Blind & Broken

Chapter Thirteen

The next morning I make it out of bed and down the stairs on my own. I try to use my muscle memory of last night's walk to find the kitchen, and after ten times longer than it should have taken, I finally find it.

"Hey." I nearly jump out of my skin at the voice. It's a voice I don't really recognize, and I didn't realize anyone was in here.

"I've made a fresh pot of coffee if you want any."

It takes me several moments to find my voice. "Um, no thanks. I-I'm not a huge coffee drinker."

I hear him take a few steps, but I'm so disoriented in my surroundings I can't even tell which direction he's heading. "Alright. Well, do you want to have a seat? I can make you anything you want for breakfast."

"Um," I say, taken aback by his hospitality. I mean, I don't even know him. "Thanks, but I'm not hungry." I try to switch the focus from me, "where's Brynlee? Or Taylor?"

I can hear the smile in his voice. "Ah. That's why you're really in here. I see."

"That's not—" I can't help but smile too, catching on that he's teasing me.

He laughs, "I can't help you with Brynlee, but my guess is she's still asleep. I haven't seen her, anyway. Taylor I don't know about either, but Kaitlyn went to her friend Alexis' house. Something about riding horses."

"Oh, okay. Well thanks anyway." I turn to go, but in my hurry I spin the wrong way and walk right into the doorway beam. "Ow!" I yelp and suddenly a firm, but gentle hand is on my arm.

"Are you okay?" He chuckles, "did you blink too long? Sorry, it's not funny."

I chuckle half-heartedly. "It's a little funny."

He leads me slowly across the floor and I hear him slide a seat back. "Here sit down. Are you okay?" He repeats his question, but I barely hear it. My heart pounds as I think of a way to figure out the seat smoothly. I guess he hasn't realized my impairment yet.

"Something wrong?" His voice is softer and I haven't moved an inch.

"No. I'm fine, really. Thanks. I think I just want to find Brynlee."

"I'm right here." Bryn's voice comes from behind us and I jump, feeling the boy tense next to me too. Her footsteps are soft as she crosses the smooth floor. "What's up?"

I reach out for her and she grabs my hands. "Sorry, I just needed something familiar."

"No problem, Indie. Something wrong?"

"No. Except I ran into the doorframe."

She laughs, "I saw that. Why don't we go get ready for the day and then see what Taylor and Kate are up to?"

"Sounds good." She links arms with me and leads me away, just barely pausing to let me wave goodbye to the stranger in the kitchen.

"So," she says in a completely different tone the second we are out of earshot. "You seemed to be getting along with him alright!" She nudges me with her elbow.

"Excuse me? I was just down here looking for you! He's the one that kept talking to me!"

"Well, whatever you might think, he's definitely into you."

I stop walking, my mouth open in shock. "Why do you say that? It's not like we were flirting!"

She giggles and pulls me along, up the stairs. "Taylor and Kate saw it too. Last night. He was basically staring at you the entire time at dinner."

"Wait, that was him?" I knew I felt eyes on me last night! "Who even is he?"

"His name is Cameron, he'll be the Beta soon. And you know, with everything that's happened to you, you should take this opportunity to find a little happiness."

I don't respond right away, mulling over her words. The floor evens out as we hit the landing and, suddenly for the first time in days, a ping of longing hits my heart. Longing for Colton. I've been so distracted with coming to the Palace that he hasn't crossed my mind until now. And I do, I miss him a lot. But with what Brynlee just said: I should find a little happiness, and that sure isn't going to be Colton. Not any time soon; probably not ever!

"So?" She nudges me in the side gently.

"So?" I repeat.

She chuckled, "do you like him? Even just a little bit?"

"Cameron?" I let my mouth fall open that she can even suggest such a thing. "Really? I barely even know him! I don't even know what he looks like!"

She pulls me up short to a stop. "Are you serious?" She laughs, "you of all people should understand that looks don't matter!"

I sigh, knowing she's right. I'll never get to see anyone anyway, so that really shouldn't be stopping me. Besides, I guess Cameron is sort of funny in a cute way. I like his voice and the way he speaks. But does that mean I like him? I'm not so sure.

"Okay," Bryn starts, "if you want a picture of him, I'll tell you. His skin is tanned, like not where it looks fried or unnatural, it's just got a soft glow to it I guess. His hair is brown, lighter than your brown though, and it seems to always be wind blown in an attractive way. Either that's just the way it is, or he spends hours every morning making sure it stays swept high and to the side. And his eyes, they're so light a brown, they might be considered hazel." She pauses, and I can feel her eyes on me. "Ugh, your kids would be so cute!" She says finally and I double over laughing.

"Are you sure you don't have a thing for Cameron?"

"What? No, silly! I don't have a thing for him, but he's definitely fun to look at, that's all!"

I shake my head at her and we keep walking. "Well thanks for the picture. While I'm mostly confused at the description, I think I have an okay image to go off of."

She squeezes my hand, "no problem. If you want, I can describe Taylor and Kaitlyn to you as well!"

I laugh as she launches into forming a picture of the princesses for me to keep in my mind. She says she's jealous of their beauty, and specifically their hair. While Taylor's blonde and Kate's a ginger, they both have similar long, crazy curls that reach the middle of their backs. Kate's eyes are hazel like Cameron's, but Taylor has vibrant blue ones — apparently they're a lot like mine.

Both are tall, taller than both Brynlee and I, but Cameron's taller than even Taylor — who stands at five, eleven. That's not uncommon for a wolf though. Many are near that height, and the guys are often much taller. I am not, but that's not a surprise either.

"Well here's your room," Bryn announces. "Do you need me for anything?"

I shake my head, reaching for the door handle. "I'll be okay, you go get dressed. I'll meet you back downstairs, okay?"

"Okay, see ya." I hear her walk off and I close the door to the room. With my hands in front of me, I walk around the room until my foot catches the backpack on the ground beside the bed. I crouch down and pull out pants and then a long sleeved shirt. I also find an apple and a granola bar at the bottom and, realizing I'm finally hungry, I sit down on the floor and eat before getting dressed.