In the End ~ Wednesday x Xavier ~ SLOW-BURN

Chapter 53

"I found you without looking, and love you without trying."

~~~

"How are you feeling after last night?" Xavier asked, squeezing through the multicolored window as he grinned at the girl.

She turned abruptly to him, her bow in hand as she gave him a small grimace.

"I'm more pleased than a tornado in a trailer park, it was quite remarkable how well I slept."

He chuckled, squatting down beside her before looking up at her, his eyes trailing down her cello as his hand reached out to touch it. She watched as his hand gently ran down the instrument, his eyes taking it in up close. It was amusing, had the boy forgotten so quickly what the instrument had looked like? He had seen it, carried it, and even painted the instrument countless times, yet he admired it like it was his first time. But she had done the same thing with different poisons, examining the same toxic ones with the same curious gaze, so perhaps it had the same effect on him. 

"Hey, the games are starting in two days, are you excited? They are doing it by halls again, meaning we'll be going against each other once again," he stated smugly, standing up as he crossed his arms.

"What do these games consist of?" She asked him, straightening as she peered up at him.

"You'll be pleased to hear there is an archery segment, but it's more of a series like the Poe Cup. We'll have to hike through the woods on a selected path, then find where the archery is set up, each team is designated a color so they don't get mixed up. Then, you'll have to hike past there, and there's a climbing event. Once you reach the top, you'll grab a small flag, climb back down and take it through the finish line. It's more endurance, and a harder course this time around. People play even dirtier, setting up traps for people to fall into. It's fun," he grinned widely.

"Another game that I'm assuming Bianca has dominated in?" She inquired, and he shook his head.

"Actually, this one tends to be a bit of a freebie, but the Fangs or Furs are known to typically dominate. But that won't be the case this time," he declared, cracking his fingers as he looked out into the cloudy sky.

"This time, we'll be taking the trophy."

She rolled her eyes, giving him a look before she stood up, turning to face him as she mocked his stance, crossing her arms before she looked up at him with a smug smirk.

"I think you are gravely mistaken, Thorpe. This will the Ophelia Hall's year, and I plan on ensuring we win. I don't like to lose," she glared up at him, an evil glint in her eye as he scoffed playfully.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that. But when we cross the finish line before you, I'll ensure you are the first to see it."

The raven frowned up at him, a thoughtful look on her face before she met his gaze intensely.

"Continue playing these games, and you may find yourself mysteriously veering off the path. Did I mention I'm not afraid to play dirty?" She cocked her eyebrow, giving him an eerie grin before continuing. He opened his mouth, but she quickly held her finger up.

"Oh wait, you know about that. It seems you have already experienced it, hopefully, you learned your lesson from the Poe Cup."

He bent down, coming face to face with her as he tested her, her eyes not fazing as she continued to glare at the boy, an entertained look in her eyes.

"That was just beginner's luck. Now, this is where the fun begins."

She waltzed back to her cello, leaving him there as he watched her, straightening as he watched her attempt to move it back through the window. He quickly intervened, opening the entrance and going through it before holding his hand out, and she handed him the heavy instrument. She quickly turned back and grabbed her chair and bow, easily making her way back in as he set her 'oversized violin' back into its case. Silent appreciation filled her, feeling the urge to thank him for caring for her instrument. But she resisted, letting the thought fade into the nothingness of her mind.