J.ade, A.ir D.efying E.lementalist

XIII:Beyond Her Reach

Chapter 13 - Beyond Her Reach

“Hey, Jade. Are you even listening?” Gale waves his hand in front of my face interrupting my reflecting.

“Stop that!” I shove his hands away.

“I have been talking for hours here,” he says acting very hurt. I roll my eyes.

Last night I slept on the tree watching the sun rise and when I woke up, I found myself sleeping on the base of the tree and En gone. I was a bit angry that he didn’t leave a word but thankful he brought me down, if not, I would have fell and have my breath knocked off me.

“I’m sorry, okay? I just didn’t sleep right.” I reason. We are currently outside Ash. The other Rounins lurking outside the gates, like us, waiting for the trains that would carry us to Lyran.

“Why?” Chesca asks.

“Well, I slept at the woods, near the lake, up a tree branch,” I reply. I decide my telling about my new friend to them will depend on their response.

“You slept on a tree branch?” Jay interrupts. He is reading a book and I didn’t know he is listening. I glance at him then nod.

“You didn’t fall?” Gale asks his voice a little frantic.

“Yes I did. That is why I am here, unharmed,” I reply sarcastically.

Gale’s face turned serious. I look at Chesca and Jay; their faces are serious, too.

“Hey!” I say then continue, “I woke up on the base of the tree, okay? I didn’t fall. I have no scratch on me.”

“Wow, how?” Jay asks, their expressions relax a bit.

“Apparently a friend carried me down somehow.” I chuckle then add, “I am such a dork, I slept there.”

“You did? Save her?” Jay turns on Gale asking him.

Gale shakes his head “Chesca did?” Jay and Gale turn on Chesca. Chesca shakes her head.

Chesca rounds on me, stifling her giggles “Who did?” she points her finger at me, demanding an answer in a laughable way. We laugh out loud. The other Rounins close to us looks warily at our group then look away.

“It’s En,” I say whispering, suddenly shy.

The laughing stops abruptly. I look at them and smile sheepishly.

“Color me very curious,” Chesca says, I hint a tinge of teasing in her voice.

“Yeah. Color me too.” Gale adds.

Jay then says, “Paint me.” His expression indifferent but I smile then tell them about the lake and how I found En there. I tell them we talked but didn’t go into details; I tell them we just countered each others sarcastic remarks. Then tell them I slept at a tree and wake up to find him gone and me sleeping under a tree with my back very stiff.

Chesca winks knowingly at me. I ignore her, I don’t know exactly if I should wink back or give her a dismissive look.

“Okay,” Jay says expression impassive.

“You have something for him, don’t you?” Gale teases.

“What?” I blurt, shock registeres at my face then I feel my cheeks getting warm. Damn. Before my face could ret anymore tomato-ish I counter, “Did you just say that?”

“No, I did not.” he looks away and whistle a little too nonchalantly.

“Unbelievable,” I whisper and hear Jay scoff.