Be My Star

Chapter Three; Danger in a new life

Chapter Three

Danger in a new life

She opened the bag and found a long sleeved shirt. She pulled it on, buttoning it over her ruined dress. She also found a pair of leather hunting boots. She pulled them on. They were far too big for her. She felt a fool. But she had no time to feel her woes as Jake came in through the flap.

He took one look at her and burst into spontanious laughter. She stared at him, tears brimming in her eyes. How mean of him to make fun of her. He was laughing so hard, clutching his stomach. Melissa finally found her voice.

“All you can do is laugh, just because you’re well off and have no need to worry,” She whispered.

Tears were threatening to spill. But she had no need to care. He stopped laughing and looked at her. She stared back at him, not looking down. Her mother would be ashamed of her right now. But she didn’t care. All she could feel was hurt.

“Hey,” He lifted her chin up to face him, and she looked into his bright green eyes.

“You look beautiful in your over sized clothes. Don’t fret about it,” he gave a small chuckle.

“I feel silly,” She whispered.

“You look silly,” he retorted.

“Oh thanks,” She gave him a look of displeasure.

He chuckled and took a step back, a brief glance at his shoes, looking back up and smiling at her. The same carefree smile. Dazzling.

“Oh, I came to say dinner’s ready. I hope you don’t mind ‘Grilled le pigeon,” He laughed a brisk laugh, wild and outrageous.

His laugh made her shiver, something about it frightened her. It was just so rough, raw, exhilerating. He looked at her meaningfully, waiting for an answer. He knew he had scared her and that suited him just fine. She gave a meek nod and looked down at her big, chunky boots. They were brown leather, full with buckles and straps. He coughed and left the tent without another word.

She took a breath, which she had realised she’d been holding. She quickly smoothed her hair down, and wiped her eyes. Jake had left a bowl of water for her and she washed her face, rubbing at her eyes as if to rub away all the things she’d seen away. Of course it didn’t work. She only remembered more vividly. She walked out of her tent, and joined the men to eat. Piggeons. Never in her life had she been so low. She was used to cavier, roast beef and champagne. This was disturbing. But she had no choice.

“Here you go ma’am,” Arthur handed her a plate of pigeon. She didn’t look at it.

“Thanks,” She whispered. She looked down. It was not respectful to look up at the Nobles. She knew that. She didn’t touch her pigeon.

“We wouldn’t be eating pigeon if it weren’t for Jake losing our supplies,” Arthur explained.

Melissa nodded. Jake just laughed. Once again, dazzling her.

“Yeah, I guess it was kind of my fault. Although I told you not to trust me with supplies,” he flashed a smile at Arthur. Arthur rolled his eyes and smiled apologeticly at Melissa.

“It is fine,” She replied, still looking down.

“So may you grace us with your name?” Arthur enquired.

She froze. What would she say? She knew she could not speak her real name.

“Anna,” she whispered.

Another thing she noticed, she no longer spoke boldly. She had become timid instead of her normally loud self. She was always whispering and she didn’t know why. She was lost. Undeniably lost.