I tiptoe past a loudly snoring Nine, not because he is sleeping but because Ella is curled up in the chair next to him. With Setrakus Ra keeping her awake for fear of nightmares, the only real sleep she gets are the little naps throughout the day.
I make my way to the Lecture Hall. I was going to practice my aim, but with Ella asleep I am just going so that I'm up doing something. Being trapped in the pent house somehow remind me of being back in the convent. Except without Adalina.
Eight is in the form of a tiger and Bernie Koser a black panther. They are playfully wrestling. Eight gets ready to pounce but BK beats him to the punch and ends up knocking him on his back.
"Common Eight! Are you really gonna let a little beagle beat you?!" I shout to eight. BK hops off of eight and turns back into his beagle form. Eight also changes back.
"In my defense, you distracted me," chuckles Eight, he gets up and brushes his shirt off. I walk over to the gun rack.
"Do you know which one of these is the quietest?" I ask Eight, picking one up with my telekinesis.
"Probably not that one," Eight laughs, picking it up and putting it back on the rack. He hands me a smaller one. "I had Malcolm put a silencers on a few of these, considering Ella and all." He picks up a similar gun as mine and makes his way to the targets.
"You did that for Ella?" I smile.
"Well yes, but also for you," Eight lines himself up and shoots, hitting a few centimeters away from the center.
"For me?" I ask, blushing. Why would Eight need to do something specifically for me? I line up my gun and shoot at a stuffed Mog, hitting him in the shoulder. Eight sets his gun down and walks towards me.
"Well sure, I know how close you are with her," Eight says. He stands behind me with his arms on the outside of mine. His are hands close around my hands, so that I aim where he wants. He realigns my aim and shoots, hitting the Mog square in the chest.
"You don't need to do anything for me," I say, I'm glad he's behind me so he can't see the red hot blush painting my cheeks. I feel his grip tighten a little.
"Well sure I do, Marina. You found my chest. You saved my life," he says, realigning my aim again. We shoot and hit the Mog in between his black eyes. He lowers the gun and leans his head towards me. "You made me love you," he whispers in my ear. His warm breath tickles my neck and sends chills through my entire body. I'm getting goosebumps. Eight in love with me? I let out a sigh. Eight gently turns me so that I'm facing him.
"You're blushing," he says, smiling. I smile a little, too. At least I think I do. My brain is a jumbled mess. I cannot even process what's happening. Eight in love with me? Eight is in love with me! Eight gingery rubs his nose against mine.
"I love you too," I whisper, unable to raise my voice. Eight wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me too him. I put my hands on his neck. He leans his forehead down to mine. We stay like this, and just enjoying each other. Then he moves his head to the side and kisses me. This kiss wasn't like the first kiss. This kiss was soft and gentle and passionate. I forget about everything. The Mogs, Setrakus Ra, Ella's nightmares. Everything. I could stay in that kiss forever. I pull away when I hear the door open. It's Ella. I pull away abruptly.
"Eight?" She asks, "Could you ask Nine to stop snoring so loudly?" Eight and I both laugh.
"Alright," laughs Eight. He jogs out of the Lecture Hall, I watch as he jumps over the couch, onto a very surprised Nine. Ella walks over to me with a huge grin on her face.
"I knew you too had something going on," she giggles.