Until We Bleed

{Two//3}

A fortnight has past.

There have been a constant thoughts rushing through my head since I met her. Every part of her, I can remember like the halls of this home, I can remember the sound of her voice, the pinkness of her cheeks and lips, her grin, her frown. And most of all, her laugh.
At dusk, after supper, I sit and watch the sun go down over the hills of our land, picturing her in all her glory. Her dancing, her heavy breathing, the way she looks at me, the feeling I get when I think of her.

Suddenly, those thoughts are interrupted by the smooth voice of Jake.

"You doing alright out here?" He asks, walking to me--matching my position so we both stand, leaning against the porch railing. The bright sun hits Jake's face, making him squint.

"Yeah, i'm doing fine."

"You know, I saw you with that girl last week."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, you seemed...happy." Jake smirks at me, "You kiss her?"

"No! Of course not, that would be scandalous," I scoff at him.

Jake rolls his eyes, "Well I had to ask, considering you two had unchaperoned time together."

"Do you and Jita have unchaperoned time?"

"Rarely, but when we do...we kiss." Jake chuckles, "Like anyone would."

"Well, she's spoken for anyway, so I wouldn't be able to kiss her even if I wanted." I look down at a squirrel scampering up a base of a tree.

"You like a married woman?"

"She isn't married yet."

Jake laughs, "like theres much of a difference. She's going to be married sooner than later."

"I don't know. She says he's at war right now, so maybe he won't come home?" I shrug. Jake looks at me with shock.

"Are you wishing death upon this man?"

"Great heavens, no! I just-I just think that I would be a better match for her. That's all." I look away, not sure how to continue the conversation.

"You think she's the one?"

"How would I know? I just met her."

"Josh, when you find her, you get a weird feeling in your head and stomach." i cut Jake off.

"Like you've met her before?"

"Not necessarily, but you obviously felt something, so just go for it. Fuck that guy who isn't here for her, and take the woman you deserve." Jake pats me on the back, "I won't tell mother and father if you leave."

"Leave?" I look back at him as he slowly walks backwards into the house.

"To get the girl?" He says like it's obvious...it was.

At nightfall, after everyone was settled into bed I change back into my clothes form that day and carefully make my way downstairs and out into the barn to rally up one of the horses. The wooden gate squeaks as I squeeze my body into it like my parents could see me--they were a block away in the house, fast asleep. I saddle up on the horse i've had since I was ten, her name was Annabeth--Anns for short. Anns hesitates to follow me out the barn.

"Hurry Anns,  Come on!" I tug at her reins. She stomps out with a huff, shaking out her brown mane. I jump onto her back, and tapping my heel into her side to signal her to run. Her strong, muscular legs lung forward. My hands grip onto the reins as her hooves pound into the ground--running on the dirt roads that weave between trees and fields.