Week was going great until I found out today that someone on my work project that I've had trouble with before is up to his old tricks again. Went behind our back to try and steal work from my group to absorb our funding...again. This time, though, he's gotten some higher-ups on board and is pushing hard. I swear, if this guy put half as much effort into the project as he did playing politics and going behind everyone's back, we'd already have a finished system out the door.

At least it's the weekend and I can just relax a bit. Got a birthday party for my nephews tomorrow and plan to unwind tonight with a fun stream. Hopefully I'm in a better mood before I have a meeting with this guy next week. Rather not turn our first potentially productive meeting into a fight.

On an unrelated but somehow less upsetting note, I will be getting my wisdom teeth removed in two weeks. I'm hoping to have the chapter done early that week so I can post it either that morning or the next day, but I may end up having to miss a week or two depending on how things go and how busy the week prior becomes. I'll know more next week and include it in the Author Notes, but wanted to give a brief notice here in case I have to delay.

On with the show!

A lone guard patrolled high atop the walls of Katai, eyes scanning the distant treeline once more. Nothing stirred beyond the occasional squirrel or sudden flight of a bird, but that was fine. When your job was to watch for things seeking to kill you, be they bandits or Grimm, boring was welcome. Boring meant safety, both for him and the town safely tucked behind the wall he guarded.

He turned to resume his pacing, if only for need of something to do, when a cloud of dust in the distance caught his eye. It came from much further down the wall, skirting the edge of the town a good distance from the wall. Rather than be concerned with the rapidly approaching creature, the guard simply leaned out further to watch. Had it been cause for concern, another guard would've raised the alarm by now, but almost all of them had seen it before. He simply shook his head in amusement and raised a single hand to wave as the blur shot by below.

The greeting went unheeded by the horse that sped across the open field, kicking up dirt along the weathered path as she so often had. The young rider urged her on ever faster, leaning forward to nearly merge man and beast as they seemed to fly across the ground. As much as Adam might have wished it, though, gravity ensured that his mount remained Eve the horse, and not a winged pegasus.

"Faster, Eve," Adam urged, his voice hardly above a whisper. Still, Eve responded by ducking her head a little lower, pushing forward with every ounce of strength in her considerable form.

Only when Adam tightened his grip on the reins did she begin to slow, grateful for the ease in pace. While Eve may have counted it a blessing to stop before she was spent, Adam knew her limits well enough to slow them down in time.

"Easy girl," Adam instructed, sitting up as Eve finally returned to a swift walk. He patted her side in encouragement. "Good work."

Convincing the stablehands to let him take Eve out on a run hadn't been too hard. He'd finished up his chores quickly as always. Experience from back home and his time working at the stable in Katai gave him a proficiency few could hope to match at his age. While Eve was obviously his favorite, he treated all of the horses well and even earned the occasional tip from the merchants that passed through. Originally, the extra lien had been used for snacks at the inn, but he'd saved the rest as best he could over the last few months with a new goal in mind.

Keeping his new savings account secret had been difficult. If Madam de Thom found out, she'd demand he hand it over to the orphanage. She might still let him use the funds, but only under her supervision. Considering what he planned to do, he doubted that would work in his favor. Still, the small stockpile he kept hidden behind a loose board in Eve's stall had very slowly grown as he went out of his way to prove himself to paying customers as often as he could. It wouldn't last long, but he'd need every lien he could get later.

Eve slowed to a stop as they reached the paved path back to Katai, sensing Adam's hesitation. To the right lay the imposing wall and the town it guarded. He could hear the raucous sounds of life as residents and travelers bustled around the busy streets on the weekend. But it wasn't the town that Adam found his focus lingering on.

On the left, the pavement cut a path through the woods. Somewhere beyond his sight, it joined the trade highway, which would take him far away from this horrid place. With but a simple tug, he could have Eve carry him to freedom, never to return to the orphanage and Alyssa's clutches again. He could feel the call of the open road even now, begging him to start life anew. He could go anywhere he wanted. Shizukana would be the easy choice, given his history there, but that also had him thinking of other destinations. With the only remaining link to that village being a lonely gravestone of a great man, Shizukana would never truly be home for him again.

