letting my feet mindlessly follow him. He snorted and went faster. He closed the door behind us. Still clasping my hand, he sat on the cot and pulled me onto his lap. I couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across my face, even so, I slid off, and set myself down next to him, leaning my head on his shoulder. I shut my eyes. “What’s up?” He asked me after a few moments, waking me up from that dazed state where you are halfway between awake and sleeping. “Oh, nothing,” He raised his eyebrows at me. “Just tired,” “Are you sure?” I rolled my eyes. “We stayed up really late last night, and woke up really early this morning.” His grin turned broader. “Do you want to go back to sleep?” “In my own room, yes,” I said, slightly uncomfortable. “I’ll walk you there,” he said, standing up. I almost fell over, not having anything to lean on, and nodded. He stood up, grabbed something off a small table in the corner, stuffed it in his pocket, and took my hand. I wrapped both my arms around him and let him direct me, one arm around my waist. I closed my eyes and breathed him in. The familiar smell of bread filled my nostrils, making my stomach grumble loudly. Peter’s face slowly broke into a smile. “Hungry?” I nodded. “I have something here,” he patted the same pocket he stuffed the mysterious item in. “I’ll give it to you once we get to your room.” “Mmm,” I answered. He pulled me closer and continued striding down the hall. We got to my room, and I slowly, but surely, unlocked and opened the door, and leaned back on Peter’s shoulder. He gently pushed me off and led me to my cot. He picked me up momentarily and set me down. I lay back on the thin pillow, which Peter had attempted to plump moments before.
Read ^ first! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- My stomach grumbled again. “Give me a second,” he turned around and pulled whatever it was out of his pocket and into a glass. “Sorry it’s not food, but it’ll be pretty much the same.” I felt a cup press against my lips. “Sit up,” Peter ordered. I attempted to do so but flopped back into bed from exhaustion. He slid his hand behind my back and gently tilted me up. I drank the cool water gratefully. I was instantly flooded with numbness. I could barely feel my toes, and my hands felt like noodles. Through hazy senses, I felt Peter hold my face gently, placing kisses on my eyelids. I smiled weakly. He scooted closer to me, whispering (though I could barely hear him) that he would stay there the rest of the day if I wanted him to. I slowly nodded, and he closed any distance there once was. I shut my eyes and allowed myself to go limp in his warmth. I dangled my arms around his neck and kissed him back the best I could in the state I was in. All morning, I slept on, Peter right next to me. The numb feeling didn’t go away until several hours later when I was not tired anymore. I sat up the moment I woke up. “Sleeping Beauty awakes,” Peter said. He was sitting in my small wooden chair, grinning like mad. I rolled my eyes. Not another fairytale comparison! “How are you feeling?” Why was he asking how I felt? I sighed and answered him. “I’m fine,” He gave me a knowing look. “If you say so,” A smile spread over my face. Peter smiled back, coming to sit on the cot next to me, leaving only a few inches in-between us. I was content in his arms, and fit my face into the crook of his neck. He pulled me closer. “Are we going?” He mumbled into my hair. I nodded, then thought for a second, and shook my head. He leaned back to look at me, his eyes full of confusion. I grinned and pecked him on the lips. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay, you guys. Are there any theories? Please tell me, I'd love to know! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sooooo... chapter 14 is done. I've been thinking about my draft II a lot lately, so I wasn't really quite that focused when I wrote this chapter, so it's sorta crappy. Just glad chapter 13's over... I wish I could tell you more, but I have to get to class, and I want you to read this new chapter!
