The Goddess Crystal

Chapter 10: Ricochet

Three seconds into the kiss, I jerk away. "Skye—I can't."

He studies me, and I can't help but notice the hurt that crosses his features. "It's about Leith, isn't it?"

I sigh, swallowing, inching away. "Y-yes. Partly."

"There's another reason, then?"

I look away, biting my lip. "Well, you're hurt..."

"There isn't another reason, right?"

I laugh. "I must be predictable. That's the second time that's happened." When he just stares at me, I sigh. "Not, there isn't. It's just—"

"You're getting married, I know," Skye says, face growing darker. "No need to remind me."

I swallow. "Right." The bed creaks as I get up. "I should go, then."

"Do you really need to?"

The hidden question strikes me as odd: can you stay? I push away the urge to say yes. "If I stay, Leith might...I mean, he could hurt you again, couldn't he?"

Skye laughs drily. "Hurt me how? He can't deal damage worse than he already has. So will you stay?"

"I'll stay a few more minutes, I guess," I say, sitting back down. "I mean, I have to let you rest."

"Why not stay the night? I'll sleep on the floor."

My jaw drops. "I should be the one offering you the bed. You're hurt!"

"No, take the bed."

The argument must go on for another few minutes before he finally succeeds in getting me to take the bed. Frankly, I'm happy to stay, since my room always feels lonely, but like this? A thought makes me open my mouth, blushing. "Why don't we share?" I nearly choke on my laughter when Skye goes bright red. "Get your mind out of the gutter. Now. Just sharing."

So of course he agrees.

When I wake up, the bed is comfortably warm, which is odd, since the air in my room is always freezing. My arm bumps something as I turn over. A smile creeps up on my face as I flush pink.

Skye.

Even with the split lip and bruised cheek, sleep does what it does to everyone: somehow, it makes them younger, more innocent.

My legs are pulled up to my chest and I realize my head is resting on his arm. Skye stirs but doesn't wake up.

I raise my hand and press it to his cheek, smiling softly. His eyes flutter and he places his hand against mine before opening his eyes.

"Mornin'," I say, yawning. "Do you know what day it is?"

Skye blinks. "My birthday..." he says, words blurred from sleep.

My mind whirls. "Your birthday?" When he nods sleepily, I swallow. "And you're in here? I'm so sorry, Skye."

My statement seems to jolt him from sleep, because he takes my hand in his before saying, "What for?"

It's so obvious... "Well, if I wasn't an idiot and had run away, this wouldn't be happening."

Skye smiles, his arm my head is resting on pulling me to his chest. His heartbeat thumps against my eardrum as he sets his chin on my head. "I should be thanking you, then."

I breathe in deeply. "How so?"

"Well, we wouldn't be here, in this moment, if you hadn't done that, would we?"

"I guess not. But you wouldn't be hurt, would you?"

A pregnant pause. "Are you still going through with Leith?"

My gut twists. "Skye, I said I'd marry the guy. That's not something you can back out of easily."

"You don't want to be with me, do you?"

"Of course, Skye—"

"Then why don't you try to get out of it?"

Anger and frustration makes me snap, "Because of what happened. Because you lied to me!"

Another lull. I sit up and hurry to get up out of bed. "I should go."

He doesn't answer, just watches as I get my things together.

"The silent treatment, huh? Fine! I don't care!"

I slam the door on the way to go see Leith.

I grab the Blue Feather when I stop by my room. I growl, kicking at a pillow. Screw it.

Leith is sitting outside, at the same spot. The crystal burns gold as I walk up. I sit down.

"Good, you came," Leith says, smiling. "I was worried."

"Can we just get this over with? When's the ceremony?"

Leith sighs but doesn't comment on my statement. "In a week."

Right. The tradition. "Okay."

"Don't worry. The ceremony will be simple; we'll have time to prepare."

I sigh, looking at the door that leads back inside. "that's not what I'm worried about."

Tempest Bound: Yes, I know I'm late. Yes, I know its short. But, in my defense, I was writing another story. An Okami one, but whatever, you guys don't realy care about that, right?