Chapter 6 : Awkward Chatting

"Mana?" His hands are cool as they graze my shoulders. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Pharaoh." I stand and pull away from his touch. "C'mon, let's go home." I don't look back at him as I walk. My bare feet sink into the sand and my face burns. I'm sure pushing him away like that hurt, but how am I supposed to react now that 'things are different'? My eyes sting and more tears fall. I run. I run with fists swinging and teeth clenched. I hear his panting behind me. Damn he's faster than I thought! why won't he just leave me alone?

"Mana! Wait! Please I didn't mean to –"

"GO AWAY ATEM!" I cry. "Just leave me alone!"

"No way in hell!"

I pick up speed. I'm close to the palace now. I take a quick glance behind me to see that he's slowing down. Good. I'm not letting up at all. Suddenly, my chest tightens and my head pounds like it's in a vice. My heart is beating so loud and fast that it echoes through my ears and almost deafens me. I feel my legs shake and knees buckle before I hit the ground; hard. My face feels like it is being pressed deep into the hot, dry sand. Atem's voice is growing panicked and mumbled. The ground is moving beneath me as he comes closer. His cries heighten as my world goes black…

My eyes flutter open and I feel weightless like I'm being lifted. "Mana?" Pharaoh…he's carrying me. I look up slowly. We have arrived back at the Palace. Did he carry me this whole way? "Thank Ra you're awake!" He smiles warmly and sits still holding me tight. "Are you feeling any better?"

I don't know what to say. My stomach hurts and I'm light-headed. "Uh…" Atem reaches over and places a wet, cool cloth on my forehead. I can't believe this is truly happening! He's holding me like a small baby; almost cradling me in his large, strong, masculine arms…My face grows very hot.

"You are flushed." he sighs. "You must have a fever."

"What?"

"You lost consciousness about a quarter hour ago…do you not remember?"

I nod and sharp pains shoot through my temples. "Uhhh…" I bite my lip and rub at my head.

"Shhhh…" Atem removes my hand and the damp towel before brushing away a few of my bangs and kissing where the pain was. Am I dreaming? "Relax, little one."

"Huh? Little one?"

"Well, you are young and so tiny…" his fingers trace my face down to my shoulders. "You are tense."

"Sorry."

"He moves his hands in a circular motion on my shoulders. It feels absolutely wonderful. I sigh and close my eyes relaxing under his touch. "You're good." I say softly.

Atemu chuckles. "Really?"

"Mhmm."

"Thank you, Mana." he pulls back the covers to my bed. Gingerly, he places me down and tucks me in like a child. "You should rest."

I nod even though I want to argue. "Yeah." I'm saddened that he isn't holding me anymore…I felt so protected. It was almost as if what happened back at the Nile…never even happened.

"Would you like me to stay here with you?"

I smile. "You don't have to do that."

"I want to though…" My smile widens as he lays down next to me on his side. His face is so close to mine. We both blush. "Why did you pass out back there?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe the heat?"

"I doubt it. It's never bothered you before."

I'm silent. "Mana, we really need to talk…" The Pharaoh's eyes meet mine. "What I said…you know…back at the river, I didn't mean it to hurt you…" his expression is sincere and his cheeks a bright pink. "I just…we are….older now….and things are going to complicate."

"Oh…you mean with…puberty and all?"

He breaks eye contact and look away. "Umm…this is…"

"Awkward?" I swallow hard.

"Yes, very."

"Atemu, can I ask you something?

"Sure Mana."

"OK…well…in the water…when our bodies, umm, touched each other, what did you feel?"

He sits up quickly, covers his face with his hands and sighs deeply. "Oh Ra, Mana, I know we tell each other everything but…"

"Did you like it?" I sit up too and pull his down his arms so I can see his face. I've never seen at look o contorted and embarrassed before.

"Yes."

I smirk and blush a brighter red. "So did I…"

"Well, since we're on this…umm, topic…"

"Huh?"

"My…" He lowers his head slightly and clears his throat. "I'm sorry for what you…saw earlier."

"Sorry for what exactly?"

"The problem that I had with…umm…my…" He stops and looks as if he's going to become violently ill. "As I was coming of age my Father told me that I would experience something called an erection and –"

"Whoa! A What?!"

"I –I don't know…"He gulps and rushes his explanation. "But it happens when, well –I suppose it happens when a young woman and young man…get really close and touch in an intimate or sexual manner…"

"Ohhh…." I know it may be wrong, but I love the way he just said 'sexual'.

"When a young man gets this strange feeling, something happens with his body."

"Has it happened to you before?"

"…Yes."

My heart skips a beat. Maybe another girl, a prettier 'young woman' has made him feel this way too…

"It's so odd because I only seem to feel funny when it involves…"Atem clears his throat again and grabs my hand, staring me directly in the eyes. "You, Mana."