It was a cold night, and Kaden could feel winter in the wind. She was outside, on one of the palace balconies, freezing to death, but so preoccupied that she didn't notice.
She was looking at the stars, trying to see a shooting star, wishing to see one. It was crazy how much she thought about the stars, whenever she saw them, she was reminded of him.
It wasn't a bad thing, having so many inside jokes with him, having so many things that reminded her of him. It wasn't a bad thing, although, Kaden took it as one. She didn't like how most of her time was spent thinking about him and about how much she looked forward to the next time they could see each other. She didn't like being so consumed.
A chilly breeze met her face, and she felt goosebumps through her unconcious thinking. She shivered and rubbed her arms, trying to make herself warmer.
"Cold?" A voice asked from behind.
"I guess I am." She said, turning around and meeting the eyes of someone familiar. "I didn't realize before just then."
He came and stood beside her, looking out at the stars, completely silent and still. She watched his shadowed face, waiting for words to be spoken, waiting for an explanation to be there, but there wasn't. He just stood there like nothing had ever been said.
"What are you doing here?" She said at last.
"The same reason you're here." He said, still not looking at her.
"No, Damek, really, what are you doing here?" She said, searching his face for answers, laying her hand on his arm lightly. He finally met her gaze, with a simple look on his face. "Why are you here?"
"Am I not allowed to be here?" He turned his eyes away, looking at the sky. His question seemed more like a statement. He seemed so calm, yet it was nothing like him to act like this.
"No, no, I didn't say that." She was getting frustrated. Not because she was mad at him, but because she had thought about him too much, and now he appeared whenever she didn't want him to; just at the perfect timing. She moved away from him, taking her hand off his arm, placing her hand on her forehead as if it ached and pacing the floor. "I just want to know, Damek. Why do you appear at the wrong times, why do you always know how to get in my head... to be in my mind, to be wherever I am?"
Damek was silent, nothing came from his mouth, no expression on his face explained his mood, nothing was answering Kaden; it was like she was all alone, and no one could hear her, but she could hear them.
"Why am I here?" Damek said at last, startling her out of her trance, asking her the question back, getting up from leaning on the railing, going over to her and looking straight into her eyes. "You answer the question, Kaden. I know you know." He said, leaving her, going out the door.
Kaden did think about it. Why had he saved her in the first place? Maybe he was just a decent boy, but then why had he come back, time and again? It wasn't just because he cared... was it more than that? Kaden asked herself. Was it more than that for the both of them? She didn't really realize that these feelings were something more than just being his friend.
Well, in a way she realized it. She recognized it and didn't want it to happen. She was taking a break from men, and that was that, unless for some miraculous reason, something happened.
Kaden didn't even want to think about it right now. It wasn't what she wanted to think. Nothing was going to happen, yet, Damek was already out the door, leaving her, and she couldn't stay here. She had to find out. She had to solve the mystery.
She ran through the door after him, down the hall, and ran in front of him, blocking his way.
"Damek, don't leave." She said, out of breath. She had a determined look on her face, yet his was completely blank. He just stood there, no expression, no emotion. Completely and utterly blank. "I want some answers."
He stood there, not budging, not doing anything. He was like a statue, pale and plain. She stared at him. She glared at him. He didn't do anything.
"Damek, I want to know! What is with your mood all of the sudden? I can't believe you tonight, you're completely unlike yourself, and I can't stand it. I need to know what-" All of a sudden, his lips were on hers, soft and sweet, kissing her like he never wanted to kiss anyone else. She let him kiss her, and actually stepped closer, and closed her eyes as the moment lasted...
Well, it didn't last, because he stopped as soon as he started, and then he walked off down the halls, leaving a stunned Kaden.
"Damek, wait." She said, turning around. He stopped, looked back, and stood there. "Where..-"
"I hope that was enough of an explanation for you." He said and started walking again.
"That was my explanation?" She asked, stunned.
"I didn't regret it, Kaden, if that's what you wanted to know. Not one bit."
