Zoe's POV:
I woke to the smoky smell of bacon frying on a pan.
I opened my eyes, blinking as the sun's rays momentarily blinded me. I raised a hand to shade my eyes from the light. When my eyes finally adjusted, I looked around at my surroundings.
The adults were seated around a dim fire. Emma was using magic to stoke the fire. Beside her, Eadric was holding a pan of bacon strips over the fire, licking his lips hungrily, eyes glued on the fatty strips. Haywood had charmed a fish so it was hanging suspended over the fire, cooking.
"Morning already?" I murmured. It was then, that the night's past events came flooding back to me. Talking with Francis, resting my head on his shoulder, him wrapping his arm around me. Falling asleep on his chest. Kissing him.
Immediately my gaze flicked over to Francis. He was lying sprawled on his stomach, making a faint snuffling sound in his sleep.
I frowned. "What..?" I watched Francis breathe for a moment. Was that really all just a dream? I thought.
It felt like a shard of ice had pierced my heart. When Francis and I had kissed last night...or when I had dreamed that we had kissed last night, I had realized something important. I loved Francis.
And now, realizing that our moment was all just a dream. It was too much for me to handle.
I got up and slowly walked over to Francis. I knelt next to him, gazing at his face longingly.
If only...
He snuffled again, and a strand of his golden hair drooped across his face.
I knelt down and gently brushed it out of the way. The moment my fingers touched his face, a spark shot through me. I gasped and stumbled backwards, tripping over a rock.
Francis began to stir as I scrambled for my footing. He lifted his head up, blinking sleepily. "Zoe?" he mumbled.
Tears filled my eyes as I backed away. My bottom lip wobbled. I probably looked so pathetic. Just like I felt.
Francis frowned, confused. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. I was about to lose it. I turned and dashed away, heading in the direction of the forest.
"Wait, Zoe, come back!" Francis cried.
But I refused to turn around. I just kept running.