Chapter 4

The known feeling

"Okay," said Octavius after a short silence. "That's not that bad. I mean everybody falls in love once. Not that they all need to fall in love with me. But…"An inaudible mumble followed.

"I'm sorry." Serena said softly. "I didn't want to embarrass you."

"But you aren't." Octavius said quickly. "I mean, you're a very good friend of me. If there has to be someone on whom I got to fall in love with…"

"Do you even know what you're talking about?" Serena asked with a sweet smile.

"I'm trying to act like I know what I'm talking about." Octavius admitted with a shy smile. "But I don't really know what to say. Why? And since when?"

Serena shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know." she said after a while. "I think because you helped me so well. You made me feel not that alone."

It almost became too much for Serena. She wanted to get up and runaway but a soft, warm hand stopped her. She looked up and looked right into the trusted, brown eyes of Octavius.

"It's okay." Octavius said softly. "I'm not leaving you now. Definitely not!"

Octavius slowly pulled Serena towards him until he could wrap both arms around her. Serena relaxed in the arms of Octavius and let her head rest on his shoulder. They sat like that for some time until all wounds were healed again. After that they quickly let go, afraid that Jedediah could wake up any moment.

The next night Octavius was next to Jedediah the first eventhough he has to come all the way from Rome. To his joy Jed already sat on a fence and noticed his friend from faraway.

"Hey Jedie." Octavius greeted him. "How are you at this hour?"

"Hey Ockie," Jed greeted back. "I'm okay. I just have still this awful headache."

Octavius sat down next to Jed on the fence. "Hey Jedie," he slowly started. "Serena told me too and I'm incredibly sorry for you. I swear, my friend, I didn't see this coming either."

"It's okay, Ockie." Jed answered softly. "You can't help it. Nobody can. I can't force her to love me so I'll just let her go. And if you are getting something I'll be happy for the both of you."

Ashamed Octavius hung his head. He'd love to help his friend but Jedediah was right. Nobody could do something about it.

"Serena wants to talk." Octavius said after a while.

"I don't." Jed answered shortly. "I don't want to hear how much she's sorry and how it went like this and that's she's sorry she's dating you now."

"I don't know what crazy ideas you got in your head Jed." Octavius said with a firm tone in his voice. "But Serena and I aren't dating. And she just wants to know how you're doing. Serena was also worried about you last night."

"Fine." Jed said. "Whatever you want, I'll go." Jed jumped off the fence and walked towards the cave.

"Jedediah, your hat!" Octavius yelled. Jedediah turned around and saw Octavius walking towards him. "Give your hat to me Jedie."

"What do you want with my hat?" Jed asked while firmly putting his hat on his head with both hands.

"Trust me Jedie. It's better if you don't bring your hat." Hesitating Jed gave his hat to Octavius and continued to walk towards the cave without a hat.

Serena looked joyful when she saw Jed. Still without his hat.

"I'm glad you came Jedediah." Serena said still full of joy. The moment Jedediah saw the Roman woman he searched for the edge of his hat, until he suddenly realized where he had left his hat.

"Stupid Roman!" Jed angrily yelled throughout Rome. Many Romans looked towards the cowboy insulted but Serena decided not to respond. In her head she actually thanked Octavius, because she knew he was the only Roman who could get Jed's hat.

"Hey Jedediah," Serena tried for the second time. "Hi," was Jed's short answer. After she swallowed a couple of times she dared to speak again.

"Jed, I'm…"

"The name is Jedediah," Jed interrupted her.

"Please, Jedediah, I'm really sorry but I love Octavius and not you. But we can still be just friends?"

"Friends?" Jed said while he was really starting to get angry. "How do you imagine that? Act like nothing is going on? No, forget it!"

"Please Jedediah," Serena tried to calm him. "Please, be calm."

"No!" Jed yelled back. "I'm not calm and I'm not gonna try. Just go to Octavius if you want some rest!"

For a second Jed was quiet. Serena was too scared to say something. She wished Octavius was here now. In the Wild West they would hear this screaming to right?

"I've had it with you!" Jedediah suddenly continued. "I'm leaving and don't even dare to look me up ever again!"

On that moment Jed turned around and walked away. Serena, who became completely desperate, grabbed Jed's hand with both of hers.

"No Jed," she begged. "Please stay!"

Jed suddenly stopped and totally forgot his anger. The warmth of Serena's hands just felt so nice. It felt trusted.