Dearest Evelyn

-chapter 13-

He sighed and rolled onto his back, reaching his arms up so he could lay his head in his palms.

I bit my lip for being so stupid.

That smug little grin was still on his face. I wasn’t sure if I should’ve been embarrassed or act like nothing happened.

I\'m sure he was used to it after all . . . Gwindire had always turned heads.

He turned his head to look at me.

“You have a bug in your hair.” I lied, trying to defend my embarrassment.

His smile grew. “No I don’t.”

Damnit. I thought to myself. I glared at a tree to try and think of something better.

He laughed, and it caught my attention. I looked to him again, his smile still wide and eyes still glistening.

I finally let my defenses go and I found myself smiling with him. I quickly hid it behind my hand but he reached out and gently pulled it away. He patted the ground right next to him and I laid next to him, letting my head land in a bed of pine needles. I had planned to take a bath that evening anyways, so it didn’t matter.

The view above me was something I enjoyed most about being in a forest. It had gotten later in the evening, so there wasn’t any sunlight left; but through the peaks and gaps in the thick roof that the leaves made, illuminated gray clouds passed by. I watched a few birds chase each other, recognizing my favorites.

I even noticed how similar the breeze through the top branches was to the softness and quietness of Gwin’s breathing.

I dared glanced at him. We were so close that he noticed my glance immediately. I resisted looking away and smiled instead. He returned it.

A sudden tromping through leaves and snapping twigs startled me, making me sit straight up. Gwin remained where he was, and yawned.

I realized it was someone- or actually, it sounded like more than someone, coming towards us. I looked in the direction of all the noise and recognized Hector and Terrin’s figures as they neared us.

“Joanna thought you might have drowned.” Terrin smirked at me.

The two stood over us.

“So here we are! Rescue squad!” Hector joked.

“Ha.” Gwindire mumbled sleepily. “No horses, no men . . . what, did you two plan on fishing her out with a stick?”

I turned to playfully glare at Gwin. He winked at me then closed his eyes.

“Don’t think we need to.” Hector replied. “I think you would’ve saved her single handedly.”

“Oh ha ha.” He snapped.

“Well!” Terrin stretched. “competition much?”

I paused at his words. Competition? ‘Saving me’ single handedly? Gwin’s defensive remark? I averted my eyes from all three, trying to think over their racket.

“Well anyways, food’s ready.” Terrin added.

“Yes, come on, I’m starving.” Hector held out his hand to me.

I let him pull me up. I began brushing off my skirt and tunic, also trying to pull all the needles out of my hair.

“You guys go ahead, I’m going to stay here awhile.” Gwindire said, yawning again.

The two others shrugged and started back where they came from.

I followed.

“So, Miss Evelyn.” Hector started, as we neared the edge of camp. “How’d you get lost?”