Runaway

Chapter Fourteen

Magnolia looked back and forth between Chase and Slate in confusion but neither one of them would look at her. Chase took a few unsteady steps forward before Slate walked quickly up to him and wrapped his arms around Chase.

Chase tugged Slate into him, closing his eyes. "My brother, I've missed you."

Magnolia widened her eyes as she watched them hug on, seeing no resemblance. Slate's pale skin did not match Chase's brown tone.

Slate slowly backed away, his eyes lit in happiness. But as if to remember something terrible, his face transferred into sadness and horror. Chase shook his head, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Thank you for listening to me. You shouldn't feel bad, Slate. It's in the past, and you actually did something smart for once." He winked at his brother who began to open his mouth in reply but got interrupted by Magnolia, who couldn't handle the confusion anymore as she blurted.

"Wait. You guys are brothers?" She said, pointing back and forth between the two of them.

They both grinned at her at the exact same time, causing her to blink like she was in some nightmare.

"Technically." Chase shrugged, crossing his arms. "But I have confusion of my own as well. What's the lovely princess doing with my brother, and how did she escape the castle?"

"How do you know Chase?" Slate asked, running a hand through his hair, now also confused.

Magnolia bit her lip as Chase raised a single eyebrow at her. She remembered the feeling of his lips against hers, and could almost still taste it. She quickly shrugged it off, blushing slightly. "Um, he was in the cells with me. Good times, right?" She coughed, glancing away awkwardly.

Chase was obviously soaking in the uncomfortable stage she was in, smirking deviously. "Slate, did you know she was such a good kisser?"

Slate whipped his head at Magnolia, whose face got even more redder. And then Slate was crouching down in laughter, trying to gain his breath back.

"Oh God. That was hilarious. That made my day. Just wait until Dakota finds out." Slate said once he finally calmed down. Chase smiled brightly at his brother, as Magnolia shouted at Slate that if he ever told Dakota she would be so mad and have Brylee twist his neck in his sleep.

"Relax, sweetheart. Slate won't tell your boyfriend. Right, brother?" Chase slapped Slate on the back, who bit his lip and rolled his eyes.

"Not my boyfriend."

Chase shoved his hands into his pockets, "Sorry for assuming, my lady. It's just that if he wasn't your boyfriend you wouldn't care if Slate said anything to him so..."

"Shut up, please." Magnolia folded her arms across her chest, aware that she was wearing Dakota's shirt. Slate kept glancing at Chase in admiration and before she knew it, they were walking away in deep conversation. They were almost identical. Both very sarcastic, rude, unintelligent, and never knowing when to keep their mouth shut.

She turned on her heel only to collide into Dakota and his mop of bedhead.

"Oh, um, hi." Magnolia stuttered, hoping he didn't hear any of the last five minutes. He had put on a black t-shirt that smelled of trees and flowers. Dakota slowly scanned her outfit, his smirk widening. Magnolia stood there awkwardly, before realizing something.

"Can we talk?" She asked, reaching up and running a hand through his hair so she could see his eyes. He nodded, ushering her outside.

The cool air sent chills up her arm as she relaxed by the river. Arrow had surprisingly waited outside the hotel doors for her and was again following her like a magnet. Magnolia smiled, reaching down to pet his long, soft fur. It was weird not being surrounded by trees anymore, but it was good for a change. Dakota sat down next to her, placing an arm around her shoulders and causing her to lean back into his shoulder. She sighed, closing her eyes in the scent of him. His thumb circled its way around her shoulder carefully.