The Soul: Life and Love

The Soul: Life and Love

Chapter 1: Frightened

"Oof!" I said out of annoyance, for more than one reason. First, a strand of my wavy golden hair had gotten out of my messy bun. Second, I couldn't push it back because my hands were covered in dough. Third, people wouldn't let me work. And the last reason, Ian wasn't here, he was off working in the fields.

I tried to push my hair back, but instead, I just got dough on my face.

"Here, let me help you with that," a very familiar voice said while he pushed the strand out of my face.

I turned around to find Ian – my Ian – standing in front of me, smiling from ear to ear, and sapphire eyes shining.

"Ian!" I yelled, happiness bursting through me.

"Hello Wanda. How was your day?" Ian asked, all the while walking closer to me, sending my heart into a frantic rhythm.

"Um…it was...o-okay," I replied, the crippling shyness making me look anywhere but Ian's face. "How was your day?"

"Not so good," Ian said, putting his arms around my tiny waist and pulling me towards him. Did he not know that his one touch sent heat coursing through me, changing everything about me?

However, his answer had me immediately looking up, searching for any injury inflicted on Ian.

"Ian, are you okay? What's wrong?" Concern filling my tone. I put my hand on his cheek, and he leaned into it. But I immediately pulled it back, remembering that I had doughy hands and now it was on Ian's cheek. "I'm sorry," I said, with a blush filling my cheeks.

"Wanda," Ian sighed, "you need to stop worrying so much. I'm not hurt. It's just," Ian put one finger under my chin to pull my face up so I could look at him, "I missed you. I don't like being away from you."

His answer brought another round of blush, making it hard for me to answer.

"I…missed you too," I said while looking down.

"So, do you want help with that?" Ian asked, pointing towards the dough.

"No, it's okay. I'm almost done. Besides, you should take a break from work, you look really tired." And he did. Ian looked exhausted; his eyes were barely staying open.

"I could say the same thing about you, Wanda." I groaned. But it was true, all the kneading were making my arms ache. But, just because it was true, that didn't mean I was going to admit it.

"I'm perfectly fine Ian. You go clean up. By the time you finish, it'll be time for dinner." I said. But, Ian was looking at me concerned. I rolled my eyes; Ian was too protective when it concerned me.

"Really Ian. I'm fine. Go ahead and freshen up." I pushed him out, but my arms were too weak to make him move even an inch. But he moved anyway, helping my efforts.

"Okay. I'll see you at dinner." Ian kissed me on the forehead and left for the river rooms.

I returned to my dough, kneading it so it would be ready after dinner to make rolls.

Just as I started to knead the dough, Heidi – who was kneading the dough beside me as well – began to giggle.

"What?" I asked suddenly self conscious.

"Nothing, it's just that I find you two so adorable. You guys make a cute couple." Heidi finished.

"Oh." And the shyness overtook me again and I blushed.

"But," Trudy began; I looked up at her to see that she was smiling at me. "Don't you think that he's a little overprotective?"

"Well, I find it sweet." Heidi answered.

"True," Trudy agreed. "He never has been this happy ever since he got together with Wanda."

They continued to talk, while the red in my cheeks darkened. I finally finished kneading my dough and was washing the leftover dough off my hands when Jamie came running into the kitchen.

"Jamie!" I yelled.

"Hey Wanda!" Jamie said. He patted the top of my head, since he could reach it now. I just rolled my eyes; but smiled at Jamie.

"Where have you been Jamie? I hardly saw you today." I complained.

"Well, I got held up in class. Sharon gave me detention, again," Jamie explained. His tone was feigning a bit too much of innocence.

"Well you're here now. You hungry Jamie?"

"Yeah. I'm starved!" Jamie said. "What's for dinner?"

"We have bread rolls, soup, sandwiches and chocolate bars." Jamie's eyes lit up with our menu. "Do one thing, save us a counter and I'll go get us some dinner," I suggested.

"You sure Wanda? All that food may be heavy for you to carry."

"It's okay Jamie. I'll get it. Just go get us a good counter." With that, I left to go get some food for Jamie, me and Ian, who would be joining us soon.

The tray was heavy, since everything I listed that was for dinner was on it and that too tripled, but I managed. I was almost to the counter when I tripped and was about to fall when two strong arms caught me by the waist. I looked up, embarrassed, to find that Ian had returned from his bath and looked quite refreshed.

Ian immediately took the tray of food from my hands – I pouted, they always took things from my hands that were too heavy for me - and started to head towards the counter with me in tow.

"You know you could have asked for help Wanda." Ian said, slightly amused of my expression.

"I didn't need any help. I was fine." I said defensively. If I was going to live in these caves, I had to learn to pull my own weight. Of course, that couldn't happen if people constantly took the work straight out of my hands.

"Wanda," was all Ian said.

