Kitala snapped her teeth, trying to take Jaiden's shirt from me.
"No, Kitala," I said, "This one is mine, you have your one there."
I pointed to the tattered shreds of what was left of Jaiden's old shirt. Right now, I had his other shirt over my nose. It smelt really good. I hadn't let Kitala use it and so it didn't smell like her or soap. It just smelt nice.
May could smell it now as well. She didn't seem to know what it was either. She did suggest we could take it to Drew and see if he knew, but I refused. I couldn't show Drew the shirt without him finding out about Jaiden. May had almost given it away a few times anyway.
Drew had been back this week. Uncle had asked Drew to go out into the town and get a bunch of women's shoes to match my white dress. At first, Drew had protested. He didn't want to go into a women's shop, but eventually he had to give in. He came back that day with hundreds of shoes, all pulled back in a cart because he couldn't carry all of them.
I had to wait for Helen to finish the dress before I was to decide which pair I was going to wear, but I did narrow it down. I had to try every single pair on to see which ones fit and which ones didn't. Now there weren't as many, but there were still a lot.
Jaiden had been back every night this week. I had been wearing his shirt and a pair of pants that I'd gotten from Drew so that I could fight with a little more ease than in a dress of sorts.
Both May and Jaiden took to teasing me about it, but it wasn't really like I could help it. It was either his shirt, a nightgown or a dress.
I pulled the shirt away from Kitala as she tried to snatch it again.
"Go get your own," I said.
May laughed.
"You seem to both be attached to Jaiden," she said.
"I'm not," I said, "I just like this smell, whatever it is."
She was to the side of where I lay on my bed. She was stitching something for my birthday, a decoration of sorts. I was also supposed to be doing it, but it was way too hot for me.
"It's so hot," I complained.
I tried to fan myself with my fingers, but that didn't do anything. The heavy layers of my dress really weren't doing anything to help either.
I used Jaiden's shirt to fan myself.
"How are you not dying?" I asked.
May shrugged.
"I'm not thinking about it," she said, "Besides, the fan is cool enough."
"It's not helping me," I said.
"Maybe because your window is open," she suggested.
I looked to the window. It was open. I hadn't closed it because Jaiden had been coming in and out from it. Why was I just letting him come anyway?
With a groan, I pushed myself up and closed the window, already feeling better now that there wasn't excessive heat pouring into my room.
"I really need something to cool me down," I said.
"Well, it's a good thing I brought these," Drew said.
I gasped and hurried to jump back on my bed, hiding the shirt.
Drew laughed.
"It's just me Mina," he said.
I looked up and smiled slightly. I grinned when I saw what he held. He was holding three ice-cream cones. One had red raspberry, one had chocolate and the third had strawberry.
"Raspberry ice-cream!" I exclaimed, "Drew, you're the best!"
He laughed and held out his hand so I could take the cone from him. He then handed the chocolate one to May, keeping the strawberry one for himself.
"Helen gave me them," he said, "She didn't say anything."
I nodded.
"She definitely knows what I needed," I said.
I poked my tongue out and let it delve into my cool treat. I savoured the tangy flavour on my tongue. I loved raspberry.
"Now if only I could get rid of this dress," I said.
"I could lend you clothes," Drew said, "But that would mean you would have to come out with me."
"What would we be practising?" I asked, eyeing the window.
Drew shrugged.
"It's hot," he said, "I thought that doing some archery would be best. We could stand in the shade when we shoot. That's at least give us some relief."
"Call it a deal," I said, jumping up.
"Hold it steady Mina," Drew said.
I breathed deeply, concentrating on the target in front of me. My arms were holding the bow string taught, my finger keeping the arrow nocked in place.
All I needed to do was worry about how the arrow would curve. There was no wind.
Sweat drops trickled from my forehead and down my nose.
May had decided not to come out. It was a little hot outside. Kitala had briefly stepped out, but I think it was to hot for her. The concrete was also very hot so it would've burnt her paws. Instead, she walked straight back inside with May. I just hoped that she wouldn't find Jaiden's shirt or destroy it. I still liked that smell.
I realised the string with a whipping noise as the arrow shot through the air and hit the target with a dull thud.
I stared at the target. I'd hit to the left in the red ring.
