Forgotten

Chapter 21

             WHEN I WAKE UP, ROWAN IS LYING ON THE far side of the clearing, seeming to have put as much distance as possible between himself and the spot where I slept next to Hayley. Feeling a twinge of disappointment that I can't possibly explain, I push myself up into a sitting position and watch his sleeping form. His chest rises and falls softly in a regular, even pattern, and I can hear his breaths over the stillness of the forest. He looks young, almost vulnerable, with his eyes closed and his face relaxed.

            Shaking my head to clear it of these thoughts, I ease myself to my feet, careful not to disturb Hayley, and get a good look around this place that has now been lit up by the morning sunlight. I'm still wearing Rowan's coat, which is much too big—the sleeves are long enough to cover my hands, so I roll them back a few times. Nevertheless, it's warm and comfortable, and I hug it closer to me as I edge farther into the woods.

            The forest is beautiful in the early morning light. Only the slightest breath of wind stirs the trees, and the smell of pinecones is strong in the air. I inhale deeply, drinking in the scent of evergreen and freshly formed dew. My boots crunch on a combination of fallen leaves and twigs on the floor, but it is the only audible sound in the forest. It gives me a strange, eerie feeling—like I'm the first living thing to set foot here in a hundred years.

            I find myself wandering farther and farther from our campsite, lost in the endless sea of tall, breathtaking trees. I want to explore every inch of it—catch every butterfly, chase every squirrel, uncover every secret these woods hold. I'm so lost in the mystery and beauty of it all that I don't notice I have company until his voice sounds in my ear.

            "Enjoying yourself, princess?"

            I jump, whirling around to face Rowan, whose face cracks into a smile. "Don't do that!" I say sharply, though my rebuke is only half angry. "You really need to stop sneaking up on me."

            He shrugs. "You're easy to sneak up on. Too caught up in the loveliness of the forest, I suppose."

            I frown at him. "Did you leave Hayley by herself?"

          "She'll be fine on her own for a minute or two," he says quietly, taking a step closer to me. "Besides, I think we could use a moment alone."

            "I don't even know what 'we' are yet," I say, frowning.

            He pauses. "I'm sorry if I startled you last night." Rowan's eyes are narrowed in concern, as if he's afraid that he's offended me.

            "No, it's not like that." I bite my lip, cursing my own speechlessness. "It was...amazing. New, but amazing."

            He smiles. "I'm glad to hear it."

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            My cheeks are still flushed as Rowan and I head back to the campsite, the corners of my mouth still twisted into a small smile. I feel very aware of the space between us—how our arms brush when we squeeze through a gap between two trees, how his gaze flicks to me every few seconds, then back towards the ground. I do the same, as if making sure he's still real, tangible, walking beside me, his boots thudding on the forest floor in sync with mine.

            Hayley is asleep in the clearing, looking as peaceful and perfect as ever. My mind suddenly starts whirling as I wonder how I'm ever going to explain this to her. Me and Rowan. If that's even a thing that exists.

            But there's no way I'm going to get myself into that now. I wake her gently, prodding her shoulder, and whisper, "Morning, sunshine."