The Knights and the Princess

Chapter 12

I just about had a panic attack when I woke up one time and he wasn't in the room. Turned out he was just looking for food, but I think I gave him a heart attack when I broke down into tears. I felt so weak and pathetic, but more relieved than I ever had been before in my life. A few more days had passed after that, marking my stay of a little over half a month, and I was half-awake, trying to stay awake but at the same time trying to sleep. I was scared of having another nightmare, but at the same time I was really tired.

I had relaxed at the sound of bells, but opened my eyes tiredly when a hand lightly pat my cheek. I rolled onto my back, staring up at Blue who was kneeling over my form on the ground. I gave a look of confusion, knitting my eyebrows together. "Blue...?" I yawned loudly, raising a hand over my mouth, and asked, "What's up?"

"You... need to change clothes..."

I blinked at him groggily, brain slowly trying to process everything he was saying. "Hah...?" I yawned as I said that, causing it to be dragged out. "What's wrong with my clothes?" He stared at me from behind the mask and I finally took the time to look down at myself and what I was wearing. "Oh..." Bloodstained, torn and ripped, and just dirty and gross in general. Before you ask, yes I had been taking baths-no, I never changed clothes. I didn't have clothes to change into. Heck, I was only able to "brush" my teeth since Blue didn't seem to mind or care that much about sharing the rough cloth, and I only got clean because he shared what little soap he had.

He just gets nicer and nicer and I'm just being a jerk as I have no way to repay him. I just feel plain awful.

"I don't have any clothes to change into though..." Heck, I don't even think Blue himself has clothes to change into unless he steals the ones from his attackers. (Would say victims, but that sounds cruel) I watched him suddenly turn around and start to walk away. My eyes widened and I fumbled stand, "H-Hey! Blue!" I wobbled, going a little dizzy from how fast I got up, before chasing after him, "Wait up! Blue!" Where was he going? Am I supposed to follow him? I had no idea, but I quickened my pace and reached a hand out, ready to grab onto his sleeve.

He slowed down and grabbed my hand, letting me walk and match his pace. Blue had really long legs, being as tall as he was, so I had to struggle to keep up with him.

In case nobody caught on yet, I'm pretty darn short.

I blame my mom's side of the family. She was 5'2, my sister Tiana being 5'5. Melissa was around 5'8 and my brother was around Blue's height, maybe an inch shorter and standing at 5'10. My dad was around the same height, I think, and my step-mom was 5'. I was taller than my step-mom, but shorter than everyone else, which left me at the painful knowledge that I was in fact only 5'1 and cursed with the height of Haruhi Fujioka. Being short had its advantages, I'll admit, but I was often the brunt of bad jokes and if it wasn't for the fact that I took after my grandma in body shape I'd be mistaken as a twelve-year-old for more than just my face. Heck, it wasn't even until I got my hair cut that people finally started to realize-hey, she's sixteen! Wow.

It sucked. Especially since all my guys friends are tall-A.K.A Andrew and Chris, and now Blue.

My fingers wrapped around his instinctively instead of pulling away, showing just how much I trusted him despite the short-ish time I've known him. Not surprisingly his hand was much bigger than mine, his palm big and fingers long and slender. My hand was small, with short, skinny fingers. I think he had-oh, what was it? Water hands? I think I had either earth or fire hands.

Either way, his hand was compellingly warm. It made me feel safe.

It was odd, especially since I never really hold hands with people. The last time I held someone's hand was at the lock-in (a lot of things happened that day) and I ended up having a panic attack after being unable to breathe properly for quite some time. A couple of our bandmates thought it would be funny to shoot nerf guns at me, Chris, and Eliza, and I ended up running for my life as I was scared of getting hurt. I ended up slicing my wrist on a table Chris had knocked over for us to use a shield and after running for only a few minutes my lungs and legs felt like they were on fire-like they were about to collapse. I couldn't even feel my legs anymore after a bit more of that and I literally wasn't breathing, but somehow I was still moving.

I remember falling and getting back up, only to be knocked right back onto the floor as I slammed into Chris. I wasn't able to get up again after that and the couple had to lug me back to the stairs. We rested for about an hour before we were attacked again. I wasn't able to stop myself from breaking down into tears, panicking as my breathing got labored. It felt almost as if walls were closing in around me. Eliza tried to comfort me after that-the only comfort I allowed myself for the longest time. Whenever I had my attacks I was always usually in the shower(a confined space) and ended up rocking back-and-forth for a few good minutes trying to convince myself I was perfectly fine and get my breathing back to normal. Other times I'd be in my room trying to sleep and I'd remember everything that happened and I'd start to freak out and get scared.

Sometimes I was terrified to sleep, thinking that if I closed my eyes I might never wake up. It was stupid, I know, but... it really scares me-not being able to breathe...

Without realizing it my hand had tightened around Blue's. He looked down at me, probably a little surprised or confused, but didn't question it or say anything about it and merely looked forward as we continued to walk.

It didn't take long for us to arrive. I blinked, lifting my head up and looking at him. "The stream?" He released my hand and pointed at multiple objects located on the ground: the bar of half-used soap, a small towel, and a dark brown kimono that was folded and set next to them. Realizing that he was telling me to change into the kimono after I bathed I asked, "What do you want me to do with my clothes?"

"Leave them here... I'll wash them later."

I opened my mouth to protest, ready to say that I could wash them, but I closed it and held my tongue as I knew I had no idea of how to do that. Heck, I only ever did the dishes and vacuum back at home, and I only knew how to work the dryer because mom needed help with the laundry when she had her gallbladder taken out. So, how in the name of all that is good and mighty, am I supposed to know how to do laundry without something I never even knew how to work in the first place? "O-Oh... okay. Thank you." I felt horrible, but grateful all the same.

Blue seriously was different compared to anyone else I ever met. Most people were jerks, family was just... family. They made fun of you and teased you, but loved you all the same, and friends were pretty similar-if not a bit rougher. But Blue was just... nice. Like, too nice. It was a bit overwhelming at times, but I appreciated his kindness. You don't find many nice people out in the world nowadays...

That is to say... in my time. I still don't want to think about it, but it would make sense... Why else would everything be so strange and... old-fashioned?

But still... even though Blue wanted me to leave, he's still helping me out. Granted whenever I bring up the subject of when I should head out he either doesn't answer or just gives me the same response every time...

It makes me wonder if he really does want me to leave or not.

~~