Elena awoke the next morning to find herself cuddled into Damian's chest. Oddly enough, it felt comforting.
'Stop it Elena,' she mentally scolded herself, 'This is just what your teachers told you would happen. They lure you in before they kill you.'
She crawled out of bed and began to pull on her clothes from the night before.
"You can borrow some of the girls' clothes the scavengers found if you like," a raspy voice sounded behind her, making her insides melt. She mentally scolded herself again, she couldn't fall for this guy.
"I'll be back in a few minutes with some clothes that are a bit more suitable for you," he said, rolling out of bed. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a coat before heading out the door.
Moments later, Elena heard the door open and shut, and Damian entered the bedroom with an armful of clothes. He dropped them on the bed and Elena began leafing through them, settling on a pair of faded skinny jeans and a yellow loose knit sweater. She slipped them on. The jeans were a little too long, but it was the best she could do, given the circumstances. She walked out of the room and down the hallway to the kitchen, where two plates of waffles sat on the table.
Damian appeared in the doorway, two carry-on bags in hand.
"You can put the clothes I brought in here, along with anything else you might need. We should be on the road for a few days before we get to the Palace," he said.
He sat down next to her and they started on the mound of waffles and fruit. They placed their plates on the counter before heading back to the bedroom to pack. Elena grabbed her carry-on and began stuffing it with clothes and toiletries, as Damian did the same. She zipped up her bag, swinging it over her shoulder after cramming in the toothbrush Damian had lent her, as hers was still in her Camp.
"So, Elena, tell me about yourself," he started, striking up conversation.
"Well, I'm sixteen years old, I like to draw and do origami, and until yesterday, I had never left my Camp," she said. The other girls had gone on small excursions to forests and things, but none of those things interested Elena, she had always craved a bigger adventure, on the where she could really experience life outside of a Camp. An adventure just like this one.
"Your turn," she said.
"Okay, I'm sixteen as well, seventeen next month, I don't really have time for interests, and I am one of fifty boys known on this earth."
They placed their plates on the counter before heading back to the bedroom to pack. Elena grabbed her carry-on and began stuffing it with clothes and toiletries, as Damian did the same. She zipped up her bag, swinging it over her shoulder after cramming in the toothbrush Damian had lent her, as hers was still in her Camp.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
She nodded, following him outside. In the centre of the clearing sat a rather large vehicle, like the ones the teachers would use to get back to their own buildings when the weather got colder and they couldn't walk back. She recalled her history teacher telling them these things, buses, that were used years before.
"We're going to ride that?" she asked, gawking at the sight.
Damian nodded, "Some of the boys found it in the forest and fixed it up for us to use. Once we get closer to the Palace, we'll switch to a large carriage, so we won't be as suspicious."
They wandered over to the bus doors. The remnants of a once yellow coat of paint flaked off in the wind, leaving only a couple of patches on the cold grey metal.
"Hey, Damian," a voice called from underneath the bus. The boy rolled out on a small platform, grease dried on his face and matted in his hair.
"Levi! Long time no see," Damian exclaimed, "Putting on the finishing touches?"
"You bet, can't afford to have the bus break down along the way, so I'll be coming with you. Who's the lovely lady?" he asked. Elena felt Damian's grip on her wrist tighten. She blushed, Damian couldn't possibly be jealous of the other boy, he looked to be a good three years younger. If she were to date someone, they had to be somewhere near her age.
"She's Elena," he said, "My girlfriend."
She opened her mouth to protest, but Damian yanked her into the empty bus before she could.
"Sorry, I just couldn't let him try anything on you. He has quite the reputation of breaking girls' hearts. He is the image of what your teachers have been telling you," he explained. She wanted to believe him, but something told her that wasn't the reason.
They placed their carry-ons in the back seat, sitting down on the one in front of it. Damian put an arm around Elena's shoulder as boys trickled in, giving a cold glare to Levi as he climbed the stairs. He rubbed circles on her shoulder, butterflies fluttering through her stomach at his touch. It was so different from the way her teachers had described it, enjoyable rather than a sense of fear. They had always made it sound like men controlled you, but Damian was proving her wrong.
She scooched closer to Damian and he gave her a confused look, figuring she hadn't wanted to be anything more than mere acquaintances. He wasn't complaining, she was gorgeous, it was just unexpected. The bus started, Tyson at the wheel, and Elena leaned her head on Damian's shoulder, drifting off to sleep.
Hey guys, hope you liked it!
What do you guys think? Is Elena going to fall for him?
Please comment! I love hearing what my readers have to say!
Also, be sure to check out my other books, it would be much appreciated!
#JustWriteIt at a total of 4052 words!
-Kat