Plus, it would be the first place people would look for him, being the closest destination. Even stopping there would be a risk, as someone might recognize him. If Katai sent someone to track him down, even knowing he'd stopped there briefly would alert them to his direction. Better to head west and try his luck in new lands.

But all of that would have to wait.

"Not today." Adam forlornly steered Eve back toward the gate. The last thing he wanted was to return to the orphanage, but he wasn't ready yet. Oh, he was ready, but there were things to do before he could hope to flee.

Alyssa hadn't made the wait easy. If he'd hoped she'd lose interest or become bored once her dalliances lost that new feeling, he'd been sorely mistaken. If anything, it only got worse. She'd always find new ways to mess with him, both inside and out of the bedroom. She never missed an opportunity for contact of some sort, enjoying the game of seeing how far she could go without anyone realizing, which only excited her more when she finally got him alone.

At least Nila had been a constant comfort, though she had no idea how important she had become. How could she? As far as she and Erik knew, nothing had changed. He still went to class, did his chores, and had weekly tutoring sessions with Alyssa.

But everything had changed. Classes were less about learning and more about enduring Alyssa's casual advances. Chores became a psychological minefield where Alyssa might do anything from bedding him to ignoring him. And the lessons…gods, the lessons. She hadn't let one go by without taking advantage of him in some way. He dreaded Fridays now and the torture hidden in the evenings.

While the weekdays were a constant war of him versus Alyssa's appetites - one he was steadily losing - the weekends felt all the sweeter for his limited freedom. Taking Eve out for a run after work. Hanging out with Erik. And especially his late evening walks with Nila. They were allowed to stay out later on the weekends, so the two would stroll along the path well after the sun had sunk below the horizon. They'd talk for hours, or even just walk in silence. And their night always ended with a parting kiss. Not a violating, aggressive assault like Alyssa favored, but a simple, sweet kiss between the two that would let Adam forget about his troubles, if only for a moment.

He just hoped their discussion tomorrow would go well.

"Back already?" a stablehand asked as Adam dismounted and walked Eve to her stall. He and Adam had spoken a few times, with the man's interest in Eve becoming more and more apparent each time. "I'd've thought you'd stay out longer on a nice day like today." The first signs of autumn had begun to sneak in. Tiny specks of color dotted the forest canopy. The warm sun punctuated a cool breeze that felt marvelous in the afternoons. The bitter cold of winter was still a long way off, though.

"Not today," Adam answered, though his true meaning was lost on the stablehand. "Decided to really let her run today. She's as fast as ever."

"I would think so," his temporary friend chuckled. "She's a good horse. Sturdy. Strong." He rubbed Eve's flank as he spoke, which Eve didn't seem to mind. Adam felt a little jealous that someone else had earned her trust, but someone had to take care of her the other six days of the week. From what he could tell, this man had been the one to look after her most. "My offer still stands."

"As does my refusal. She's not for sale." This wasn't the first time he'd tried to convince Adam to sell Eve, but there was no way he would let her go, not even for the more than fair price the man offered. The promises that he could visit her and even ride her on the weekends should've been enticing, but Eve was his horse. He didn't want to borrow her. She belonged to him and always would.

Plus, he'd need her soon.

Far from being upset, the man simply shrugged. "Worth a shot. Well, if you ever change your mind, know that my offer still stands. It's a good price for a good horse." No, it was a good price for a great horse. "Would make a nice addition to your little stockpile behind her stall."

Adam froze. He'd done his best to keep that a secret. If word got back to the orphanage…

"Don't worry," the man assured him, sensing his sudden concern. "Your money's safe and sound. And I warned the others not to even think of messing with it."

Adam's gratitude barely had a chance to register before doubt and suspicion took over. Adam needed his lien if he ever hoped to escape. He couldn't exactly get very far with no food, no money, and only the clothes on his back. The small amount he'd saved up would be enough to get him far away from here. After that, he wasn't sure what would happen, but at least he'd be free.

"What do you want?" Adam asked cautiously, aware that his new friend held all the cards. One word to Madam de Thom would ruin his plan in an instant. Then again, he could've just stolen the money during the week and left Adam without a clue as to what happened. His dealings with Alyssa had taught him not to trust that sort of generosity.