By then, we had reached our counter, with Jamie waiting patiently. As soon as Ian set the tray down – he sat down and immediately pulled me to his side, with his arm around my waist – Jamie took his food and started to eat like he had been fasting for days. I smiled in affection, my Jamie.

"You might want to slow down kid, or you'll choke," Ian said jokingly, beginning to eat as well. Jamie just shrugged and continued to eat.

That was all we talked about, all of us were too hungry to try to even make conversation. And also we had something different to eat today besides tough bread rolls and soup; we had options.

I was done eating and was leaning against Ian's shoulder as him and Jamie continued to eat. No later, Jared and Melanie joined us.

"Hey Mel, Hey Jared," I said in greeting, interrupted with a yawn.

"Hey Wanda, you look tired. Work too much today." Melanie said with a smirk as she sat down beside Jared.

"No. Just the usual. I hardly worked at all today." But to prove me wrong again, I yawned. Jared chuckled.

"Well we were wondering if you guys would like to start the day off tomorrow with a game of soccer. Kyle has been itching to play," Jared said while taking a bite out of his sandwich. "And we though it would be nice to take a break from all the work."

"Really! Yes! I've been waiting to play." Jamie said excitedly.

"Sure, sure. I'm in." Ian said.

"What about you Wanda? Don't you want to play?" Melanie asked.

"No, sorry. I don't think my body's up for playing. I'd probably just be in your way." I said. This body wasn't use to such games; she was never interested to even try. So she didn't have the endurance to play, with all the running and exercise.

"Oh, c'mon Wanda. It'll be fun!" Jamie complained.

"I'll still be there Jamie. I'll keep score like I always do." I said.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Melanie, Jared and Ian sigh in relief. Why they did that, I don't know. From that reaction, I knew that they were hiding something from me. I mean, why else would they just decide to have a game for soccer in the morning. My intuition told me that they didn't want me anywhere else in the caves. What were they up to?

Just then, a big yawn came, I tried to stop it, but they saw it anyway.

"Ok, I think it's time we head to the games room for bed. You should rest. You worked hard today." Ian said, while lifting me up in his arms easily.

"Not as much as other people have. And I can walk you know. You don't need to carry me." I said, but I liked the feeling of his strong arms around me; I felt safe, protected.

"I just don't want you to faint because you have been working so hard. And I don't mind carrying you," Ian finished. I was about to say something but he began to walk. Before we left the room, I saw Ian give Jared and Melanie a meaningful look and they nodded. This just added on to my doubts about what they were hiding from me.

We entered the games room and Ian set me down before lying down beside me. It was still the monsoon season so everyone still had to sleep in the games room. Personally, I loved the rain. It was a nice change, better then the same old skies everyday. He pulled me towards him so that my face was rested comfortably on his chest and his arm was wound tightly around my waist. I found this to be the perfect opportunity to ask what that meaningful look meant that he had given to Jared and Melanie.

"Ian," I asked.

"Yes Wanda," Ian replied; completely exhausted.

"You aren't keeping something from are you?"

"What would make you think that Wanda?" Ian said his tone was careful.

"It's just, when we left the mess hall today, I saw you give Melanie and Jared a look, it was like you were telling them something that you were not telling me. Is there something wrong?" I said, suddenly panicking.

"No Wanda, that look meant nothing; and there is nothing for you to worry about." Ian said, ending the conversation.

"Ok." I wanted to ask more questions but I really was tired, so I just snuggled closer to Ian's chest, starting to doze.

Ian fell asleep before me, I took comfort of his steady breathing and followed suit.

We were on our way home from our very long raid; I couldn't wait to be inside the place I called home, amidst my family. All of a sudden, lights started flashing from behind us. Seekers. The seekers had finally found us.

Everyone around me, including myself, tensed up, not knowing what to do. How could I be so careless! This was my entire fault! I should have been more careful; I thought they didn't suspect me. I should have been more cautious. Of course they would begin to suspect me when they only saw me and no one else when I claimed that I had brought others with me. And now because of my negligence, my family and friends would suffer.

No, they wouldn't. I would save them. But I would have to go away from them to do so. If only Ian wouldn't get hurt in the process. I would have to go away from my family, Melanie, Jamie, Jared, Jeb, Doc, Ian.

As I thought the plan over - the plan that would save my family, a seeker came toward us, with back up just in case we resisted. The first thing they did was take out a flashlight to confirm that the people that they had found were human.

The seeker turned toward Ian to shine the flashlight into to Ian's eyes to confirm what she already knew, he was a human.

"NO!" I screamed.

A/N: So, this is my first ever Fan Fiction so I would really appreciate it if you guys reviewed and let me know what you liked or what you hated. Constructive criticism is welcomed. This chapter goes out to Mia Cullen. Thanks for encouraging me to post this!

Love ya,

Midnight Sapphire Eyes