Without another word, he walked around to the front of me, and started picking out all the red flowers from my hand.

"Why are you ruining my boquet?" I whimpered and he ignored me.

"Jus' addin some extra decoration. That's all."

He began to place the flower in my hair, Carefully sliding them close together next to my messy bun.

"How creative of you Scabior."

He smiled proudly, finishing the last one and tucking a strand back behind my ear.

"I thought so myself. Jus' had this brilliant spark of inspiration."

I giggled, looking up at his eyes that still wandered around my hair while he fixed it.

"Do I inspire you?"

He paused, without moving or touching another part of me or my hair.

I missed it for some reason, he seemed so sweet for these brief moments where he acted gentle, and touched me softly like he cared but didn't want to undress me so badly.

His expression went from awe and amused to blank and thoughtful.

"No." He licked the corner of his mouth, shaking his head. "No I think you're right, it's def 'nitely the flowers."

With that he turned and walked away from me. I was now the one with a blank expression, because that's definitely not what I wanted to hear. He was well aware of that, I could tell.

I wanted him to say something like, "Yeah, Angel you really do." While he got closer to me as usual and acted like I was all he wanted to do at that second. But he didn't. and left me concerned. Even wanting him alittle, for the first time during this 'journey'.

I watched Scabior's silhouette in the sunset, quite a ways away from me now, stare into the distance, and I wished I could read his mind. He kept smelling the original white flower I'd given him, and I caught him look over at me.

He was thinking of me. He had to be with a look like that.

"Hey Scabs! We're waitin round for you, ya know?"

I jumped, nearly dropping all of my flowers and gasping when Greyback appeared behind me.

"Scared you did I?" He laughed and patted my back, so hard I lost my breath for awhile.

I coughed and then as soon as I had regained composure I looked up at him.

"Would you like a flower Greyback?"

He snarled and looked at me like I had a third eyeball, then he took a second glance at my boquet.

"No, he doesn't want a damned flower, Angel. You're not gonna go 'round humbling all the Snatchers now if that's what was crossing your mind." Scabior walked in between the two of us and cut off the conversation. It made me smile because he was entirely serious.

"Now, now, have no fear Mister. I'm just trying to spread the love."

He glared down at me, and poked my forehead a couple times.

"There'll be no love goin' 'round either."

"Fine. Greedy One."

He ignored my last accusation, put his arm around my shoulder and the three of us walked back towards camp.

"You gonna tie me to that god-awful tree again Scabior?"

I saw him smirk out of the corner of my eye and shake his head.

"Don't think you liked that much, did ya?"

"Not at all."

He sighed.

"Well I s'ppose we can try n' find you a dif'rent tree then."

.

.

.

When we got back he didn't find a new tree for me. Much to my relief he let me sit next to him, very close, around the fire. So I was warmer and...much more comfortable.

I rejected the firewhiskey over and over again while it circled around. Not only was I not craving it, but the thought of every one of these Snatchers drinking off of it wasn't appetizing to me either.

The tenth time Scabior shoved it in front of me I snarled.

"Look I don't want your fucking liquer so stop passing it to me will you?"

He frowned at me and then put it back in front of me.

"What?"

"Please jus' take a small bit."

He winked at me as I glanced back and forth between him and the bottle.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

He licked his lips and rolled his eyes at me.

"Look, Angel. You're being a bad girl right now...So, for reasons you n I both know, just do as I say. And take a fucking sip...Please."

I sighed and glared him down after I snatched the bottle.

"Fine."

I raised the mouth to my lips, slowly tipping my head back while he watched me carefully.

"All the way back Angel...Alll the wayy back."

I held my breath as the liquid poured into my mouth. It was always easier if I couldn't smell or taste it.

"That's a good girl."

I started to bring it back down but was stopped by his hand, pushing it back up.

I choked for a second but a few seconds later he let go.

"What the hell? You said a sip! That was cups!"

I kept coughing and wiping my mouth, so I couldn't smell the over-bearing poison-like fluid that was now burning my throat and stomach.

He laughed and shrugged while he took another drink.

"Sorry Love."

I hit him as hard as I could but he only laughed harder.

"It's not funny Asshole!"

I kept hitting and he kept laughing.

"You should save your energy Angel, you fight like a hamster."

I huffed and finally gave up, crossing my arms.

"Oh dear." He said after a few seconds of watching me. "You're not mad at me are you?"

The rest of the guys laughed because that was the stupidest question he could've asked.

"I'm going to bed," I tried getting up but he just slammed me back down and pulled me to him.

"No. You're not."

He kissed my neck and embraced the side of my face.

"Get off of me!"

My heart started racing even though I had a feeling it didn't matter that he was doing what I'd wanted him to. He was drunk.

"Drunk bastard." I muttered my thoughts under my breath but he obviously heard because he instantly pulled away, leaving his arm there.

"I'm far from intoxicated Sweet'eart."

"I don't think you are, you're clearly wasted."

"What because I'm finally touching you like I've wanted to." He whispered to me and moved his hand to my waist, massaging it and resting his forehead on the side of my face.

I looked around at the rest of them, talking to eachother and laughing like we weren't even sitting there on the other side of the fire.

"Come on Angel, I'm jus' spreading the love."

I struggled against his grip but after he was sick of me doing that he just slid me in between his legs where he had the best grip on me. I gasped when he did, because I didn't expect him to be so much strong than me.

"Let me go. Please."

"I don't really want to."

I was breathing hard now, from struggling so much, plus my heart was beating faster with him so close and so determined.

I tried holding everything still by not breathing at all and biting my lip.

"You know," He started in my ear "You don't 'ave to pretend to fight. I'd really like to know what you want to do to me."

I tried to swallow the knot in my throat as I looked back at him guiltily.

He winked at me, that didn't make it any easier to make up my mind.

"Scabior...I want you to let me go."

He let me go and grunted.

"No good, are you? Get out of my sight."

I scrambled up to my feet and went to the tent while I heard him angrily muttering things about me.

This would have been the perfect opportunity to leave. Just disappear while I had the chance. All alone. Just go back home and never speak about this again...
Instead I curled up on the bed.

I couldn't leave somehow.

I didn't want to.