Beasts

33: Elle Knows All

Early in the morning, I woke up with my head in Phoenix's lap. I drew in a breath and blew out. "You awake?" He said quietly. I reached my hand out and grabbed his shoelace. I slowly played with it before yanking it and undoing his lace. "Really? How am I supposed to tie it?" I held back my laugh and sat up.

"I'll do it." I pushed back my messy hair and started tying his shoe.

"What kinda knot is that?" Phoenix asked and turned his foot at different angles.

"A June knot. Guaranteed to not undo. Mine haven't in months." I said proudly and pulled at the knot of my shoe. It untied like it was nothing and flopped to the sides of my shoe. I was speechless.

"Guaranteed, eh?" Phoenix laughed and flicked at it with his finger.

"Well... Shut up, I gave you soup." I pouted and started retying it.

"Cold soup that is."

"It was freezing outside. What do you expect? Plus, you could of just heated it up!"

"Oh yah... I was tired though. I forgot."

"Wha-!? You don't 'forget' that you are a walking fire."

"Hey, you know me enough to know that I am a terrible person." He pointed at me with his bounded hands.

"You are not terrible." I said and lowered his hands. "I have to go now. See you later." I grabbed the empty soup bowl and stood up.

"You're leaving me...?" Phoenix looked up at me with big puppy dog eyes.

"As mush as I would love to stay with all of you... I have to do some planning for the...yah..." His eyes dimmed at that. "I'll ask Danny if he can free you."

"Not gonna happen. That guy hates me."

"No he doesn't." I reassured.

"Yes, he does. But if he's important to you, then I don't care." He tilted his head slightly and smiled.

"Thanks. Tell the others I say hi." I say and turn to leave.

"I'll count the seconds until your return!" He called out. Then I heard him go, "One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi." I turned back and raised an eyebrow. He shrugged as he counted. I shook my head and left.

"Hey June," Danny said when I came back to the cave from putting the bowl in the kitchen. "Where'd you go?"

"Oh," Quick brain! Think of something! "I went out for a walk." I answered.

"In your pajamas...?" He chuckled. God damn it brain. You suck.

"Um... Yes...?" I raised my arms up in question.

"I knew you liked nature but I didn't know you liked it that much." He said with his hands on his hips. I looked around at all the Wolves getting ready around me. "Anxious?" Danny asked and I turned back to him. "It's okay. They won't kill you or anything."

"Really? Then why did they try back in my tribe? Hm?" I challenged. I still didn't trust Danny. He was the enemy here. If I'm correct, enemies are supposed to be bad. Not good.

"Sorry if it scared you, but it was part of the plan to get you here."

"What else is part of this plan of yours?" I said and tapped my foot on the ground. Danny knows that I am not convinced that easily. He once said that he was going to his cousin's but I wouldn't buy it. In the end, he had to send me a picture of him and his cousin with that day's newspaper.

"You know, the marriage." He said knowing where this was going.

"What else?" I asked and linked my hands behind my back. He looked me for a second before sighing.