Clouds

Part 2-13 Trust

Part 13

            “I’m sorry, Emedee,” Jason says suddenly as we begin our mountain trek to the Hedges.

            “Sorry?” I ask, shocked.  “All you’ve done is save my useless butt from falling off stuff.  If anyone should be sorry, it’s me.”

            “What I mean,” Jason says, “is that you’ve told me all about your travels, but I haven’t said a word about how I got out of the Queen’s orders.  It must make you awfully suspicious.” 

            “Actually I haven’t given it much thought.”

            “Well, it would make me feel better if I could get the story off my chest,” he replies.  “Besides, we can move faster of we have something to discuss.”

            “Okay,” I say.

            “When I was a guard stationed around here of course I didn’t want to have the job,” he says.  “When boys have to serve for the Queen they go through a loyalty test and are placed into a category for their work.  The most common are officers, patrollers, and staff workers for the big cities.  I was placed on a patrol in a remote location, since my test showed that I may not be one hundred percent loyal.”  He pauses.  “After being recruited here I decided to leave, with what I told you earlier going on.  I used the people I trusted to get away.”

            “How did you know who to trust?”

            “I looked into their eyes.”

            “Their eyes?  How does that tell you anything?”

            “My brother always used to say that if you need to judge someone,” Jason replies, “don’t look at their hair, their sex, or the color of their skin.  Since you can’t look at their heart and can’t tell by their actions, since there are too many good actors, you look at their eyes, which are the gateway to someone’s soul.”  He pauses.  “And it worked.  I could tell their life story and thoughts through them.”

            “And you’re serious?”  I find this all hard to believe.

            “Yes,” he replies.  “You know, I’ve never seen anyone with ugly eyes.”

            Oh, Jason…

            But he’s right.  I guess no one really is a bad person inside, they just make bad decisions over all.

            “I guess that basically sums it all up,” he says.  “Now, one question I’ve been dying to know the answer to.  I don’t mean to be sexist, but why did your group of friends send a girl on this trip?” 

            I laugh, even though it’s a good question and not a laughing matter.

            “I know, I know, and a girl who can’t stop falling off of stuff along with that,” I say.

            “I didn’t mean it like-“           

            “It’s okay, Jason,” I reply, smiling.  “But this girl happens to be the top scoring person in the Shrouded Glade Organization for fighting and hunting, second place for survival over all.”

            “Wow.”

            “That is, we never had a class for not falling, but I would probably fail that one,” I say with a laugh.  Jason joins in.

            “So you’re really good, huh?”  He asks me.

            “You bet,” I reply.

            “Fight me.”  He says.  I look at him.

            “Huh?” I ask, confused.  His eyes gleam with challenge.

            “Fight me,” he repeats.

            “Wait wh-“ Jason rips his gear off and knocks me to the ground.  I struggle under his grip and he looks at me.  He rises to his feet a few seconds later and laughs.

            “You were just kidding, I suppose.  You wouldn’t last a day, Emedee,” he says.  “Either you’re just a fake or your organization-“  I rip my bag off and ram into his side while he rants on.  Why is he acting like such a jerk?  Is he bipolar, or was that all just an act to befriend me?  But if it was, why would he try to chase me away like this, exposing my “weakness”?

            I think about this while I have him nailed to the ground, my teeth gritted in concentration.  I figure now isn’t the time to mention that my fighting is no better than Awesome, who I am still tied to for first place.  She taught me how to train to get a firm grip, and that comes in handy against a guard or someone like Jason.  He is strong, but not strong enough to escape.  He stares at me as he struggles, trying to kick his way free in panic.

            “Who’s weak now?” I ask him, standing up.  “No more surprise attacks, okay?  I think I proved my point.”

            “You sure did,” he replies, hugging me.  My mouth parts in shock.  “I was worried you were just lying for some reason.  I hoped you didn’t, and you weren’t lying after all.  I figured there wasn’t a better way to test you, and you really are strong.”  He looks down after releasing me.  “It’s still embarrassing to be beaten by a girl, though.”  I laugh.

            “Well, I’m glad I earned your trust,” I say finally.  “And I think I can trust you, as well.  It feels good to be able to trust someone like this.”

            “It sure does.”

            And then he leans in and kisses me.

            I feel myself blushing and my heart pounding.  Jason looks away and steps back.

            “Let’s get going,” he says.  He doesn’t look at me as we walk on.

            Well, that was interesting.  I never guessed my first kiss would come in the middle of nowhere by a boy two years older than me that I just met a few days ago who’s a total stranger.

            Oh, well, what’s the harm, anyways?

            Okay that was super short but I needed to write something for it and, well, there you go.  I hope you enjoyed this because in the next few Emedee chapters something really sad is going to happen!

-Katie