A/N: Sorry for the shorter chapter :/


Maybe he was hiding a brothel in his room. Gren had said it wasn't a big deal, but what could involve multiple women and not be a big deal? Amaya scowled down the seemingly long walk to Gren's quarters. If she was finally meeting Antoinette she wouldn't be happy.

She was twitchy, wanting to get to his door faster, but to also just not know. As much as it'd been driving her insane, she felt as though she'd forced him to show her and it wasn't his own choice. Which is kind of what she intended, but the chase didn't seem as fun now.

His hand was on the doorknob when she stopped him, holding his forearm. She had to know. She had to ask.

Are you hiding a brothel in your room?

She caught him off-guard. At first, Amaya celebrated. She'd guessed right! Then, his lips twitched, and soon he was clutching his stomach in laughter that Amaya assumed could've woken up the entire barracks.

There were tears in Gren's eyes when he finally looked at her. Is that what you've been thinking all this time? Do you have that little trust in me? He was still laughing, but his words stung.

Maybe it was foolish of her to think such things. She flushed angrily. I do trust you, she said. I've just been confused recently.

He sobered. Confused? With what?

Never mind that. She gestured to the door. Amaya changed her mind when he turned the doorknob. Wait. Am I meeting Antoinette?

How do you know about Antoinette?

Answer my question, brothel-man.

He laughed again which made her smile. I guess you are in a sense.

Get to it then. Suspense was thick in the air. As if teasing her, Gren turned the knob painfully slow. In a flash, she had grabbed his hand and slammed the door shut as soon as he started to open it. Wait—

He was chuckling in disbelief. Do you want to see or not? Before she could stop him, he swung open the door.

Amaya knew Antoinette immediately.

She was stunning, just as Amaya had feared. Slender, graceful. She didn't have muscles hardened from training or a scar under her eye. She actually didn't have any muscles. Or any eyes.

A plant? Amaya nearly screeched. All that stress and all those sleepless nights over a plant? In fact, his entire room was full of plants of many shapes and sizes, but Antoinette was the tallest, prettiest, and in the middle of them all.

Actually, Gren said, she's a lilium candidum. Also called a Madonna lily.

She gazed at him in skepticism. It took a while for her to realize her jaw was open in shock. Gren put his finger under her chin and she closed it.

I've always liked plants. I was bullied when I was younger for liking plants so when I started getting back into gardening I hid it just like I had to when I was a kid. He shrugged. It's just second nature for me to keep them hidden, I guess. He turned to face her. Now tell me, how did you know about Antoinette?

Defeated, Amaya dropped her shoulders. I saw you talking to another soldier about her—your plants.

You thought she was my girlfriend?

Amaya nodded.

Is that what you were going to ask when we were polishing swords and almost—his cheeks reddened in an endearing way. So he'd been thinking about it too.

Overall, Amaya was relieved. She had learned something new about her friend, something that wasn't as terrible as she had imagined. Besides, his room smelled lovely. What are you all growing?

He smiled. In this atmosphere, with all his plants and the moonlight shining through the window, Gren glowed. He thrived with nature. Let's do a tour, shall we? Just don't step on my plants.


No wonder he smelled like basil. Gren grew vegetables, herbs, flowers, and just about anything else. It was amazing he could cram all of this into his small room. They were sitting on his bed, staring out into the mini-forest. I still don't like Antoinette, Amaya said.

She could feel Gren laugh beside her. They were sitting with their sides together again, wonderfully and agonizingly close. Just because she's my favorite?

Because I thought she was your girlfriend. As soon as she said those words, she felt clingy, like a schoolgirl to her crush. Mentally, she slapped her forehead.

What's wrong with me having a girlfriend? Gren teased, nudging her with his elbow.

Nothing, I—Amaya sighed. I just don't want to lose you. Your friendship, I guess. I sound clingy and am clingy. I just value our relationship too much. She stood, cheeks heating at her sudden confession. Whatever it was. I really need to get to bed. Goodnight. She stood, fumbling around the makeshift path Gren had created around his plants. She didn't look back at him when she exited the room.

Once the door was closed behind her, she pressed her spine against it, clutching her heart. Foolish, foolish, foolish! Like a child she was spilling her feelings without discretion. She stomped down the hallway before Gren could catch her, if he ever would.

As she lay on her bed that night, as tired as she was, she couldn't sleep. She was too embarrassed with herself, too ashamed to let her body relax. She couldn't help but think though, the way Gren had expectantly stared at her while she rambled her stupid feelings. The light pink dusting his cheeks when she stood up. The heat of his body pressed against hers when they sat and even the simple intimacy of being in the same room as him so late at night.

Maybe she wasn't so alone in her feelings.

It was a silly thought.