The Unseen World

Chapter 7: Jackie

What the heck was that? I fumed in my mind, following after the boy who completely and totally just played my emotions like a fiddle. One moment, hes playing with my hair, leaning close and murmuring in my ear how he feels about me, the next he can't wait to get away from me. Boys!

When we got to the clearing, I crossed my arms and sat down on the log, crossing my legs also. Bella tilted her head questioningly as she leaned against Gian's shoulder. I shook my head and mouthed, "later." I didn't want to talk about it.

"Want to get going?" Malachi asked Jared, stroking his scaly dragon friend. Jared only nodded. Oh, so now you want to say nothing? You had plenty to say in the field, did you use up all your words? I snapped in my mind. Maybe it would have been better if he hadn't said anything at all.

I stood up and walked to the dragon. I laid a hand on his neck and he shivered, letting out a trill of pleasure at my touch. I smiled and ran a hand through my majorly tangled hair. I wish we had brought more things to freshen up with.

"So, how are we doing this?" Bella asked, standing up straight from her position against Gian. "Can he really carry all four of us?"

"Of course he can. He's a messenger dragon. He carries a ton of stuff that weighs much more than just us four put together and--"

"As much as I would absolutely love to hear another one of your 'messenger dragon' stories," Bella interuppted with a grin. "but I really think we need to get going." Malachi crossed his arms high on his chest and pushed out his lower lip, imitating a young child. I giggled. They were so cute. Two days together and already playing like best friends.

"You're right," Malachi said when he was finally done pouting. "I'll help you up, Bella. Jared, will you help Jackie?" Jared glanced in my direction and nodded at his friend. He walked over to me and cupped his hands for me to step into with my left foot so he could help me up. I put my foot in his hand and he pushed me up. I swung my right leg over Gian so I was sitting between two spines as though I were sitting on a saddle. He did this all without a word and without so much as looking me in the eyes. His silence hurt worse than any words ever could.

Bella came up from where Malachi had helped her on, and sat one spine behind me. She slipped her arms around my waist and rested her chin on my shoulder. "What's wrong?" She whispered. I closed my eyes and shook my head, willing the hurt to go away, willing the tears not to come. "Did he tell you about your mom?" I nodded, keeping my eyes closed. "More?" I squeezed my eyes shut and nodded. "That he likes you?" I couldn't nod this time, because the tears would definitely come. When the urge passed, I opened my eyes.

"He told me that in his dream he told me what happened with my mom and I got mad. He said I ran into another guys arms. Then," I took in a shaky, calming breath before I dared continue. "he told me that he didn't want me running into any other guys arms. Just his. He knew it was a selfish wish, but it's what he wanted. He got really close. He was murmuring those things in my ear, playing with my hair. Then he got up and said we should come back. And we came back without a word. It's like now, after he's told me how he feels, he thinks I am the plague." She squeezed me comfortingly.

"I'm sorry. But he's a boy, and we can't help it if boys are stupid." She whispered. "But also, sometimes us girls gotta take a stand and ask 'What the h-e-double-hockey-sticks are you thinking?' because they don't always come out front and say what they're thinking. If it helps, do you want me to talk to him?" I chuckled softly.

"No, don't say a thing. I'll talk to him later." I smiled. She gave me one last squeeze and then let her arms go back to her own sides. I knew that she wouldn't listen to me, that she'd go talk to him anyways. Because that's the kind of friend she is. If she thinks it's the best thing for me, she'll do it. Jared hops up in front of me and Malachi scrambles up with Jared pulling him up in front of him.

"Hold on to me." Jared said, glancing back so I would hear him. I hesitantly put my hands on his sides. "I said hold on." He grabbed my hands and pulled them around his waist so that my hands were touching on the other side of him. My heart was racing, being this close. His was too, I could feel it. "Bella, do the same to Jackie." I felt Bella's slender arms wrap around my waist and hold on tight.

"Let's go!" Malachi called out with a whoop and Gian's muscles tensed under me for a moment before he pushed off the ground. The air was knocked out of me as he flapped as hard as he could to get in the air. We rushed up, up and up some more until we broke through the clouds. Gian stretched out his wings and let the oncoming air slow us down. He smoothly tilted his wings forward until they were like a straight line and we were flying smoothly. I realized that I had been squeezing Jared for my life and I loosened my grip from my right hand. He grabbed my left hand and held it firmly in place against his stomach.

"Don't you dare fall," He said just loud enough for me to hear.

"Didn't plan on it," I smiled, warmed that he didn't want me to fall to my death. I looked out at the clouds surrounding us. I reached my right hand out and touched it. The cold, wet ice crystals dampened my hand, and as my hand went through, the cloud smeared. Suddenly, I felt unstable, so I pulled my arm back and slid it back around Jared's waist. I hesitantly laid my head on his strong back. He tensed, but only for a moment. Bella squeezed my waist and I smiled.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Nine hours later, Gian was on a slow descent, and everyone was exhausted from the flight. When we landed, the guys got off first, so if one of us girls fell, they'd catch us. When Bella and I slipped down from the dragon's back, we both stumbled on wobbly legs. I didn't bother to check where we were because I was too sleepy to care. Jared set up the camp while Malachi scavenged for food, and Gian snored away. Since we were out in the open, we took turns watching out for attackers. Jared first, then Malachi, Bella and me. When Jared had finally set up the camp, I crawled into my sleeping bag and I fell into a peaceful sleep.