Well. This is Awkward
I stayed under my covers all night. Half of me wondered if they would turn up at some point and ask me what the hell I was thinking.
I must have looked like the worst creep. Watching them as they...
Um. Did that.
Part of me is tempted to just stay hiding in my shack for the rest of my life and never leave again but I promised Gray that I would start the school schedules today.
I groan and make a game plan. Don't look them in the eye. Don't talk to them. Throw myself off the nearest cliff.
Perfect.
New clothes are sitting near my front door - a dress this time. It's simple and soft and fits perfectly on me. I try not to think about where it came from and exactly whose dress it was that I was wearing.
Outside the chatter is loud but after yesterday it's a relief to hear all the voices again. I understand now what Bobbin meant when he said that the men grow on you like a fungus.
Outside I carefully go the long way around past Nik, Caspian, and Bjorn's shelter and once I'm at the fire I do a quick glance around the make sure they're not there. Perfect - in and out, then all that's left is to find myself a nice cliff.
I sneak back to my shelter after visiting Gray and grabbing all the quills and paper that I need. I'm almost at my door when two large arms wrap around me holding my arms to my chest. "It's just me Princess, try to not take me out."
I twist around in Nik's arms careful not to look at him. Footsteps sound to the left and right of me and I'm suddenly aware that I'm surrounded.
"Oh... um. Hello." I'm so red I can feel the heat radiating off my cheeks but I still keep my eyes firmly on the ground.
Caspian laughs and comes up on my left side, nuzzling his cheek to mine, "Come on, Love. I think after the show you saw last night we can get a better hello than that."
I try to move and run back to my shelter but Nik's arms are solid and I couldn't move if I tried.
"Stop squirming, Princess. And look me in the eyes.
Now."
I want to disobey but something in his voice makes me do as I'm told.
I look first at Nik and then Caspian and Bjorn.
"I'm so sorry - I really didn't mean to see, um, what I saw.
I did knock but you didn't hear me and then just wanted to see you guys, you know, after the campaign and make sure that everyone's alright but -"
"Juliette.
" Bjorn's voice is deep and sends a small shiver down my spine. "We're not mad."
"Oh... Why not?"
Caspian laughs softly in my hair, "For a reason you're probably not ready to hear."
My imagination runs wild but I don't land on a reply for Caspian.
"Oh."
Nik lets me go and steps back only for Caspian and Bjorn to step closer. Bjorn twirls a piece of my hair in his hands and my sight stays fixed on the golden curl wrapped around his finger. He sighs and then steps back as well leaving only Caspian near me.
"Can I kiss you, Juliette?" Caspian voice is a whisper and I blush as both Nik and Bjorn look intently at us.
"Where? On my cheek?" I whisper back. I can't help but tease him a little because I'm so thrown off my usual footing that laughing seems like the best option.
Caspian smirks, "I can think of somewhere else I'd much prefer to kiss."
This time my forehead scrunches in genuine confusion. "Where?"
"You'll find out soon enough, love." He goes to step back but I grab his wrist before he can.
"Please kiss me. Only on the cheek though.
" I can't believe my own bold words and the moment I say them my face reddens.
Caspian smiles and brings his face close to mine, "Is this okay, love?
"
I nod and then I feel his soft lips brush against my cheek.
The sensation sends butterflies catapulting through my stomach.
Caspian grins at me again and steps back to Nik and Bjorn who had watched the whole interaction with heated eyes.
"See you later, Princess."
"Goodbye, Love."
"See you soon, Darling."
All three of them disappear into the heart of the camp and I'm left holding my armful of quills and paper and wondering what the hell just happened.
I make several copies of the schedule for the kids that include the topics they're going to learn as well. Standing, I grab all the schedules and make my way to the Kids Quarter of Merrywood.
Bobbin and Pasha are chasing each other about with sticks as Anya watches on in quiet amusement. Leo and Wren are practice sword fighting in a clear area and Oliver and Finn sit rapt at the boys' quick movements.
"Hey guys! Would you mind coming over here for a second?
" I yell across the clearing.
All the kids look at me and smile running over to surround me quickly.
"Miss Juliette!"
"Miss!"
"Morning, Miss Juliette!
"
All of them crowd me and I giggle, "All right guys, one at a time line up and get your schedule. "
Bobbin bounds over and ends up first in line with Oliver pushing to make second. Leo laughs and allows all the other children to go in front of him and takes up last place.
"Here you go. Now I realise you guys can't read yet so I've started off with pictures and some trigger words.
We'll go over the schedules in Language Class first thing and then begin with the basics.
On Mondays we will start with Language, Astronomy and Maths.
Wednesdays will be Maths, Language and Music and Fridays will be Maths, Music and Astronomy.
Now Gray will be taking some Language classes and all of the Astronomy classes and I will be taking the Maths, Music and some Language classes. "
The kids all nodded in interest but I noticed Bobbin was already getting slightly distracted. I'd have to figure out a way to keep him involved in the lessons.
"I'm planning on asking some other people around the camp to run occasional lessons like Cooking and Physical Training as well. Is that something you guys would be interested in?"
All of the kids nod and Anya comes closer to me to tug on my sleeve.
"Nomvikia, Juliette. Will I be able to... um... do Physical Training? I know I'm a girl. Dokavche teu jvezalij dz revela Shaeweda.
(Excuse me, Juliette... - they didn't like that in Shaeweda.)
"Of course, Anya." I nod passionately, "you can do whatever classes you want."
For the first time since I've know her she gives me a small smile and I notice Pasha's shoulders relax slightly. The poor children need a chance to just be kids and not have to worry about anything.
Finn and Wren come up and give me a side hug before sprinting away followed soon after by the rest of the kids until I'm left alone with Leo.
"Your extra Language classes will be held on Tuesdays and Sundays if that's still okay with you?
"
Leo grins and nods, "sounds great.
Thank you, Miss."
"It's my absolute pleasure, Leo.
You have a wonderful family here," I nod my head towards the group of kids surrounding Bobbin and Wren who are now wrestling in the dirt.
Leo nods, his eyes serious. "I know.
" He takes off in the direction of the group to try and seperate Bobbin and Wren before anyone gets actually hurt.
I need to go and find Bjorn and ask him to run some cooking classes. Although thinking back on what happened earlier I might give it a day. Or two.