Emily ◇ Cinderella

Chapter 9

ONE WEEK LATER

I had been staying with Will and Ana for over a week, of course making exceptions in my time to see Ella. They had slowly, but surely, returned to their natural selves, socializing more and taking the time to ask me questions and mess around. Will and I had become very close, sharing stories of our childhoods or random facts about ourselves that no one par our sisters really knew. We spent every night in the library, huddled in our armchairs by the fire, discussing everything and anything until we ran out of time. In our closeness we became playful, and had agreed, seen as the first game that we had played was so fun and lightening of heart, to play at least 1 new game a day, keeping young Ana's mind distracted from her subsiding pain.

Today's game was hide and seek, and our mission was to hide from Will. I was running with Ana, who claimed she knew somewhere he would never find us, and we were both laughing frantically. Will was counting downstairs, his head against the door with his eyes closed, although I was sure he could hear us giggling and running around. Ana was trying to show me where this secret spot was, and we headed into a bedroom, with a balcony overlooking the door outside. I saw her motion for me to be silent.

She hid behind the door, and I hid in the cupboard. We heard Will coming near us, and into the room. Without warning, Ana said "Run, Emily!", so I got out of the cabinet and smacked straight into Will's chest. I looked up, and saw him smirking at me. I looked out into the corridor, and tried to make a run for it. Will easily wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me straight back to his chest. I tried to fight my way out, laughing with him, and saw Ana watching me and Will from the doorway.

"Hey! You tricked me you traitor! I'm gonna get you when I get out!" I playfully threatened, both hearing and feeling Will's laughter. I heard her squeal and run into her room, locking the door. "Traitor!" I yelled again, and stopped fighting. Will turned me around, yet refused to let his arms drop from my sides, the smirk on his handsome face just made him even more attractive.

"Now this just proves you shouldn't pick my sister over me to team up with." He teased, drawing a comfortable smile from my lips. Will was very physical when it came to showing his feelings, and not just towards me. He had a habit of hugging or grabbing Ana's hand quite often, as well as patting his male friends on the back subconsciously. His physical contact in that moment didn't alarm or discourage me; it was normal.

"But she's so much more friendly than you are." I teased in return, playing along with his games. Ella, and even Ana, on occasion, had tried to tell me numerous times that he was flirting, but I would have none of it. Will was like this with everyone, I would insist. It didn't make me any different.

Will rose an eyebrow. "More friendly than I?" He said, his hands shifting on my waist. "Is that so?" I hummed in confirmation, a sly grin making its way onto my lips. Will had sworn blind to me multiple times through the week that I had more mischief in my blood than he, which was impossible seen as he was close to being the King of all devilment himself. His eyes danced down my face until they gazed at my lips, and I told myself it was just because I was smiling. "How friendly do you want me to be?" Will said suggestively, pulling me closer to him.

It was my turn to raise an eyebrow, unsure of how serious he was being. "How friendly are you willing to become?" I challenged, watching as he allowed a laugh to escape his perfect lips, his head sinking downwards so that his face hovered over my shoulder. His lips, calculated and light in their movements, grazed the exposed skin of my neck, as if testing to see where he could go before I drew the line. I couldn't help inhale sharply, the unexpected contact sending electricity rolling through me like waves. Will smirked, I could feel it, and I knew he had heard the intake of breath, worsening his growing ego.