Chapter 4:3

1775, April 17th

For a moment I couldn't think. I couldn't see. I couldn't feel or smell. Each and every one of my senses dissolved into nothingness, leaving me open and exposed for the boy – no, man – in front of me. Someone who was my friend, someone who always supported me, someone who always helped me; Alex, Alex is kissing me and it feels so—

"I got it."

His breath was warm against my even warmer cheeks and a wide grin spread over his lips. I felt his hand slowly ascending from my pocket but before he got away, I grabbed hold of his wrist.

"Alex," I whispered.

"Yeah, that's me alright," he replied, still smiling teasingly. "Won't you let me go? I'd much like to see what you took from my bag."

I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly. He smells so good… so impossibly good. "Kiss me again."

Alex was quiet for a long while and I feared that he had only done it to surprise me into paralysis, so he could take back the letter. But soon I felt his soft lips moving over mine, slightly surprised but determined to stay on me. Soon, our bodies collided and the suspicious envelope was gone from my thoughts. I could only focus on Alex.

I dropped his hand and led them through the blond mess that was of his hair. He moaned quietly in protest but didn't let go of me and kissed me again. My eyes were closed but I did not need sight to feel his light fingers trailing down my face and to the small of my back. I did not need to see his handsome features to know that he was smirking as he pulled away from me, leaving me breathless.

"It seems like you find me alright then," he said teasingly and took hold of my hips. "I've wanted to do that for a very long time now."

I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart and took a deep breath. My eyes locked with his gray-green gaze and I let my hands trace the sharp line of his jaw. He really is one hell of an attractive guy… how come I never saw it until now?

"I-I…" I stammered and swallowed. I could feel the taste of him linger on my lips and it took me another moment to collect myself. "Alex, I—"

"It's alright," he said with a low voice and sank down his head until our foreheads met. "You don't have to say anything, I understand you."

Alex backed away from me and grinned mischievously.

"In fact I have something to ask you, Rawling." His smile widened. "Have you ever kissed a man before?"

My cheeks flushed with color and I tried to hide it with my hands. I quickly walked to my bed and tossed myself under the blanket, tryingly to stall as much time as possible until I could control my voice again.

"Certainly not and I can assure you that I will never kiss you again," I snapped and turned my back towards him. "If you ever try that again, I'll slap you; mark my words."

He chuckled and I heard him throw away his boots into the wall.

"Don't look about."

I huffed and closed my eyes. The time had already passed midnight a long time ago and I silently cursed; I would be so tired the next day, especially since I wanted to wake up early and find Mr. Pitcairn. I had wasted enough time on that man already.

As I slowly sailed away into a dreamless sleep, I allowed myself to remember Alex's kiss and blushed, my eyes opened wide. It fluttered in my stomach as I recalled his light fingers brushing my hair aside and the soft touch of our mouths connecting. I had been honest when I answered his question – I had in fact never kissed anyone else except my parents, maybe even my sister at times – but I didn't know if he had been mocking me or just found it amusing.

"Alex?"

He didn't answer and I repeated myself.

"Alex? You awake?"

"Now I am."

I cleared my throat and turned over.

Alex was lying on the bed in nothing but underwear, ignoring the sheets and only using a pillow as his headrest. He wasn't exactly muscular but had more of a lithesome build with long legs and slightly noticeable abs. His hand was splayed across his stomach and he breathed slowly.

"Stop looking at me, it's creepy."

I blushed again and looked at his face. The smile of a rogue spread on his lips and he opened his eyes.

"Or at least my body," he continued and raised his eyebrows. "And then you call me a pervert."

"Hey!" I growled and pulled my blanket higher. "At least I'm not sleeping half-naked."

Alex shrugged.

"It's hot." He yawned and blinked a couple of times. "What did you have to say?"

I bit my bottom lip and hesitated a moment before asking:

"Do you think it's weird that I haven't kissed anyone before?"

He started to laugh and I couldn't help but join. Alex's happiness is so contagious.

"Of course not," he answered and dried an invisible tear from the corner of his left eye. "It's cute in a way."

"Cute?" I paused when I realized that this was not his first time kissing a girl. "Oh, I see."

Alex stopped laughing and his eyes were serious as he looked at me.

"It's not like that, I promise," he said, his voice grave. "I'm sorry if it sounded like I was insulting you, I assure you that it was not my intention."

I gestured for him to calm down and shook my head.

"It's alright, never mind."

"Melissa…"

I shook my head again and gave him a little smile. I was always being honest with Alex and this was not an exception. What had happened was just a mistake; he had only wanted that letter…

"Alex, what is that letter about?" I asked him and searched my pockets. It wasn't there. "You took it, didn't you?"

He stiffened and pulled back his hair, his gaze focusing on something in the ceiling.

"It was the letter you sent me half a year ago," he replied. "Nothing special, I just wrote something private on the same paper that I don't want you to see."

"About the rebellion?"

