Born Wild

Hidden feelings

"I'm sorry ya'll I don't know why I feel like this. It just came out of the blue, I'm sure I'll feel better in a few minutes." 

They had confused faces as the word "ya'll" came out of her mouth. They were not used to hearing it at all. Tala didn't have a southern accent because her parents weren't from the south, but occasionally words just came out.

"It's okay Tala we could all use a rest anyways" Koda reassured.

"There must be something about this trail am I right?" Hugo jokingly said. 

Cambria pushed him and he picked her up, carrying her closer to the edge.

"HUGO" She yelled and playfully hit him. He laughed and set her down, still holding on to her arms.

"Can you guys just admit you like each other already?" Astrid laughed. They both blushed and let go of each other.

"Do you want to go down to the beach when you're feeling better Tala? It would be less stressful on your body since you're not feeling the greatest." Cambria asked. 

Tala nodded and they went down the stairs to the sand. Tala sat calmly and the others did their own thing. At one point Hugo was chasing Cambria with a piece of seaweed and Astrid was climbing up a few rocks to sit on.

After a while, Tala felt better and got up to stand by the water. Koda calmly walked to her and stood beside her. She could tell he was looking at her. She looked down at the sand away from him and nervously ran her hand through her hair. She was used to being invisible. She didn't know how to react to any form of attention, especially by someone she found attractive.

He quietly walked to her right and stood beside her on the beach, breathing in the salty air. "I..um...."

She looked at him with a soft smile. "what is it?"

He looked down at the sand and back at her. "I'm glad you're feeling better." He hated how nervous he was. Why couldn't he just tell her?

"Thanks...me too." she said. She was hoping for something else. She looked out at the sea for a moment, taking in the sound of the crashing waves and seagulls.

"Cambria and Hugo are cute together aren't they." she hinted.

"They sure are." he replied.

Over the past several days they had actually gotten to know each other quite well. Tala had talked to Hugo about everything whether it was random and pointless or deep from her heart. They had become each other's closest friend. She rarely had a moment she felt weird for saying something. At times she felt as if Koda liked her, but other times she felt as if he didn't. Right now she felt like he didn't. She didn't have a good reason to think he didn't like her, but she just couldn't believe that someone else could be so fond of her.

After not being able to think of what to say next, they walked back to the group and sat down in the sand.

"I heard it's supposed to be sunny next Saturday..." Astrid hinted.

"I think you like hiking a little too much." Cambria laughed.

"That's Tala's birthday.... Right, Tala?" Of course, Koda knew the answer he just didn't want to seem too sure.

Cambria lightly gasped. "Your birthday is the 10th? Well, we have to celebrate it! I am going to give you a surprise birthday party."

"It's not a surprise if you tell her about it."Astrid remarked.

"Ok, well, we won't throw you a surprise birthday party then...." Cambria winked. Koda and Tala started talking when they got back to the house. Before they knew it they were sitting closer and closer to each other, his hand rested on her knee. It was quiet and all they could hear was the fireplace crackling and their breathing. 

They looked into the other's eyes, not saying much. Their hearts raced. Their minds scattered. As she sat close to him she felt nervous but safe. She knew he had a good heart. She felt beautiful as he admired her.

He thought about how much he cared for her. He wanted to protect her at all costs and not do anything that made her feel uncomfortable. She didn't seem to mind his hand on her knee. She moved her hand to his lower arm resting on her knee. Now was a perfect time.

She grimaced and moved her hand from his arm to her jaw. "Ow...."

He withdrew his hand from her knee and the moment was lost. "Are you in pain again?"

She nodded.

He stood up and walked to the kitchen to find a pain reliever and fill up a glass of water to hand her.

Tala woke in the middle of the night after tossing and turning in her sleep. She tried to go back to sleep but was restless thinking about Koda. She sat at the kitchen table, wrapped up in her blanket, and looked outside into the forest and listened to the soft rustle of the trees. 

She heard Koda's door open and he softly walked across the wood floor. He came into the kitchen with messy hair and a blanket around him and he sat down at the table. "could you not sleep either?" She shook her head.

"I have a headache" she lied.

He dropped his blanket on the chair and stood up. He rustled around the cabinet, pulling out a mug and a box of tea bags. 

"You like tea right? Lavender and Chamomile would be good for your headache and get you back to sleep." he said.

She smiled. "yes I do like tea."

He heated up the mug with water in the microwave and placed the tea in it, brought it to her at the table, and sat down in the wooden chair, wrapping himself up again. She enjoyed her tea and they quietly sat there for a few minutes. He reached out his hand to grab hers.

"I...." He hesitated with a nervous smile and bit his bottom lip.

"Me too..." She smiled.

"Goodnight Tala." He smirked and slowly slid his hand away as he got up.

"Goodnight Koda." She blushed and smiled as she watched him walk back to his room.