Defender of the Realm

2 - Tree Real-Estate and Oh Look Fire

After coming apart from our hug, we settled back on the bench. I couldn't help but stare at my spilled cocoa on the ground and regret dropping it.

My brows scrunched with thought and pain, as I turned my focus inward.

Why are they back? This can't be happening-not again...oh my god-I can't do this all again...I...I...thought that I was done with those, why did they have to come back at a time like this? I'm supposed to-I'm supposed to be stronger now, but all I feel is...weakness.

My shoulders slumped as I dealt with a whirlwind of emotions.

Relief that it was over. Love for Sam's comfort. Worry that everything was starting all over again. Anger that I'm still so weak. And finally, fear that it would happen again.

I took a few more deep breaths as I focused on Sam, pushing my negative feelings into a tightly sealed bottle that I could deal with later.

"So...do you want to talk about what caused that attack?" She approached the topic carefully, probably afraid that it would set me off again.

I winced at the question, "I'd rather not, while it's still fresh. Maybe some other time?"

The girl nodded in understanding, "Is there anything else you wanted to talk about? How have you been sleeping lately?"

"Actually, I'd rather you talk. I need something else to focus on so can you rant about something? I could think of at least one thing." I gave a small smile, hoping she might let loose whoever was making her starry-eyed this week.

With a nervous laugh, my best friend launched into a ramble about what she found to be today's most interesting gossip.

I fought to listen to her as I tried to count the number of freckles dusted over her nose and cheeks. At one particularly loud part, she turned so I faced her side. I lost count of them after that and turned towards the direction she faced, continuing to try and listen.

A petal floated down from above me and settled on my lap. I thought nothing of it at first, and brushed the petal off. That was until two more fell, replacing the first in almost the exact spot.

I zoned out as I looked at them in confusion. I would have thought it to be a coincidence, for a few petals to fall on me, but it was the exact place the other had been, and fell merely seconds after the last.

Slowly, I turned my gaze upward to the sprawling branches of the tree. For a moment, all I saw were hundreds, maybe thousands of pink blossoms. But a part of the tree trunk caught my eye. It looked strange for some reason. Squinting, I stared at it for several moments - that's when I saw him.

I gasped quietly in shock - as one does when faced with a familiar stranger, hanging out in the tree above you - finding out that he was watching me.

People are funny like that, getting in your way when you least expect it, and I most certainly did not expect to run into his beanpole boy bod.

•••

Class just ended, it felt like it flew by, from all the fun we had. I was still laughing from the last minute-to-win-it game we were playing, when the bell rang and I started walking out into the hall. The only problem was, I ran into something first.

Bumping into the wall that I didn't quite remember being in the middle of the hall, I stumbled back as I clutched my nose from the unexpected, and rather hard collision.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, are you okay?" A voice cut through the dull pain, as I looked up at the owner.

He stood in front of me, a look of concern painting his warm olive tone face. Turned out, the wall was actually just a really tall person, how annoying.