Lost at sea

Chapter 18

"I'm sorry what!?" I rush after him as he B lines straight to the doors. He shrugs, a little smirk on his stupid face. "Oh saints that's so embarrassing" I think as I face palm. Once I finally catch up to him we had already made it outside.

"What exactly did I say" I ask in a flurry. He abruptly stops and turns causing me to bump into his chest. He holds me steady, his hands holding either of my arms. I look up at him, his face glowed in the setting sun. His hair fell perfectly in his face. Saints, I could just kiss him.

"Stop worrying. I love how you say my name."

He immediately turns around and continues walking, leaving me standing there in shock. I felt my cheeks warm. I bite the inside of my lip as I smile. "Oh stop fawning over me and walk with me instead," Nikolai yells from the end of the corridor. "Shut up, I wouldn't ever 'fawn' over you" I roll my eyes as I catch up with him. "Liar, you know you love me" he whispers. I shove him lightly as I chuckle. "Haha so funny, the pretty boy has a sense of humor." He smiles as we continue to walk.

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I let out an overdue yawn as I stretch out in my seat. "You good?" Zoya questions me. "Yeah i just didnt get enough sleep" I rub my eyes until my eyes blurred out. "Why? Working again?" Paja gives me a disapproving look. "No, I was up thinking about something" I say as I eat a spoonful of todays breakfast. "Well you better not fall asleep on us today" Zoya says rudely. "Yeah yeah whatever Z. Imma head out" I mumble, wiping the leftover food off my check. Once I finish I quickly stand up to leave for the training area.

Once I get out there I grab a sword to practice my swordsmanship. I practice a couple drills on my own, fighting with the wooden stand. "Your form is shit" I hear someone critique. "As if you can ta-" I turn and see the Darkling. I bow so steep my forehead was practically greeting the floor. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't-" He interrupts me yet again and dismisses my concerns.

"What brings you out here sir?" I put my sword in my waist sheath as I talk to him. "I just wanted to see how everyone is doing today" he says as he looks around. I laugh, "so in other words you're bored?" He nods his head as we walk off. I stay a few feet near him with my hands behind my back. I stay quiet as he rambles on about his week and his duties to the king.

We soon stop by the sparring grounds. Alina and Mal were talking on the side together. Mals smile looked so genuine around her, it was so sweet. As much as I hated to admit it, it really seemed like the world revolved around the two of them.

The Darkling calls over Alina and she happily follows. As they speak I wave over to Mal. He makes a stupid face, mocking the Darkling. I stifle a laugh to avoid pissing of Kirigan. Mal laughs as well but unlike me he drew attention to himself. Kiri rolled his eyes at him in disapproval, but it just made me laugh more.

As Kiri and Alina walk ahead together I nod my head over to Mal to come join me. He gladly follows as I link arms with him. I smile as we walk behind Alina and the Darkling.

"How's it going, baldy" I say joyfully. He elbows me in my ribs and I furrow my brow in pain. "Ow!" I exclaim. "Saints relax it wasn't even that sore" he chuckles. "I'm doing good though" he finally responds. "Although your friend Zoya keeps hitting on me and it's weirding me out" he rubs the back of his head as he talks. I shudder, "Ew I did not need to know that." He rolls his eyes as if he was telling me "to bad".

We stop to let Alina and Kiri to go on ahead without us. We stop by some old tree, I climb up to sit on the branch while Mal leans against the trunk."So enough about me, how's your love life?" I scoff as I lay flat down. "Don't even get me started." He looks up at me with a raised brow, "well now I'm interested."

I start talking while waving my hands around as if it was helping me tell the story. "-you know? I guess it's just confusing for me" I say with a sigh. "Jeez I was just trying to make conversation, not hear your whole life story" Mal says sarcastically. "Oh shut up you asked, now you're gonna help me."

As we talk I see Nikolai in the corner of my eye walking with Tamar and Tolya. Mal follows my eye. "Ahh I see" he laughs. "It's not the situation that's confusing, it's him." He points rudely. I sit up straight "As if!" He doesn't respond, he just smiles and shakes his head. And to be honest that was respond enough. I continue to watch Nikolai. "It's not confusing, he's just a friend."

891 words!!!