4.
After a while they finally had to say their goodbyes. With rumors of Sofia being in Tangu, it would seem suspicious if Amber was found missing. It wouldn't take long for their parents to make the connections. She promised to try to smooth things over with their parents, and until then offered the secure address so that Sofia could finally communicate with Amber, and hear news of her family.
Sofia and Cedric made their way to the meeting place, and she was over joyed.
"And then she said-" Sofia started, but Cedric stopped her.
"I was there for that."
"Oh, well did you hear what she said about-"
"I was listening the whole time, Sofia." He chuckled and took her hand. "It's good to see you so happy."
"It's good to feel so happy," she paused, "Not that I haven't been happy. With you, I mean. I just really missed my family." She squeezed his hand, and he smiled and shook his head.
"I always had a hard time believing in your master plan, but maybe it will work after all. And we can return." He smiled, but looked so sad, that it suddenly occurred to her that his current relationship with his own family wasn't much better than hers. In fact it was actually quite worse.
"Do you ever think about getting in touch with your mom or dad?" She asked timidly, hoping he didn't blow up. She'd only ever brought it up once or twice, and he was never too happy to relive the moment when his own father had condemned him. His jaw tightened, and he didn't speak for a minute or two. "Maybe just your mother?" she offered, he had been very close to her before all of this.
"Maybe," he said tightly. Sofia decided it would be best to change the subject.
"Did Demetri tell you where we were headed next?" She asked.
"No, but it doesn't really matter." He shrugged. "Do you ever get tired of this?"
"Of what?" she asked, somewhat alarmed.
"Moving every few days, sleeping in a tent or abandoned building, scraping by…" he trailed off.
"Well, sure." Of course she did, but they couldn't risk staying in one place too long. Cedric knew that. Especially if there were rumors circulating of her whereabouts. "But, we don't have a lot of options right now," she added.
"I know, I was just thinking out loud. Forget it." He looked up at the moon and they walked in silence until they spotted the discreet campsite where they would be spending the night. Demetri had already set up their small tent, but now they were given one slightly larger cot to share. Cedric left her at the tent, claiming that he needed to check up on something with Demetri. She just shrugged. She was too tired to argue.
At least, she thought she was too tired. Once she was curled up on the small cold cot her mind was racing. Amber had assumed that they had run away and gotten married, is that what her family thought also? And Had Cedric heard that part of their conversation. She buried her face in the blankets realizing that yes, yes he had. She couldn't help but laugh at herself. It had been a long time since she had felt so… young? Yes, young she decided. All the running and hiding and crime had left her drained. The men she travelled with were honorable enough, but, she missed having someone like Amber to talk to. Or Clover. Or Jade, Ruby, Mia, and her mother. She buried her face in the blankets again, but this time to cry. Eventually Cedric walked in, but didn't seem shocked by finding her this way. He didn't say anything, and only crawled in next to and held her.
"I'm sorry I've been crying so much lately," she finally said when she stopped. She looked up at him and he wiped her tears away. He leaned up on his elbow and she rolled over on her back to look at the top of the tent. She reached for his wand, which he always kept nearby, and cast a small enchantment so that she could see the stars and moon through the top of the tent.
"You don't have to apologize," he said finally. She looked at him, eyebrows raised. She had almost started to forget what she had just said.
"Oh, no. I know. I just, you're suffering too. And you are always the one comforting me." She smiled at him, hoping to lighten the mood.
"You wouldn't be so distraught if it wasn't for me. Maybe if I had given up on stealing your amulet sooner, or kept my distance from you."
"I'm glad you didn't." Then a thought occurred to her. "When did you decide to stop trying to steal my amulet?" She asked. She found herself curious, without a hint of worry or doubt.
"Probably when you handed it over that day," he laughed.
"What?" she leaned up, smiling but also quite shocked.
"I mean, I'm not really sure when. I think it just became an excuse to spend time with you. Actually, I had mostly forgotten about getting it, until that day." He closed his eyes, and Sofia watched him anxiously. "I just asked you to hand it over. It didn't even really occur to me what I had said, until I said it. I tried so many times," he paused and started laughing, "to get you to just hand it over to me, if only for a moment, and you never did. But then that time you actually gave it to me, and for a moment I realized that I had done it! I had finally managed to get my hands on the Amulet of Avalor. But, I realized I didn't want it anymore. I didn't want to take it, because I knew how it would hurt you."
"You scoundrel," she rolled over and pinned him, grinning mischievously. His failed attempts at stealing her amulet had always been a topic neither one of them had discussed. But now, with it several miles away, or lost, it didn't matter. He blushed, gazing at her. But then he smirked at her, and grabbed her arms.
"I would be if you'd let me be." He kissed her. "But you are sunshine and I can't hide in the shade when you continually chase after me."
Sofia laughed at him and his silly words. "You're ridiculous."
He stopped and their eyes met. Sofia felt her heart flutter and her breath caught. He leaned close and whispered into her ear. "I am not ridiculous. But, I am in love with you."
Cedric isn't good at poetic things or at least that's how I imagine it. I just see him trying to say something like that and it just making her laugh b/c he's so awkward.