Dreaming Cinderella

Chapter 15

Emilia stumbled through the door leading to outside in a hurry. She was met by the nights cool air and silence, all was still at this time, everyone in the village seemed to be fast asleep, well except for two people.

She crept around the inn, finding the well which was where her bedroom window faced and found Aster waiting. He sat on the edge of the well, his hand propped up on his chin as he held her letter with his other hand.

She sighed at the sight of it. She was so glad that it hadn't been lost. It was her ticket, her invitation to another life. If only she was brave enough to take it. "Thank you!" She breathed moving to stand before Aster and he looked up a smile on his face. 

"Of course, couldn't let something as precious as a letter become lost." He winked at her moving to stand up. Emilia realized she was in his way, and they were now standing inches together Aster very close to her looking down at her with a coy smile. "So, who is it? A special boy in the village?" He asked her breaking the tension and she forgot all about their closeness as his words sank in.

"W-what?" She asked taken aback as he offered her the letter. She took it holding it tightly to her chest sudden understanding running through her. "O-of course not!" She stammered wondering why she was suddenly so embarrassed.

Aster laughed at her response which only made her face brighter. "I was only teasing, Trouble no need to turn into a tomato." He continued laughing at her expense.

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him, but she wasn't really angry she was relieved to move on to a different subject, one that didn't involve the letter in her hand.

"So tell me, Trouble, what are you doing awake at this time? You're not sneaking around trying to cause mischief are you?" Aster asked her with a laugh that let her know he was still only teasing and she felt herself grinning at the question.

"You caught me. I was plotting who my next culprit would be." Emilia said sternly trying to keep from laughing. She wasn't doing a very good job but Aster humored her playing along.

"Aha! I knew it!" He exclaimed much more convincing than she had been and she waited for him to continue. "You really had been trying to drown me earlier." He accused and Emilia laughed unable to believe it hadn't even been a day since she had drenched him on accident at this very well.

"Well you had looked rather in need of a bath..." She teased a glint in her eyes as she saw Aster's jaw drop at her words. "What? You had been so dusty I couldn't even see your face!" She continued laughing now at his expression.

"Alright Miss Trouble I'd like to see you after a few weeks lost on the road. I bet you would be in need of a good drenching as well." He told her and she felt her smile slipping suddenly sad.

Sensing her sudden change Aster looked her over his own mood Changing turning more serious. "What's the matter?" He asked and she sighed.

"Nothing, it's just easy to make believe, to imagine doing all these things like going on an adventure even for a few days would be amazing but it's impossible." She explained knowing he wouldn't understand. After all he had left his home, had sought his adventure.

"You know it doesn't have to be impossible. You can make it happen. All you need is a little courage to get those feet of yours out of this village."

She wished it was as simple as he made it sound but it wasn't. It was more complicated than that. Wasn't it?

"But my parents..."

"Will still be here when you get back." He pointed out with a shake of his head.

"You're scared and afraid of what will happen if you leave, what you'll find out there. It's normal for you to feel that way." He assured her softly trying to encourage her and she wanted so badly to listen to him. "But don't use your parents as a reason to keep from following that dream of yours, it's not fair on them or yourself." She bit her lip as his words hit her realizing their truth.

"Maybe your right..." She said still unsure.

"Not maybe, I am." He told her confidently and she could see he was far away lost in his own thoughts.

She didn't know what else to say, still unsure if she could ever leave or not, but couldn't admit it. She didn't want to interrupt whatever thoughts he was having deciding from the look on his face it was important. So they just stood there in silence both of  them lost in the silence of their own thoughts.

When the silence did finally end they didn't go back in. Instead they sat on the edge of the well talking about nothing until Emilia started to yawn and her eyes were watering. It was then that Aster stood up telling her she needed to get to bed.

As much as she didn't want to go, for she wanted to talk with him some more to listen to his jokes and stories of his travels she knew he was right. If she didn't go to bed soon she wouldn't wake up in the morning.

Aster walked her inside and said goodnight at the door that lead to her and her parents quarter's. She yawned her own goodnight but she was so tired it didn't come out right and instead sounded like a mumble of incoherent words. But Aster nodded seeming to understand before leaving to go to his own room.

Emilia found her bed and was out as soon as her head hit the pillow.