I woke up with bright sunlight in my face. I groaned a little and rolled out of bed. Landing lightly on my feet, I straightened and started the search for my shoes. I frowned when I couldn't find one and just opted to go barefoot. I crept down the stairs and winced when they creaked slightly. As I walked into the kitchen, I wasn't surprised to see Conner and Achilles already awake.
"Hey." I yawned. Both of them turned to look at me. Conner suddenly flushed slightly and Achilles chuckled at Conner's expression.
"What?" I demanded. Conner looked away.
"You aren't very covered." He said with obvious embarrassment. I looked down at my clothes. I was to covered! I had leather pants and my tank-top on! Oh, did he mean my tank-top?
"If it bothers you so much, don't look." I said and then, just to bother him, sat across from him. Conner glared at me, his embarrassment gone and replaced with dislike. I stuck my tongue at him. Conner scowled and then slammed something on the table, making me jump.
"Can you explain why this was in my room?" he asked. I stared at the object and squealed with pure joy.
"My shoe!" I said happily "OMIGODCONNERTHANKYOU!" I smiled and hugged my dear left high-top. Achilles watched me with his eyebrows raised.
"I'll never leave you again unless someone is trying to kill me or a squirrel steals you!" I told the shoe. Both men exchanged looks and Conner cleared his throat.
"So why was it in my room?" he asked. I stared at him for a minute and then opened my mouth in an 'O' shape.
"I kinda sort of thought your room was mine, so I was in there. Just for a minute I swear! Anywho, I guess I took off my shoe and left it there when I realized it was the wrong room and left." I said with a small shrug "But it's cool now because I have my shoe and I didn't accidently crawl into bed with you." Conner didn't seem satisfied with my long explanation, but he didn't say anything. I smirked and Achilles finally spoke up.
"Breakfast." he said, gesturing to the food he had prepared. I happily got some and dug right in. I swear, if he kept cooking this good, I'd be overweight! I sighed happily when I finished. Conner and Achilles went out to do some 'training'. I wanted to ask what for, but decided to keep my mouth shut for once. I got up and wandered around the manor. I went to my room first and put on my new blouse and my old shoes, glad I had my left one back. Then I found a study / library like room and inspected the book spines. I sighed in amazement at how old these books would be in my time, but they were in perfect quality here. I picked out a book randomly and read the title on the spine. The Taming of the Shrew.
"Perfect." I mumbled to myself. I sat on the floor and began to read. I was just getting to Katherina's monologue when I heard the wooden floors creak. I looked up quickly to see Achilles standing there, leaning slightly on his cane. I gasped and immediately realized I had touched his books without permission.
"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed "I-I should've asked for permission, I won't do it again! I swear!" Achilles raised his hand and I shut up.
"It is alright." he said "You may read from my collection on one condition." I nodded quickly.
"Tell me what it is and I'll do it!" I said quickly. Achilles chuckled.
"Just be tasteful my dear." he said "What are you reading?" I smiled.
"The Taming of the Shrew." I told him. Achilles laughed.
"That is a good one." he said kindly "But make yourself useful and help Conner gather some firewood would you? If he protests, tell him I said you should." I nodded and put the book away before going outside. Conner was already in the tree line by the time I got outside and I had to run to catch up.
"Conner! Wait up!" I called. He kept walking. Jerk. I caught up with him and angrily walked next to him.
"What do you want?" he asked when I finally caught up. I glared at him.
"Achilles asked me to help you with gathering firewood." I snapped "You could've stopped you know. I have a condition." Conner rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, it's called laziness." he stated.
"Actually that's not it you jerk." I said "It's called asthma." Conner rolled his eyes.
"You made that up."
"Did not!"
"Did to."
"Do you even know what asthma is?" I asked "Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm." I gave him a smug smile, proud I had remembered that whole thing.
"Now I definitely know you made that up." scoffed Conner. I rolled my eyes defiantly and crossed my arms.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." I said "You're just jealous that I knew about asthma and you didn't." Conner scowled, he seemed to do that a lot around me. We were both silent for a while and then Conner had to go and ruin it.
"Do you have a family?" he asked. I sighed and shrugged.
"Yes." I replied "But it's not much of one. Both of my parents are dead, I live with my uncle and older brother."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah..."
We walked in silence for a while longer.
"Do you have a family?" I asked finally. Conner stared straight ahead.
"No." was his curt reply. I frowned.
"Our luck sucks." I proclaimed "But I guess I shouldn't be complaining. I at least have my brother and my uncle." Conner glanced at me.
"Why are you doing that?" he asked. I stared at him.
"Doing what?"
"You're always changing. Sometimes you're happy and annoying, then you're calm and sad. Why?"
I blinked at him, not expecting him to be so straightforward.
