SITDTRYF
Chapter Two
By Sakura Maxwell

"Mint, where have you been!" exclaimed Ms.Cartha, looking up from her book by the front desk.

Mint glanced at her and said, "I was out."

Ms.Cartha frowned but said quickly, "Well, I'm sure you're tired so I'll let you get to bed and try not to make any noise."

Mint nodded in thanks and trodded up the stairs and into her room. She flopped down on her bed, rings hung on the door. Not much after she heard Rue's footsteps as he walked into his own seperate room.

Then there was a knock at the door and she sat up, eyes already closing. 'I hope it's not Rue..' "Who is it?" she asked.

"It's me, Mint," Ms.Cartha's voice answered from the other side.

"Come in," Mint said. Ms.Cartha opened the door and closed it. She was holding a bowl of water and some bandages in her hand. "Rue told me you had a wound that needed to be tended to."

Mint snorted. "Is that so."

Ms.Cartha looked at Mint's arm. "Oh yes, you do," she said, worry in her voice, "that arm is bleeding severely. We'll have to bandage that up right away. But first we need to clean it." She reached in the bowl and took out a wet cloth. Mint already knew the drill.

She held out her arm as Ms.Cartha cleaned it and wiped off all the blood. Then she bandaged it tightly. "There," Ms.Cartha said with satisfaction. "That should be good enough to last till morning. Then we'll re-bandage it." She got up and held the bowl. "Is there anything you need?"

Mint shook her head.

"Ok, good night, Mint," Ms.Cartha said and walked out, closing the door behind her softly.

Mint stared at the door, then fell backwards on the bed. But somehow, Mint just couldn't get to sleep. Something kept her awake. That something was called Curiousity.

'What was Rue going to say... Besides 'I'..' Mint wondered, kicking off her boots. 'I mean, what could possibly be so important to him that he wouldn't say it? ...Hey.. If it's about another [relic] ... He's dead meat.. But I asked him why he followed me.. And he couldn't answer..'

Mint turned her head and looked out the window. The big bright moon was luminating the dark night along with the stars. She sighed. 'There's absolutely no way I'll be able to get to sleep if this keeps up. I think I'll go to the Tavern and get me a drink that'll hopefully make me pass out... After I make it back here.'

She jumped up, stuck her feet back in her boots, and was about to open the door when she heard footsteps outside. She pressed her ear to the door and listened. Yep, they were footsteps and they were going down the stairs. 'Wonder who that could be..' She waited and then opened the door.

'Maybe it was Ms.Cartha,' she thought as she trodded down the stairs and out the Inn. She looked around. It was eerie at night, with the lamplights as the only thing to light up around her. She shrugged it off and walked back into the alley and stepped into the Tavern.

She was too busy thinking to notice Rue by the tables, looking at her.

She sat down on a stool and Annette, the waitress, walked over with her tray of beverages. "So, Mint," she greeted, "What would you like tonight?" Mint looked up at her and answered, "I'd like something really strong."

Annette laughed, "Then I got something for you, be right back, other customers." She walked back to the counter and whispered something in Jargen's ear. The old man nodded and started making the drinks.

From the otherside, Rue was looking at Mint. 'So, she wants to pass out or something?' He looked down at his drink and drank a little of it. His gaze slowly returned back at Mint. He was amazed at how she could look so..stunning when she was bored. Pinkish hair laying on her back and falling around her face. Hands at her cheeks, her expression totally dull and without intrest.

He found himself staring and he shook his head, embarrassed. 'Why would a girl like that make me stare at her like that.. I mean, she's the total opposite of me. She's rough, mean, loud, demanding..' Then he remembered that saying that 'Opposites Attract'. He blushed deeply and drank more.

Annette came back to Mint and handed her a drink. Mint looked at it. "What is it?" she asked the waitress. Annette shrugged. "Don't ask me, Jargen made it. But I promise it's not poison."

Mint snorted. "Thanks." Annette nodded and left to serve the few other costumers. Mint picked the drink up and drank a ton at once. Then she gagged. 'Dear Lord, what is this stuff?' she asked mentally, staring at the cup. She shrugged and sipped it.

Mint blinked. "Eh..what's this..?" she asked, dazed. Then she promptly passed out. Rue looked up, alarmed. 'Ah, she passed out already?'

He pushed his cup away and stood up. He walked over to Mint and shook her shoulders gently. "Hey, Mint," he said, "You okay?"

Mint kept sleeping.

Rue sighed. 'It won't be easy.' He put his arms under Mint and picked her up. Stumbling backwards, he coughed. 'Well, she isn't as heavy as I thought,' he thought as he made his way towards the exit.

"Oh, Annette, can you open this door?" Rue asked. Annette nodded and rushed over and opened it. "Have a nice night," she said, winking.

Rue went deep red and quickly left.

He managed to get to the inn, open the door and Mint's room. He set her down softly on the bed. Rue sat down at the edge of the bed and sighed, looking at Mint. 'She's so beautiful.. Why would she want someone like me? ..I'm just a nuisance to her, that's all she sees me as..'

Without knowing it, he felt hot tears filling his eyes and falling down his cheeks. Rue gasped in surprise. He wasn't as emotional as Mint, but he had never cried before. 'She's just so special to me..' he thought as he reached over to stroke her hair. The bright pink strands felt smooth and silky in his fingers. He smiled a little and wiped his tears away.

He stood and opened the door. "Good night..Mint.." he whispered, closing it.

-

Yay..? I finished it? Actually, I had this for at least five months. I figure I should just end the chapter now. o.o;; Mmk, sorry!