FEARLESS (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 6

Jem parried my attacks. In return, he swooshed his sword towards my neck, nearly striking me. I knew my opponent was fast with reflexes. Jem was really good, even the he always won in every tournement we had, just like me. Perhaps a little better than me? or aybe not. I remeber last time I had won - so, keeping that in mind, I thought of a strategy.

I needed to tire him out first before he could land the final strike. I let out a war cry and charged towards Jem again, ferocious like an lion hunger for his lunch.

During the first blows, I concentrated on my defense and let my muscles settle into the rhythm of swordplay. Jem's weapon slipped past my defenses and slashed toward my throat. I dodged, and laughed as I am was having a marvelous time.

It's fun to swordfight with Jem. Since, I am quick learner and his a good opponet.

Jem praised loudly with a smile playing on his lips, "A wonderful strategy Zarina." and slashed backhanded in a return blow,

"Why, thank you." I smiled in return, Jem thrust his blade vertically and caught it before it cut him in half. Our weapons caught each other high in the air, and we stood face to face fighting.

"Oh, look there." Jem said turnin his head while concentrating on his defences.

"Hah. Very funny, you're trick to distract me isn't gonna work this time."

"No, look! What's you're Mom doing here?" wait, did I hear correctly! My mom here? But I told her I was going sword fighting with Jem. If I didn't she'd be mad with me. Was something wrong?

I turned to see if my Mom was here. Wait, noone was there.

"Hey! You did it agi-"

I was thrown across the floor, a groan escaped my lips and Jem was atop of me by trying to defeat me. Our faces mer inches for each other, his eyes making me drawn to close to him. His hair falling dowm.

Our lips inches apart and our breath mingling and I could hear his heart pounds. My cheeks were flushed to the color of scarlet and I nervously smiled and bit my lip. I looked away nervously, but I couldn't hid the red glow that came over my face.

His hand turned my head towards him, he lifted my chin. His lips as soft as pillow. I wanted to trace my fingers along the sweet outline where his skin met mouth, I was longing for them and I thought his eyes were shadowed underneath, from thinking about me.

I wanted to reach up and touch that skin under his eyes, the one place I've seen any vulnerability in him, make him feel better. And then I could run my fingers there, across his cheekbones, down to his lips, to the place where his jaw meets his neck, where his neck meets his shoulder line.

I like the places where one part meets another, I think, eyes to cheek, wrist to hands. I was somewhat shocked at my own thoughts.

My heart beating at the though of me kissing him or him kissing me. How would it feel? But we are friends, aren't we? he even said that himself. His lips coming towards my own.

I heard a cough, "Erm, sorry to imtrupte you guy but..."

Damn it! We quickly scrambled up and found Maley - Malisia - my friend standing right across us. I was so embarrsed that heat was creeping up on my neck to my cheeks.

"We were just, erm, you kno- know, just practising." Jem shutterd with his hand scraching his neck.

"Yeah, I can totally see that!-'' she giggled and flashed me her innocent smile - like she was guilty for interupting us,

"Anyways, Zarina, did you forgot? You told me to pick you right up? I'm guessing you guys are done practising, right? Since you guys were bus-" Really? Doesn't she know that I'm embarrsed already? That she keeps on bringing up what happend before. Even though it didn't really happen.