𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 (𝟏)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟏

The harsh, powerful wind blows my braided hair off my shoulders, rippling a cooled chill to travel down my spine And sending a goosebump trail up my revealed arms in an instant. If I wasn't so annoyed by the waterfilled object in front of me, I would rub them off.

But I physically cannot. If I move I'll tip the water out of this godforsaken wooden tub. Or punch the unhelpful man sitting against the tree he always does, sketching in that stupid little book.

I didn't mean it when I called his book stupid. It was the complete opposite of stupid, it had pages of hard-work and precise lines of art. It carried a thousand of little things from Rowans mind that he had brought to life with simple led. I was jealous at how good he was at everything.

If people could read your mind, They would be concerned for you. And you'd be done for, Isadora.

The voice in my head suddenly thinks it's a comedian.

I grunt in pure frustration, It's either that—or I rip my hair out of my scalp.

"What now?" The stupid boy groans in annoyance.

I don't respond, If I do I might hurt him. This stupid boy, not only annoys me by his presence because of his unhelpfulness; But also because of the fact he let me win. The old Isadora would've appreciated his kind gesture.

But not this Isadora, This Isadora is pissed the fuck off, over the fact he felt the need to let me win. Not only does it tell me he doesn't believe in me whatsoever, but it also raises the standards for me with other people.

I am weak! And now people think the opposite.  People are going to believe I am better than Rowan—the best fighter here. And I am no where near that, I can barely control my temper in a fight.

"Isadora?" His stupidly deep voice echo's through my ears, ricochets through my brain--until it finally hits me with a flush of heat. I keep quiet, glaring at the water in front of me.

I see his head cock to the side from my peripheral view. "Izzy?" He drags the nickname out. And I hate the way my cheeks become aflame by it.

I turn my head away to hopefully hide my embarrassment.
"You can't ignore me forever." He drawls. I can ignore stupid men however long I want. Forever even.

Then I feel a sharp pain sting my shoulder, It makes me dart in his direction—He threw a pebble at me.

I narrow my eyes to a glare, annoyance swelling in my chest. The corner of his mouth quirks upward to a prideful smirk. "Ah, She finally looks at me." He says. Acting as if he didn't just throw a rock at me.

"She is gonna kill you in a second." I warn, huffing and folding my arms across my chest in annoyance.

He smiles. No matter how annoyed it makes me feel, I can't ignore the tingles it creates deep in the pits of my stomach, Or the burning heat that settles itself at the back of my neck and apple of my cheeks when I spot the dimple highlighting his cheek.