Never Enough Time

Chapter Ten: Rika

Chapter Ten: Rika

“You showed me what I couldn’t find

When two different worlds collide…”

− Two Worlds Collide, Demi Lovato

RIKA

            “Nathan!” I called as I sprinted through the forest, hoping that he hadn’t gone far. I needed to talk to him. I wanted to demand if what my father said was true, and if it was, why he didn’t tell me.

            Dead branches crunched under my feet as I ran, barely aware of my surroundings. I went as fast as my legs could take me, driven by my will to find the truth. Birds circled above, so far ahead of me that I could barely make out their shape. Can you see him? I wanted to ask them. Do you know where he is?

            “Nathan!” I shouted again, and my voice echoed off the trees, the sound rebounding into the forest. Surely he would have heard that if he was still here?

            I slowed when the trees began to thin, near the edge of the wood. If he hadn’t responded here, then he was almost certainly not in the forest anymore. I stopped. Breathing hard, I leaned against a tree and looked up at the sky, trying to catch my breath.

            “Nathan,” I breathed with the little air I had. “Where are you?”

            “I'm here,” a quiet voice said.

            My head turned sharply towards the direction where his voice had come from.

            He emerged from the trees with his hands in his pockets, looking so unintentionally handsome that my stomach flipped over. For a moment, I just stared at him, amazed that he was still here. Then I remembered that I was supposed to be mad at him.

            “Rika?” He said my name hesitantly. When I met his gaze, he smiled, which made it even harder to be angry with him.

            “Hi,” I said, trying to sound as casual as he looked. Evidently, I failed because he came over with a look of concern replacing his smile.

            He studied my face, trying to see what had upset me. “What’s wrong?” he asked, putting his hands on my shoulder. “What happened?”

            I took a deep breath and looked into his perfect face. “Why didn’t you tell me you were royalty?”

            His expression froze.

            “Did you think I was stupid?” I demanded, angered by his silence. “Or that I wouldn’t find out eventually?”

            He ignored my questions. “How did you find out?” he asked, his voice muted.

            “You’re not even going to try to deny it?” I asked incredulously.

            He gave me a look. “Rika,” he said. “Answer the question.”

            I tried not to answer for a moment, but then gave in. “My father told me,” I said, unable to deny him what he wanted while looking into his depthless green eyes. “Now you answer mine: who are you, really?”

            At first, he stayed silent, and I thought that he wasn’t going to respond. But then he bent his head towards me and, before I realized what he was doing, pressed his lips very gently to mine.