"I want you to sell me that horse of yours." Adam felt his fists tighten. If he thought he could blackmail Adam into giving up Eve, he had another thing coming. Thankfully, his next words calmed Adam down a little. "But I'm not the sort to force a boy into anything. What you do with your horse is your business, as is your money."

"So you won't tell?"

The stablehand looked mildly offended at the suggestion. "Tell what? That you earned tips for all your hard work? That you want to keep your money? Not like you stole it or something. As far as I can tell, the only thing wrong here is that you trust a loose plank in a stable more than your own coworkers."

Adam took a deep breath, forcing himself to release the tension he'd been feeling. "Sorry. It's just-"

"No need," the man interrupted, raising both hands in front of him. "Like I said, your business is your own. If you think the safest place for your money is our stable, then I'll take it as a compliment and leave it be."

Adam breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he managed. "It really means a lot to me." More than he could express. As the man waved and went back to work, Adam still took the time to quietly check his savings, grateful to see it all accounted for. As much as he wanted to trust the man, it didn't hurt to be certain. He pushed the pouch further to the side before grabbing a fistful of hay to conceal it better. Hopefully, no one else would discover his secret.

Then again, if all went well, there wouldn't be anything but an empty stall in a few weeks.

/- - - - - - - - - -/

Adam took a moment to prepare himself outside of Madam de Thom's office. He'd run through his plan at least a dozen times in his head on the way back. Since then, he'd taken a shower, walked around a bit, and even worked on some homework. Sadly, stalling hadn't made it any easier for him. Stood outside the intimidating matron's office, Adam felt panic begin to creep in.

What if she says no? Well, it would be inconvenient, but he could work around it. In the end, what he had planned wouldn't be allowed anyways. Then again, he wasn't asking for permission to run away. His request was far simpler.

"Enter," Madam de Thom commanded as he knocked. Knowing that hesitation would just annoy her and rob him of his already waning confidence, Adam stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. "Adam. What brings you here?"

Adam swallowed audibly, forcing himself to walk to her desk. "I…I have a question. More of a request, really."

"Is that so?" Adam sat as she motioned to the chair beside him, pleased to see him obey so quickly. "And what, exactly, do you want?"

Adam wanted a lot of things. He wanted to escape. He wanted a chance at a happier life. Most of all, he wanted her whore of a daughter to keep her filthy hands off of him. But he knew better than to ask any of that. His request was far simpler.

"I want to take Nila on a ride."

Madam de Thom considered him for a moment, leaving Adam to squirm in the silence. "A ride?"

"On Eve," Adam clarified before rushing to add, "My horse. I wanted to take her on a horseback ride."

It seemed a simple request. He and Nila would go to the stable, then take Eve out for a jaunt around Katai. If he played his cards right, maybe they could even have a picnic. Or he could buy them lunch at the inn with some of his lien - the lien Madam de Thom controlled, not his secret stash.

But it would only work if Madam de Thom let him take Nila away from the orphanage.

"You want to take her on a date, then," Madam de Thom summarized.

"Yes, ma'am." While that was true, and he knew Nila would enjoy something more than just hanging out at the orphanage, Adam had other reasons. Ones the woman before him might not approve of.

"So the two of you are still dating?" Having Madam de Thom know about his relationship status felt weird, but Adam nodded along. For all he knew, Alyssa had told her at some point. Or she'd just seen them together herself. It really didn't matter. "And is my facility not sufficient for your budding romance?"

Adam's eyes widened at the perceived slight. Insulting her to her face would hardly win him any points. "Uh…n-no! It's just…I mean…"

Madam de Thom cracked a smile at his sputtering. "Calm down, Adam. That was a joke." Adam laughed nervously, finding it far less amusing than she did. "My responsibilities are the care and feeding of children. That doesn't leave much room for entertainment or dating. And you are hardly the first young ones to have a fling in my care."

Adam wasn't sure he would call it a fling, but he also wasn't going to correct her. He'd seen a few couples among the older teens, though, and often wondered how they handled dating and…other things while confined in an orphanage.

