Chapter 5
Genevieve
Genevieve.
He called me Genevieve.
He’s been calling me sweetheart, and now, all of a sudden, he knows my name? We didn’t introduce ourselves by name.
Confusion hits me. I thought he’d been calling me sweetheart because he didn’t know. But he does.
“Can I hold the map? You walk slowly, like a snail.” I tease, feeling awkward immediately afterwards.
“No, you cannot.” He answers, his tone dominant and deep.
“Why? I walk faster than you, and I want to get there as soon as
possible.”
“I don’t trust you, sweetheart. You could easily take it and fly away from me, leaving me here all alone, fragile and scared. And now, I wouldn’t want you to leave me all by myself, would I?” The tease was instantly returned, sharp and pointed.
“I’ve told you to stop calling me sweetheart.”
“I know, but I like it. And it’s cute.” He says with a charming smile and admiration in his eyes.
Suddenly, a burning sensation spreads across my cheeks. He thinks it’s cute calling me that? Does he think I’m cute?
I can’t let myself get all lovey-dovey over this handsome guy. I’m getting my sister back. And I’m only doing this with him because he has the map, it’s the only option I have to reach her.
How could I even think like that, use him like that? I’ve never felt more awful in my entire life.
We’ve been walking for what feels like weeks. This forest must come to an end eventually. Right as I’m about to ask him if we’re getting closer, a beautiful wishing well comes into view. It’s in a dark shade of gray and has deep green vines growing all around its stones.
“Is that it?” I let out in excitement, my finger pointing forward as I ran over to it.
“Are you serious? Do you genuinely think it would be that easy? It’s one of the wells that are placed out to fool you.” He rolled his eyes, and impatience radiated right off him.
“No need to be spiteful,” the words come out, and at the same time, a wave of shame washes over me. “Can we just take a rest here? I’m starting to get tired.”
“No, we can’t. You wanted to get there as fast as possible, and that won’t happen if you need to rest all the time.”
“All the time? I’ve asked you once.” I argue.
“Exactly, and my answer is no. Come on now, keep going.”
”You’re such a jerk.” I murmur to myself, not wanting him to hear me.
“What was that?”
I stare at him in shock. He didn’t hear me? I was as quiet as a mouse. “What was what?”
“What did you call me?”
“Nothing.” I answer, my voice thick with nervousness , my body freezing to ice for a split second.
Taking a few steps forward, he stops right in front of me, pressing his body against my chest. He takes one of my pink locks in his hand, twirling it around his fingers. Simultaneously, the temperature in my body soars warmer.
“Those steps were fast, see you can walk fast! You’re not a snail after all.” The words roll off my tongue.
Nervous, I feel my heart pounding against my ribs as I look into his eyes, his aquamarine ones staring right back at me. The contact makes my breath catch, my chest rises and falls with a depth I haven’t felt before.
“You know, I thought you were a good girl. So tell me what you just called me.”
My eyes widen. “I didn’t...“
“Tell me.”
“I called you a jerk.” I whisper, unable to look into his eyes.
“Behave.”
My jaw dropped, and my knees instantly felt weak.
Letting go of my hair, he keeps walking like nothing happened. Like he didn’t feel what just happened between the two of us. The warmth, the electricity.
I sure couldn’t ignore the way my skin had prickled.
I stood still, not being able to move a muscle as my entire body turned to ice, processing every word that just came out of his mouth.
I thought you were a good girl. Behave.
I’m going to bury myself.
Looking around, I notice that he’s a bit too far away. Did he walk faster than before or did I stand here, drooling for too long?
Spreading my wings, I fly towards him. Lost in my thoughts, I crash right into his muscular back and fall to the ground.
Ouch.
Turning around, he extends his hand and helps me up. Letting him take my hand into his, it’s impossible to ignore the burning sensation that appears between us once again.
Back on my feet, he lets go of me and continues walking without saying a word.
I saw the smirk on his face before he turned around. It was more than a smirk, it was almost like he had realized how our touch affected one another. It was the way his entire face froze for a split second, but the warmth lingered no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
I don’t know how far we’ve come, but I hope there’s not much left. My stomach is twisting and turning, and I'm starting to feel hungry.
Suddenly, I notice that he doesn’t have anything with him except the map in his hands.
I tap his shoulder, “Excuse me, the guy without a name.”
We’re not friends, but I can’t let him go hungry.
“Yes? I do have a name. It’s Ector.”
“Oh, Ector then.” I’ve never heard that name before, but it suits him perfectly.
It’s impossible to stop staring at his beautiful stormy ocean eyes when they reflect both mystery and calmness. His almost pitch-black fluffy hair and knife sharp jawline add to his perfect look.
He’s so handsome.
His clothes are dark, black and oversized. His hoodie drapes over him almost like there's something to hide underneath it.
“So handso-“
“What?”
My head starts shaking. I can’t believe I almost said that out loud.
“Are you hungry? I brought some food if you’d like to eat with me. I got apples, a pear, and some berries.” I say in an attempt to change the subject I almost created.
He looks at me like it’s odd to offer him something to eat, which makes me feel nervous, as if I did something that I shouldn’t have.