Different Worlds

TWO - SQUIRREL

Sophie's POV

The cold morning sun tickled my closed eyelids. I grabbed the soft blanket and pulled it higher so it was covering my face now. My bed was extremely comfortable today and I didn't feel like getting up early. Nothing interesting awaited me today anyway. I lost my job a few days ago since the shop owner didn't give me time off so I could go look for Alec.

"Alec!" The reality hit me like a train as I quickly sat on the bed and looked around. I wasn't in my bed at all, no wonder it was much more comfortable than I was used to. My eyes darted towards the window in panic. Sebastian said he wanted to head out by dawn. He definitely left me here and didn't bother waking me up at all.

I jumped out of the bed, put on my clothes and sprinted out of the room. The lounge area was empty. Of course. I peeked into the kitchen and saw a cup of still steaming tea and some pastry on the plate. He can't be far since the tea was still hot. I could go in his footsteps and catch up with him. I couldn't believe he left me here. If the oaf thought he could silence me with some stupid breakfast he is very wrong.

I down the tea in record time, burning my lips and my tongue in the process and stuffed my cheeks with the pastry. When I ran out of the house I looked like a chipmunk. The cold breeze instantly hit me since I didn't even have time to button up my cloak. But to my big surprise I almost knocked down Sebastian who was still standing in front of the house. He put both of his hands to my shoulders to prevent my fall.

"Good morning, squirrel," he poked one of my stuffed cheeks and chuckled.

I wanted to protest but I could only mumble angrily. I quickly chewed the remaining pastry and let out an annoyed huff. "I thought you left me here."

"I am not letting you run around like crazy in some faint attempt on a rescue mission. Alex would kill me if something bad happened to you," he smirked at me and flicked my chin. "Crumb."

I looked away in embarrassment and wiped my face with my sleeve just in case any other lost crumb got stuck on my face.

"I am more than capable of taking care of myself. I have been doing it for the majority of my life."

"Maybe, but this is a different world. This is my world and you know nothing about it. It's not safe, especially for someone like you."

"What do you mean by your world? Are you from another planet or something? And wait! For someone like me? Is it because I am a girl? You know nothing about me and what I am capable of. Alec is the only family I have. I will not stop until I know for certain that he is safe and okay." I poked his chest angrily with every word. But he still kept his arrogant smirk.

"Fine, calm down, squirrel. This has nothing to do with the fact that you are a girl."

I immediately noticed how he avoided some of my questions. Okay Mr. mysterious and dark, I know you are hiding something from me.

"Can we go already?" I decided to leave the topic. I could imagine the two of us were able to argue for hours.

"You want to travel like this?"

I looked down at my outfit. It wasn't exactly appropriate for traveling in the winter, especially not outside of the stone paths of the city, but it was the warmest and most comfortable clothes I owned. Not that I had the time or money to purchase something more suitable. The tights I was wearing were definitely way too thin for this weather and the boots weren't waterproof at all. There was no snow yet but the grey fluffy clouds on the west didn't look good.

"Don't worry about it," I waved my hand, trying to lighten the problem.

"I guess we will have to stop in some clothing store first." He completely ignored me and started walking away to some, at least for me, random direction. My sense of direction wasn't that bad but I didn't remember going this way yesterday.