Alex nodded.

"I can't show it to you, I'm sorry."

Since when did a stupid war become more important than our friendship? I pressed together my lips and frowned. "So you only kissed me because of that?"

His eyes immediately met with mine and he regarded me so intensely that I almost wanted to hide.

"I kissed you because I like you, Mel."

I opened my mouth to say something but he shook his head.

"Let's just sleep now, I don't want to miss our man again," he said and gave me a reassuring smile. "Night."

I smiled back at him and closed my eyes. It didn't take more than a minute before I was asleep, dreaming about a white eagle. Morning came quicker than I expected and woke me up with its dazzling light.

"Slept well?"

"God," I sighed and squinted.

"You can call me Alex; I'm completely fine with that."

I pulled the blanket over my head and groaned.

"Did you have to draw aside the curtains?" I complained and rubbed away the rest of the sleep from my eyes. "You're killing me."

"You're not a vampire, Mel. Just lazy," he answered and shook my shoulders. "Wake up now, it's already noon."

"What?!"

I jumped out of the bed and found my watch. He was right.

"Why haven't you awakened me?" I exclaimed and started to undress when I realized that he was still there. "Look away, pervert."

"Alright, alright."

I muttered a curse and quickly changed into the clothes I had used the day before. As I thought about yesterday, I suddenly recalled our kiss and blushed. What am I for Alex? And what is he for me? Do I like him in that way? But I don't want to lose the friend in him… the only friend I actually have.

"Done soon?" he asked teasingly.

I glared at his back and sighed heavily.

"Everything is on," I replied and tamed my hair into obedience. "Let's get moving."

He nodded and we exited the inn in a hurry. The day was warm and when I looked up into the sky, it was perfectly blue with not a cloud as far as my eyes could see.

"Where did you get that watch?"

We sat up on our horses and headed towards the outskirts of Lexington. I was hoping to find a patrol of soldiers who could lead me to Mr. Pitcairn, since neither Alex nor I had seen a camp yesterday.

"I got it for my birthday," I explained as I searched for anyone wearing something red. "Mr. Kenway bought it for me."

"That man gave you a present? Why?" he wondered and I shrugged. "Do you still meet him nowadays?"

I shook my head.

"Not that often, I fear," I said and yawned. There you go; the truth. I meet with Mr. Kenway rarely and I have no idea what he might do else on his spare time… he's a very enigmatic man. "There are Regulars ahead!"

I urged my horse into a gallop and reached the group of soldiers, halting before I rode them down. Alex stopped next to me.

"Greetings, sirs."

The officer leading the patrol signaled his subordinates to wait and turned his gaze towards me. He was perhaps a couple of years above forty, with stern blue eyes and fair skin.

"I would suggest the two of you to return to where you came from; it's not safe here anymore," he answered and eyed the two of us. "You are clearly not from here and mere children. Go back to your parents."

I would've felt insulted and really offended had it not been due to the man's serious tone. He wasn't being malignant, only honest.

Let's hope he knows where I can find my target. I looked back at him and replied, "I have a letter for John Pitcairn. Do you perhaps know where I can find him?"

His eyes widened slightly and he nodded.

"Certainly I do," he said and held out his gloved hand. "I can take it from here, young Miss."

"Can't do, sir," I responded and snorted. "You might be a spy."

The corner of the officer's mouth twitched and I saw that he restrained himself from smiling.

"Got a lot of courage to talk to an adult like that," he noted and his eyes switched to Alex. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Fifteen." This year, at least.

The man in front of me paused then sighed.

"Alright, I'll see to it that you can deliver your letter personally to Major Pitcairn." He turned around and started to walk. "Move out!"

Alex and I followed him without another word as well as the soldiers accompanying him. We followed the main road and turned to the left after perhaps a mile, reaching the encampment of the Britain troops. I realized that had Alex and I been just a bit more perceptive, we would've seen the many footprints and the marks from wagon wheels, imprinted into the ground. The atmosphere in the provisional military base was tense and I counted up to roughly a hundred – perhaps two hundred – good men, well-armed and in high spirits. Nobody seemed to doubt that they were marching into victory.

"So many Redcoats…"

I hushed at Alex and staring shocked.

"Quiet!" I hissed then looked about. "You're supposed to stay neutral in this, Alex."

He exhaled and rolled with his eyes.

"I can't," he said quietly, riding closer to me. "I have to tell Paul about this or at least Connor…"

"Connor?!"

Alex raised his eyebrows and clenched his jaw.

"You know him?" he asked and I almost fell off my horse.

"Of course not!" I exclaimed and got a confused glance from a nearby soldier. I ignored the man and swallowed. "But he tried to kill me!"

"What?! When did you meet? How?"

"He's that crazy alcoholic trying to kill me at Johnson Hall," I replied and tucked down my collar, showing Alex the scar. "Stay away from him, he's dangerous and completely—"

"Miss Rawling."