Chapter Four
I stood there at a total loss for words. It was so…beautiful, and special. It seemed as if this place was just made for us to discover it. The green stems of the flowers swayed with the howling wind as if they were dancing in sync. I didn’t notice that I had zoned out until I felt Marcus’s hand on my arm.
“Aurora?” he questioned softly. I turned my attention from the much more intriguing plants, and back to him. I studied his face contorted in hurt. Obviously, my inability to reciprocate his feelings threw him for a loop. I just shrugged it off, because how could I let something like that bring me down when I was in the vicinity of such an enchanting place?
Without looking back, I broke free from his grip, and skipped to the center of the meadow. The soggy grass squelched underneath my feet until I finally sat down. My dress may have gotten wet from the soaked ground, but I didn’t care. For all I knew, this might have been the last time I saw the place, so why not make the most of it while I still could? He strolled up behind me without a word, and sat beside me.
“It’s stunning.” I remarked in awe, soaking in all the sights around me, including the thick forest circling the meadow.
“I thought you’d like it,” he replied casually. “Your parents told me that you liked adventures, and I figured this was a beautiful place that you might enjoy.” Wow, he sure did know how to make me feel like a jerk. To think that I might have not even gone on this outing because I’m so stubborn was horrible. He seemed like a genuinely sweet guy. I would imagine that my inner conflicts weren’t looking too pretty on the outside to Marcus. “Is something bothering you?” he asked me. There it was. The question I was dreading he would ask. It was bound to happen sometime. I mean, I’m not exactly the best at hiding my emotions, so when something is wrong, it’s easy to tell.
“No.” I denied his observations. I had just met him. I wasn’t going to give an all-out confession at the moment.
“No, there is definitely something wrong.” I turned away from his intruding gaze.
“If there was, why would I tell you?” I snapped.
“There’s no need to get all feisty. It was only a question. So, tell me about yourself.” he continued leering at me.
“You don’t want to know me. Trust me.”
“Why hiding secrets? You don’t have to tell me them, but be careful who trust. You strike me as someone that might be too trusting.” he said. I turned away, letting the conversation end at that.
“It’s best we leave now, I think.” I suggested.
We got back to the palace sometime later. I don’t think I can recall for you how confused I was as we walked back. It was torrential rain when he left. The strange thing is he didn’t so much as say another word to me. Nothing. I don’t know what it was that was bothering me. Maybe it was the entire situation. The thing that had been nagging at me was the fact that I didn’t want to grow up. I didn’t want to do what my parents wanted me to. I didn’t want that kind of life where I’m completely oblivious to everything that surrounds me. To live in a world that’s black and white like everyone wants it to be because the truth is they are all scared of what they don’t know. I wanted to discover the unknown, not cower away from it. Most of all I just wanted to find love on my own terms.