"I...don't know." I said uncertainly "Women are complicated." Conner gave me a weird stare and I returned the favor by crossing my eyes. While I did this, I tripped and fell face flat.
"Ow..." I groaned. I looked up to see Conner smirking and I scowled at him.
"Stop smiling or I'll slap it off you." I mumbled. I stood up and Conner didn't help, a polite person helps a person who fell up. Conner is such a jerk. I dusted myself off and then punched Conner in the arm.
Now a normal person would just ask why I punched them and move on with their life. But Conner was obviously far from normal. He grabbed my wrist tightly, enough to make me wince.
"Ow! Sugar Honey Iced Tea!" I yelled "It wasn't that hard! Let go!" I tried pulling my wrist away, but that just caused more pain.
"Why'd you do that?" asked Conner dangerously. I scowled at him.
"Because you didn't help me up!" I hissed at him "It's how people where I'm from express annoyance in a friendly way." Conner let go of my wrist and I cradled it gently.
"Jerk." I said. Conner rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Let me see it." He said. I shook my head childishly. He reached for my wrist instead and I backed away.
"Let me see it Alice!" he demanded.
"No!" I yelled at him. I bumped into a tree and turned around to climb it. Conner grabbed my foot and I squealed. I lost grip on the branch I was holding and fell. Luckily something cushioned my fall, that something was Conner. I quickly got off him.
"Are you alright?" I asked uncertainly. Conner got up and scowled at me.
"I'm fine." he snapped "Let me see your wrist." I hesitated before holding my arm out. Conner inspected my wrist.
"You're fine." he said "Let's get that firewood."
I sat down on the grass and opened The Taming of the Shrew. After Conner and I returned with the firewood, I had taken the book outside (With Achilles permission of course) and started reading in the soft grass. I brushed a loose piece of hair behind my ear and my eyes eagerly read the words. I lost track of time as I kept reading and didn't notice the shadow cast over me.
"Who are you?" asked an accented voice. I looked up to see a Native American man. I jumped and dropped my book and hurriedly picked it up.
"Um... I'm Alice...Who are you?" I asked quickly.
"Where is Ratonhnhake':ton?" the man asked. I raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know anyone by that name." I said "I can get Achilles, or perhaps Conner if you'd like." The man huffed and went to the Homestead, he called for Ratonhnhake':ton and Conner soon came out along with Achilles. I only caught bits and pieces of their conversation.
"Kanen'ton:kon." Conner said. I didn't hear what was said after that, but Conner's expression quickly turned angry as the conversation continued.
"Sale!? This is theft!" he yelled. I flinched at his loud tone and ran over just as Achilles spoke.
"Conner, take care." he warned "These men are powerful." I raised an eyebrow.
"What is going on?" I asked Conner.
"William Johnson came to my people's land and claimed it!" he said sharply, then he spoke to Achilles "What would you have me do? I made a promise to my people." I frowned when I noticed that Conner's skin was lighter than his friend's. Achilles sighed.
"If you insist upon this course of action, seek out Sam Adams in Boston. He'll be able to help." he told Conner. Without a word, Conner's friend handed him an axe and he buried it in a post. I giggled nervously as Achilles gaped.
"What have you done!" he exclaimed.
"When my people go to war, a hatchet is buried into a post to signify its start. When the threat is ended, the hatchet is removed." Conner explained simply, remorse wasn't present in his voice. Both Natives started walking away.
"Oy ve." I said "There are plenty of trees you could've used." Achilles nodded in agreement. I took a deep breath. I started to go inside when Achilles stopped me with his cane.
"Wait Conner!" he called "Take Alice with you, this will be the perfect opportunity to do as we discussed this morning." Conner turned and so did his friend. Neither seemed happy with the idea of taking me with them while they did bro stuff. Conner did a dramatic sigh and looked like he was about to argue, then thought better of it.
"Come on." he said to me "The longer you stand there, more time is wasted." I glared at him, but walked over. I didn't even notice I was still clutching The Taming of the Shrew until Conner rolled his eyes and took it from me. He went over to Achilles quickly and handed it back. He then jogged back over to his friend and I and we set off.
Right before we got to Boston, we took a small stop. Conner's Native friend had left to go talk to their 'Clan Mother', which I was cool with. They wouldn't stop talking an it drove me insane because I couldn't understand what they where saying.
"When we get to Boston, I want you to stay as out of the way as possible." Conner instructed. I crossed my arms.
"So glad you like having me around." I grumbled "Fine."
A/N- I know I said I would update the same day I posted the first chapter, but school has been hectic and my computer is a spaz.
Hope you liked this chapter! Remember to leave a review and like and favorite and stuff.
Yay! Grammar!
But seriously guys, tell me if I messed up something and I will try to edit!
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