"No it's ok. I understand, Felix," I said. That was a complete lie. I felt confused and like someone had just ripped out my heart. I was hurt, and confused, but I had to put up a brave front. I didn't want him worrying about me, or anything like that.
I looked up to the sky and saw that the stars were starting to show up in the sky. "Hey, I'm going to go ahead and head back. It sure gets dark here fast."
"Sheba, I−" Felix started. I didn't want to hear it. I turned and started to head back towards the campfire. Felix was still following me back. Trying his hardest to talk to me. I broke into a run and rushed to my pile of stuff. I could feel the other's eyes on my back. I grabbed my blanket, and a pillow, and turned to the others. I was blinking back tears.
"I'm going to find a place that I can look at the stars for a while. Okay?" They looked at me silently.
"Sure, Sheba. Go ahead and do that." Isaac said softly. I forced a smile.
I swept my eyes along the group and caught Ivan's eye. That was a mistake, because I nearly burst into tears right then. I turned and started to walk into the flat plains.
"Sheba!" Felix called. He must have gotten to the campfire. I didn't want him catching up to me, so, using the wind to propel me, I sprinted into the fields.
After a while I stopped. I must have been an hour's walk away from the campfire, because it looked like a tiny speck now. I started to sob, and sob, and sob. No one would be able to catch up to me. No one… except Ivan!
A small dust cloud had formed and was heading my way. It screeched to a stop in front of me.
"Sheba. What happened?" Ivan asked. His eyes were concerned. I didn't answer, so he sat down beside me. I turned put my head on his shoulder, and started to sob, horrible heartbroken sobs.
He didn't ask questions, he just put his arms around me and pulled me close, and let me cry. Stroking my hair the entire time.
When I had cried my heart out, I looked at him. He smiled down at me.
"Are you willing to tell me what happened?" Ivan asked quietly. I nodded.
"A mistake," I said softly.
"Sheba we need to talk." Felix said quietly. Where was this coming from?
"Sure, Felix. What's the matter?" I answered. He had led me away from the group.
"I−I think that this needs to stop."
"What are you talking about? What needs to stop?"
"This façade were putting up. That kiss in Tolbi was a mistake on both our parts." He answered. "I'm very sorry that I led you on like that, but this shouldn't have happened."
"You make it sound like, how should I put this? Like we're breaking up," I said softly.
"I do care about you, but, I guess you could say that, that's what we're doing. The kiss was a mistake, and the two of us being together was a mistake. I'm sorry."
"Why? Why are you doing this?" My voice cracked.
"There's someone else that I love. It took me awhile to figure that out. But now I know. And I just want the best for you."
I shook my head. "I see." I stepped back away from him.
"Sheba, just because it didn't work out doesn't mean we can't be friends," Felix said.
"No, it's okay. I understand." I answered. I didn't quite comprehend what he was saying. I turned to look at the stars.
"That's what happened. He said that the he and I were a mistake. I guess we were." I managed to finish off my story without breaking into sobs again.
"I'm sorry Sheba," Ivan said
"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault. It's mine. I was an idiot to even think that Felix would ever like a girl like me. I'm short and scrawny and not all that pretty like Mia."
"That's not true!" Ivan protested. "Yeah, you're not all that tall, and you're kind of small,"
"Thanks Ivan. Your making me feel sooo much better," I rolled my eyes sarcastically.
"But you're one of the prettiest girls I've ever met, and trust me, I've met a lot of girls," he finished.
I blushed up a storm. My face must have resembled a strawberry by now. Pretty? He thought I was pretty?
"I don't think I want to go back yet. I− I'm not ready to face Felix yet," I whispered.
"We don't have to go back tonight. If you want to stay out, I'll stay with you," Ivan whispered back.
I put my head on his shoulder, again. "Thanks, Ivan."
Bright sunshine stung my eyes. I opened my eyes and sat up with a start. It was already morning and we were still out in the middle of nowhere, and the others weren't anywhere near here. Ivan was still sleeping soundly on the blanket. I shook his shoulder.
"Sheba, what's going on?" Ivan asked groggily.
"We stayed out all night, Ivan!" I said.
"No we didn't even leave camp," he said still half asleep. I pulled his head up and peeled open his eye lids.
"I'm telling you that we stayed out all night!!" He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. His eyes widened.
"Oh, elements. We really did stay out all night. We need to get back, now!"
We scrambled to pick up the blankets, the pillow and then we started tearing our way back to the rest of the group. They were probably already suspicious and I could just imagine what that idiot Garet was going to say.
We rushed into campsite while the others were cleaning up breakfast dishes, and picking up the rest of the stuff.
"Ah, you're back. Your breakfast is over there," Jenna said as soon as she had seen us.
"Um, thanks." We went and sat down and began eating as we watched the others. They kept looking at us and giving us these small smiles. All except for Felix. He just acted like we weren't there at all. This bothered me even more than those tiny mischievous smiles the others were giving us.
Ivan's arm brushed up against mine. We looked at each other.
"Sorry," Ivan said quietly. I didn't answer; I just looked at my food, and smiled quietly.
Hama watched Ivan and Sheba through the misty screen, and smiled.
"I'm sorry that you had to have your heart broken to see the truth, but it needed to be done. Felix wasn't the one for you. I suppose I could let you have a few of your memories back at a time young one," she said softly.