"Close," Drew said, "no bullseye yet."
I had been trying and failing to get a bullseye for a while now. It was always my goal when I came out here. I'd only ever hit a bullseye once and that was purely out of luck. I had been completely aiming wrong, but then the wind had pushed it to hit the middle.
"I'll get it eventually," I said, panting.
"Last one then," Drew said, "Because I am sweltering here."
I nocked another arrow and nodded.
This was my favourite thing that Drew had been teaching me; how to shoot a bow and arrow. We had two types of bows. There was the long bow. These were huge and most of them were taller than I was. My favourite was the one I was using now; the recurve bow. Drew had specifically got me a special one when he'd started teaching me after he found out just how much I loved it. My bow was black with red markings. I loved it.
I pulled the string back, holding it taught as I focused on the target. I breathed deeply and slowly, helping myself focus. After I felt like I was lined up enough, I realised the shot again.
I watched as it hit the target and growled in annoyance when I saw it had hit the ring just above the middle.
"Time's up," Drew said.
I let out a small whine, but I put my bow away regardless. It was hot after all and I was sweating quite a lot. I didn't have the energy to fight back
The rest of the day was just hot. I didn't do much. In fact, I didn't even change out of Drew's clothing. I was tempted to put on Jaiden's shirt, but I refrained. I didn't need anymore teasing about that. There was only so much I could handle.
Now it was night time. I was having trouble staying awake now. My lack of sleep seemed to be starting to catch up to me now. I always seemed to sleep in really late now and I found myself drifting to sleep at times.
There was a few knocks on my window. I looked over to see Jaiden was knocking on my window, looking at me pleadingly.
I groaned and May giggled before going to let him in.
"Hi Jaiden," she said cheerfully.
"You locked my out princess," Jaiden said, feigning a hurt look.
"Please," I said, snorting, "I don't care about you. Besides, I do have a name you know. You can use it."
"I think it's kinda cute how he calls you that," May said, giggling.
I groaned again, rolling over and lazily flopping out on my belly.
"I'm too hot for this," I complained, "Go away Jaiden."
"Too hot for this?" he asked, "Does that mean I have it easy tonight? Can I actually just pick you up."
I snorted.
"Do ahead and try," I said, "You'll find yourself with a missing arm."
He chuckled and walked closer.
"No matter the weather I have to at least attempt it again today," he said.
Jaiden walked closer to me and I lifted my sword.
"En guard," I said lazily swatting my sword about.
I really wasn't in the mood.
Jaiden opened his fist and I barely had time to react before he sprinkled some powder over me.
I rolled away, yelping slightly. Kitala jumped forwards and the powder settled onto her. Not another minute has past before Kitala had fallen asleep soundly.
"Did you just try to use a sleep powder on me?" I asked, glaring at Jaiden.
Jaiden looked awkwardly uncomfortable.
"t was worth a shot," he said, "I guess I'll have to go finish that off."
I shook my head and slapped him with my sword causing him to yelp.
"Never try to do that again," I said.
"See you 'round princess," he said, "I'll be back again."
He went ahead and jumped out the window quickly.
I turned to May, who was a little pale.
"May?" I asked, "What's wrong May?"
"Mina, we have to tell Drew now," May said.
"No," I said, "Drew will insist on taking over. I can fight it myself."
"Mina, he just tried to put you to sleep!" May exclaimed, "you could've easily been taken then before I could run and fetch Drew."
"Drew would find me," I said.
May shook her head.
"I said when it started to get out of hand that I'd tell Drew. It's getting out of hand," she said, "Drew needs to know. Surely you understand. I don't like you being in so much danger."
I sighed.
"Fine," I said eventually, "I'll tell Drew, but I have to do it in my own time."
At least I could delay it a little now. I don't know whether it was because I wanted to fight Jaiden a little longer by myself, or whether I was actually starting to enjoy talking to him in these secret meetings.
Me: IT WAS TOO HOT TODAY! I FELT LIKE I WAS MELTING ALL DAY
Jaiden: And that's why she wrote this day as a super hot day
Me: It is too hot!
Drew: At least there were no stupid comments
Me: You're just happy May didn't call Jaiden hot again. I just didn't have the mental effort for that. Maybe next time.
