For the fifth time in a row I let out a huge sigh. I was bored. Bored out of my mind completely. Senel and Chloe took forever to get supplies. What all did they need anyways? A couple of lemon gels, maybe a new sword or pair of gauntlets and boom they're done. The stores weren't even that far apart either.

'I bet Will told them to be slow on purpose.' I thought bitterly as I stared darkly over at the grassy fields. Since I didn't know the town all that well (aside from wandering it when I arrived), I figured that sitting out front by the entrance waiting for the two to finish their shopping would be the smartest thing to do instead of getting lost and then getting another lecture from Will. Norma was right; he really was like a teacher.

"It would be so much more peaceful... if I didn't have you breathing down my neck." I mumbled.

Beside me, Jay merely shrugged. He had his hands in his jacket pockets like normal and held the same blank expression I learned he barely ever took off. "I don't enjoy this anymore than you."

"Oh, thanks, that makes it all the better." I said sarcastically. "You truly make me happy, Jay."

Silence lifted. I listened quietly to the soft chirping of the birds in the trees and stared absentmindedly at the swaying grass. It reminded me of home. Back where we lived in a forest so beautiful it broke my heart to leave it. I didn't want to go to the Legacy. I had no interest in leaving my mother and sister behind. Hell, I hated my older sister yet I missed her.

I snorted. I was pathetic. Just a weak little kid homesick and I hadn't been gone all that long. What a disgrace. Sometimes I wanted to be like Moses. To be as brave as him. He left at such a young age and yet he became the way he was without visiting once.

Forgetting Jay was there I leaned back and placed my hands on the back of my neck. "Fuck." I swore harshly, making him look down at me blinking. "Since when do I think this much?" Realising I wasn't alone I quickly apologized for my rude comment, waving my hands. "Sorry. I-I... that wasn't directed to you at all."

"Oh." Was all he said for a while. When we fell quiet again I glanced up at him and frowned. I felt bad. I shouldn't have snapped like that. I never swore violently unless I was angry or stressed and although he didn't know that, he should have got the hint I wasn't in a good mood. He must have been confused.

I mentally flipped my temper off and turned to Jay. "I'm sorry for that." I sounded sincere for once and I nearly wanted to pat myself. "I... just don't really know what I'm doing anymore."

"Don't get me wrong." I blinked. "I don't care about you or your thoughts. You're nothing but that stupid bandit's dumb cousin to me."

Honestly, at that exact moment, I thought I was going to burst. It took everything I had--each little bit of willpower--to not grab his front and punch his lights out. Just those two sentences made me burn with anger. As cute as he was I wasn't the kind of person to take a blow like that so easily. "You..." I pointed to him, my fist shaking. It was the closest I could get without losing it. "You are the most inconsiderate prick I've ever met. A short, gay lookin', dick-head."

He blinked those large violet eyes at me. "I hate to admit it, but Moses was right. You really are more a man than a woman."

That was the last straw.

SLAP.

The sound echoed in the quiet surroundings. Senel and Chloe gapped at the scene. They arrived around the time Jay had ended his first comment and heard what I snapped at him with. The effect of my action intensified the moment more and while I saw them out of the corner of my eye I didn't bother facing them.

"I will not be taking shit from you." I snarled, leaning in so close to Jay's face he actually tilted his head back, uncomfortable. With those being my final words, I spun on my heel and stormed down the road.

Senel and Chloe glanced between each other. They were both wondering the same thing. 'What the hell just happened?'

Jay stood frozen in place on the side of the road. He didn't say anything at all. Even as he raised a hand to brush his slender fingertips against the reddened blotch on his cheek he was mute. His expression pure shock.

Suddenly he jerked towards them as if they had startled him. Chloe saw how large his eyes were and instinctively took a step forwards to ask him if he was alright but Senel touched her shoulder. "Go ahead to Alex. I'll handle this."

She stared uneasily at him. "Coolidge... are you sure?"

Senel smiled at her and nodded, pushing her down the road. Giving Jay a final glance she ran off with the bag of bakery good on her back after me.

Hesitating a little, Senel came up to Jay's side. He put his hand on the younger boys shoulder and bent his head. "You okay?"

"... Yes... yes, I am fine." Jay blinked and shook his head to clear it. His usual calm expression was back and he began walking down the path out of the town hurriedly. "Come on. Let's get this over with."

Senel watched with curious blue eyes as his friend stalked off. He was almost... pouting? What for? He caught Jay pause in his step and touch his cheek again and the ex-Alliance Marine crossed his arms thinking. 'Was it because she hit him? He probably just doesn't want to seem weak. After all, she is a little... demanding.'

Oh, he had no idea what extremes I went to.