✓ | POOR JUDGMENT (A.FORRESTER)

Dreams. Chapter Eighteen.

  "10... 9... 8... 7... 6.... 5... 4... 3... 2.... 1... Time's up!"

In a futile attempt to disclose her laughter, Cynthia silently held her hand against her mouth, holding her breath as she pressed her body further into the gap in the tree. Asher was good at this game, both hiding and seeking, especially when it came to finding Cynthia. She didn't know how he did it, but every time the game was played, she'd be found instantly by him. So each round, she attempted to find an even better hiding place than the last, hoping it would slow down his streak of finding her. Of course, this plan had never worked, but it still made the game all the more amusing to play. Even if secretly she did enjoy Asher finding her.

From where Cynthia hid, she could see Ethan crouched behind one of the smaller trees; trying not to announce his location through his laughter, he too had joined Cynthia in covering his mouth. The two smiled at each other, trying their best to work out where Asher had gotten to, and whether he was anywhere near them. When running to her current position, Cynthia had spotted Ryon and Mira run off in the opposite direction, to the collection of larger trees, where Cynthia usually hid. She had hoped going in a different direction would postpone Asher discovering her, and potentially confuse him slightly. Where Talia was though was unknown, she had remembered seeing her as they all stood around before Asher had begun his counting, but once she had set off running, Talia and the other's had almost blurred from her vision, proving to be nonexistent as she ran for cover. Cynthia, several days before this game, had discovered a crack up one of the trees, a crack big enough for her to squeeze into, at least so that she was out of sight if Asher were to run past. And from this position she could see Ethan, but no one else.

Sniggering quietly as the sounds of branches and leaves being crushed resonated from nearby, Cynthia held her breath once more. She could tell Asher was approaching, and so immediately began backing further into the gap she'd hidden in. It wasn't big enough to climb into completely, but she could hide in it well enough, leaning back into the gap so that she wouldn't be seen. Turning her head in the direction of the sounds, Cynthia tried her best to see him approach. To her disappointment, there was no visible sign of him anywhere close, but that didn't defuse the worry boiling in the pit of her stomach. It was the adrenaline pumping through her blood that had caused this anxiety, and yet all she could do was try her hardest not to laugh. Upon turning her head back to face forward, she then spotted Ethan had gone, clearly having moved to a different hiding spot and left her to fend for herself. She knew the twins liked moving around during the game, she had caught them doing it multiple times before, but she could never bring herself to do it as well, worrying too much that she would be caught in the act like the twins had been several times.

Turning to look around the other side of the tree, Cynthia let out a small sigh when she found Asher was not there either. He must have gone to the other side, she thought, relaxing against the hardwood. She hadn't let her guard down, and hadn't diverted her gaze from the direction she was watching, but she was no longer as tense.

"Do you think he's close?" A smooth voice whispered into her ear, causing her to jump back in surprise. There he stood, his classic grin plastered across his face as he chuckled at his victory. He had not only caught her, but scared the living daylights out of her in the meantime. Laughing continuously, Asher leant against the tree, holding himself up with a muscular arm that had almost distracted Cynthia from her anger. Crossing her arms across her chest like a moody child, she pouted, eyeing Asher with a poisonous glare. This, of course, only made the Forrester boy laugh louder as he had also accomplished making her mad. Rolling her eyes, Cynthia went to walk away, admitting her defeat in the most reluctant way possible, but she found her walk was cut short. A strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her backwards, landing her securely against Asher, who had perched himself in the gap of the tree. He held her close to him, as if loosening his grip could mean her falling into oblivion. "Don't be mad at me, Cyn." He probed, nuzzling his nose into the crook of her neck, and her wild mess of hair that had gotten in the way. She only huffed at this, liking how childish and cuddly Asher got when he didn't get his own way with her, or he thought he'd made her mad, even if he knew she was only joking around as well.

Tightening his grip around her stomach, and holding her closer to his body, if it was even possible, he continued to beg for forgiveness, not letting go until he'd heard the words leave her mouth. It was hard for Cynthia to disclose the smile spreading onto her face as Asher whispered multiple apologies and pleas into her ear, whilst burying his head into her hair and neck, getting as close to her as possible. It was true, Asher was always the closest to Cynthia, and it had never really been discovered why, that was just how it was, and truth be told Cynthia never complained. She loved Asher, like a brother and a friend...and recently even more than that. Her affection for him only grew with each day that she saw him, and when he acted in similar ways to this, she found it hard to resist falling for him. If only he knew what she felt, and what he did to her.

Finally giving in to Asher's persistence, Cynthia turned her head as far as possible in his direction, only to have his lips pressed against her cheek. Giggling at him, she found his grip only getting tighter. "You can let go now..." She hummed, smiling wildly as Asher decided to rub his nose against her own. "I'm never letting go of you..." He replied with a cheesy smile, eyes sparkling in the fading afternoon light. They sat like that for a moment, eyes closed and foreheads pressed against each other's, enjoying the silence and one another's company. It was only when that silence was torn to shreds that the blissful moment ended. "Asher!" A hideously familiar voice called out through the trees, piercing Cynthia's ears like a knife. It was when the voice repeated itself that Asher immediately released Cynthia and let her tumble to the ground without a second glance. He stood without hesitation, ignoring Cynthia on the floor, as he began to walk in the direction of the voice. Turning around to find the owner of said voice, Cynthia found herself choking on her heart when her eyes discovered the harlot herself stood not too far away from her. Gwyn smiled her evil smile as Asher approached her, completely phased by her 'beauty' or whatever he dared to call it. Placing a gentle hand to her face, he pressed his lips upon hers, and kissed her where all watching eyes could see, including Cynthia's. Gwyn had a way of showing up, and destroying every ounce of light Cynthia found in her life, especially where Asher was concerned.

Cynthia tried calling out, tried to hold back the tears that flooded from her eyes for no apparent reason, while she watched him take Gwyn's hand, but all of her attempts were futile. He stared back at her with no emotion, the only thing present on his face being the dull and lifeless look he gave her before he turned back to Gwyn. Everything about him at that point changed, he smiled, his eyes shone brighter than a million stars and his body relaxed under her touch. He'd only ever been like that around Cynthia, and now that had dissolved into nothing more than ash. And all Cynthia could do was watch, as the happy couple walked into the sunset together, leaving her behind in the dark.

Jolting upright in the bed, the invasion of her senses confirmed Cynthia's inquiries as to where she was. At sea. The familiar salty smell that intruded her nose had proved that within seconds of her awakening, and the rocking sensation she felt only moments after opening her eyes backed up that theory. She'd been travelling for almost two weeks, having road to White Harbour and been at see for almost a week, she was now over half way there. Malcolm had wrote to some people he knew in Bravos, and had requested a form of transport that would then connect Cynthia to Marine. Cynthia, so far, had enjoyed the time she spent alone, as well as being utterly mesmerized by the beautiful scenery of the North, something she had never witnessed up close before. Yet, all the while, all her mind seemed to fixate on was finding and being with Asher in a mere few weeks, a reunion she had been dreaming of for 4 years now. She had grown tired of the dreams and her memories serving as her only reminder of her blond love, she needed him back in her life. She needed to hear his voice and see his face again, even if that meant travelling across continents to find him and bring him home. It would all be worth it when she was back in his arms.