THE SORTING

THE GIRL

The rest of the date went by smoothly. It was like a dream. Dom was attentive and invested in being with me, in knowing me. He had asked me some trivial questions that are unimportant in the grand scheme of things but meant the world to me in that moment. He asked what my favorite flower was. Water lilies. My favorite book. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. My favorite food. Spaghetti. I asked him things as well, which he answered unapologetically. His favorite food. Pizza. His favorite hobby. Archery. His favorite movie. The Godfather Part 2. We basked in the light of each other all afternoon. We had barely noticed when it started to get dark. If I was honest, I don't even remember eating the food he packed until we started to clean up the dirty plates and empty containers. And it didn't matter. I'm sure the food was great but I didn't care to try to recall the flavors. Dom was all I could think about.

"So, are you like, my boyfriend?" I asked awkwardly, grabbing the silverware. Dom smiled.

"Do you want me to be your boyfriend?" He teased. I rolled my eyed in mock annoyance. "I'll be whatever you want me to be, little one," Dom said with a smile. I beamed back at him.

After everything was put back in the basket, Dom grabbed it. As we stood, I picked up the blanket. We charged back through the trees towards the castle on cloud nine. Our empty hands grasped together as one. I turned my head to look up at Dom, smiling on the inside and on the outside. I had never been so content. Being a human, mostly, and growing up in the colonies was mostly about survival. We weren't dying per se, but we weren't thriving either. I had never had time to take in the good parts of my life for very long. And the fact that I was able to do so now, well, I wasn't going to take it for granted. I couldn't help but remember my old life and feel bad for those who were still there, like my father, mother and Jaxon. One day, I would try to help them. All of them. But for right now, this was my time to feel good. And if this is what true happiness felt like, I'm not sure I ever felt it back home.

Dom and I cleared the last row of trees and were now entering the front yard of the castle. I had my head down, blatantly aware of how it looked to be coming back from the woods, standing so close to one another. I dropped Dom's hand, not wanting to cause drama or be the center of any rumors. I could feel Dom's curious stare on me. But before I could explain, we were interrupted.

I heard her before I saw her.

"DOM!" a high pitched scream entered my ears. I looked up from the ground toward it. A girl around my age had caught both of our attention. She ran in our direction, gracefully and desperately. She was gorgeous. Her light brown hair laid straight down her back, the wind securing it behind her. She was taller and lean. She wore sneakers, leggings, and a baggy sweatshirt, but I could still tell that she was fit. As she got closer, I could make out her facial features. She had bushy eyebrows that framed her blue eyes perfectly. Her oval face had a medium sized nose and lips. Every one of her features were average but together, they made her look like a goddess. I sunk a little as she neared us, feeling inadequate. My eyes were cast down due to my insecurities so I couldn't see Dom, but I bet he was captivated by her. Anyone would be. She arrived where Dom and I were and I looked up, out of respect and curiosity. But what she did next hit me like a ton of bricks.

Her toned arms wrapped around Dom's neck as she pulled him in for a kiss.

She kissed him.

And he just stood there.

He didn't fight her off. He didn't push her away. He let her kiss him.

I can't say that I was sad. Or angry. Or upset. Or shocked. Or hurt. I was numb. In that moment, I felt nothing. It was almost as if every part of me broke at the same time. I couldn't process what was happening in front of me. I didn't even cry. I was completely paralyzed.

The kiss lasted only a second or two, though it felt like a lifetime. My heartbeat was so loud I could barely hear anything else. Barely.

"I missed you baby," she cooed, rubbing her hands on his arms. The same arms that held me minutes ago and assured me that I was worth love, attention, and care. My head was frozen in their direction, my eyes refusing to blink. It was like watching a train wreck unfold, except, instead of a train, it was my heart that was being destroyed.

I took a few steps backwards, trying to remove myself from their interaction and save what was left of my pride, dignity, and heart. This movement must have triggered something in Dom because, suddenly, he acted. He grabbed her by the arms and removed her from him. His head swung in my direction, a look of fear and desperation coated his features. Before he could speak, I ran.

I kept running. Even when I heard Dom call for me. Even when I stormed through the castle and up the stairs. Even when I could feel everyone in the vicinity looking at me. Even when my feet started to hurt, and my lungs started to burn. I only stopped when I reached my room. I slammed the door shut and locked it, so I could be alone. I didn't want to see anyone, especially Dom. I suddenly felt disgusting. It disgusted me that Dom could hold me like that, and make me feel the way he did, and it was all a lie. I felt used and manipulated. I made my way to the bathroom and turned on the shower, wondering how today had gone from perfect to awful. Only when I was in the shower, under the water, did I let the tears I had somehow held back, run free.