I wake up in Ace's arms. Wait, what! I try to get up, but his hold is too strong. What am I doing in his arms? I know I fell asleep last night in his arms, but wouldn't he move me? Why won't he let go? Because he's asleep. Oh, right. Still...why won't he get up! I sigh heavily and I feel Ace stir. I stop moving immediately. I'm not sure I actually want him to wake up. For all, I know he could be a terrible morning person. God, what do I do? I decide to just sit there, not very productive, but screw it. Also, it's actually kind of comfy. I mean...gah! Why won't my brain shut up! It's comfy sure, but that all it doesn't mean I like him or anything. I've only known him for two days, well technically three--b-but that's not the point.
Ace's eyes shoot open and he sits up, releasing his hold on me and I fall off him onto the ground. Asshole! I yelp from the awkward landing that has injured my ankle. Okay, now I'm pissed. He looks at me frantically.
"Shit! Are you okay Aiyana?" he asks. I swear I'm going to hit him.
"Do I look okay dipshit!" I shout profusely. He flinches at the loudness of my voice.
"I'm sorry alright?" he pulls me up and I jerk away from him only to fall back down. Damn it! My sprained ankle is not helping me in any way to stand. Once again Ace pulls me up and steadies me and I wince in pain at the pressure that is being put on my ankle as I stand. Ace notices and his worried expression turns into one of guilt. "What is it? Where are you hurting?" he questions me.
"It's just sprained ankle I'm fine," I lie through my teeth. No, I'm not fine, it hurts like hell. Ace sees straight through lie as well. He scoops me up in his arms bridal style and I almost scream. What does he think he's doing?
"It's all my fault, I'm sorry Aiyana." He apologizes and sets me down gently on a tree stump conveniently placed near out spot where we decided to set up camp for the night.
I'm super confused. When I first met Ace he was a fricking asshole and now he's a 'sweet gentleman' wanting to help a damsel in distress. I don't believe it.
"It's nothing," I assure him, "by the way, why are you acting all jumpy this morning?" I ask. He cheeks turn red. Ace? Blushing? I have to be dreaming, or maybe I'm dead?
"Nothing, I just uh," he coughs clearing his throat and returns to his normal color, "Nothing, we should get a move on if we want to get to the UK and avoid the guards my mother and father probably sent out after us," he changes the subject. Wait, he wants me to ride a horse, in a dress, again? Hell no!
"Not this clothing I'm not," I shake my head. No way in hell am I doing that again. It was super uncomfortable last time. He raises an eyebrow at me.
"Unless you want to change in the middle of a forest where anyone can see you, you are," he says sternly, but once again I shake my head.
"I don't care about that as long as I don't have to ride in this dress," I cross my arms. The thing is, I actually do really care about that, but I really don't want to ride a horse in a dress. I mean the dress is pretty and I like it and all, but it is not meant for horseback. Ace sighs heavily.
"Ugh, fine," he finally complies and grabs some clothing from a bag he packed. He hands me blue skinny jeans, a plain black t-shirt and a grey and army green jacket. Army green. Which reminds me that I use to have a brother. A nice, kind, loving brother who would do anything for his baby sister. Who died defending his family, his country, against supernatural forces. It's been awhile since I've thought of my brother. He was a good man, a good young man. Unfortunately died at the age of 21. I frown. My brother is the only other sibling I had and now I'm all alone. I frown.
"Aiyana!" Ace's sharp voice cuts me out of my thoughts. He waves the clothes he has picked out in front of my face. "You gonna change or not?" I hesitantly take the clothes. Ace turns around so I can change and when I do, I feel oddly like myself. Like I had worn this before. Like this is who I was before the demon war. The jacket was the most familiar part of it all. I've seen this jacket before, I've worn it before. I remember, but only a bit. I roll up the sleeves of the jacket and adjust it. Its hood and sleeves are gray but the torso or main part of the jacket is army green with zipper pockets. I decide that I will wear this from now on every day, it's a reminder of something, of someone important, someone who deserves to be remembered. I love you Blayden and miss you. I wish you were here. Would you be proud of me?
"Are you done yet?" Ace asks me. Oh, I'd completely forgotten he was there.
"Yeah," I reply softly. I place my hands in the pockets of the jacket and there's a chain with some type of charm attached to it. Does Ace want me to find this? Ace notices my change in behavior as we mount the horses.
"Hey Aiyana are you okay?" he asks. I snap out of my daze and smile gently at him.
"Yeah, just peachy," I respond. He looks at me and I can see the distrust in his eyes when I answer. He knows I'm lying. But I know he won't say anything about it until this journey is over. We begin to ride trying to gain as much ground as possible before having to stop again and hoping our next stop is the boat ride to the UK.