"A horseback ride, you say?" When Adam confirmed it, Madam de Thom flipped a paper over and made a few notes. "And when, exactly, would this date of yours take place?"

"T-tomorrow," Adam answered, wilting as Madam de Thom glanced up at him. He knew that wasn't exactly much notice, but the sooner it happened, the better. "At lunch. But if that's too soon-"

"Tomorrow at lunch," Madam de Thom echoed. Adam sat a little taller, recognizing her notetaking as a sign of likely acceptance. "Food?"

"I was thinking we could buy some from the inn and have a picnic." More scribbles that he couldn't see. "Using some of the money from my savings account."

"Your what?"

"My account," Adam repeated. "The one we set up with my extra income from working two jobs?"

Madam de Thom paused for a moment, mentally searching for some unknown clue. Eventually, she must've found what she was looking for. "Ah, yes. The extra money we set aside for you and your friends. Do you wish to alter that agreement?"

If he could withdraw from the account, then maybe. But Adam doubted she'd allow that. Plus, she might question the sudden change, and the last thing he wanted was to raise her suspicions. "No. Just this once is all."

"Very well." Adam could've cheered as Madam de Thom made a final note and set the paper aside. "Tomorrow at eleven, you and Nila will come to my office. I will give you a small allowance of lien for food, but I expect a receipt and all remaining funds to be returned to me afterwards."

"Yes, ma'am."

"You will both return no later than three, stopping by my office to check in personally. If you return early and I am not present, you are to wait outside my office until I arrive. Is that understood?"

"Of course," Adam readily agreed. As far as requirements, this sounded pretty simple. He'd have agreed to so much more if needed. "Thank you so mu-"

Madam de Thom held a finger up to indicate she had more, silencing Adam. "If you have not returned by the appointed time, I will consider this a breach of our arrangement. You will be charged additional fees for any search efforts and any further rendezvous for you and your romantic partner will be immediately denied."

What sounded like harsh penalties really wasn't much. In reality, beyond the additional charge to his account, it would be just like he'd never asked. They'd be back at the orphanage and not allowed to go on a date he had worried wouldn't be approved anyways. Jaune wasn't sure if it was the woman's generosity or apathy at work, but Adam couldn't bring himself to care.

Thanking her profusely, Adam quickly left as Madam de Thom returned to her work, her sudden shift as clear a dismissal as he'd get. Once the door closed behind him, Adam practically sprinted away in excitement. A few people in the hall gave him odd looks as he sped past, but Adam hardly noticed.

He'd done it! He still didn't have everything ready yet, but another step in his plan was complete. The date itself would be wonderful, but he had bigger plans. Much bigger plans. There was still much to do, but little by little, everything seemed to be falling into place. In fact, he'd done almost everything he could do at this point. Everything else depended on his friends. On what Nila would say tomorrow.

/- - - - - - - - - -/

To say Nila had been excited about their date would be an understatement. He'd kept it quiet until well into their evening walk, when darkness had already fallen and they'd found themselves at the furthest point from the orphanage building. Nila had tackled him in excitement, arms nearly strangling him in her tight hug. If that hadn't been proof enough, the lips that crashed into his a moment later sure hinted at her approval.

Their walk ended shortly thereafter, with Nila rushing back to her room saying something about needing to prepare. Adam doubted she would be spending the entire night getting ready. More likely, she would be picking out an outfit from her limited closet and coming up with ideas. As much as Adam wanted her to stay, he knew they'd have plenty of time tomorrow. Besides, he felt the same nervous excitement and was grateful for the chance to unwind before bed.

Sleep eluded him for most of the night. His mind swirled with dreams of their date and beyond. Even so, the morning found him alert and energetic. Erik could tell something was up, especially during breakfast, but chose not to ask. Adam would tell him later, but right now, his attention was fully on Nila.

And, gods, did she capture his attention. Her outfit was one he'd never seen before. Nila explained that one of her roommates let her borrow them for their date. Apparently, she'd been in a frenzy last night trying to figure out what to wear. She'd almost started crying when an older teen in her room offered to help and found a bright blouse that she didn't wear as much. Another girl had a pair of pants that she'd recently grown out of but hadn't turned in yet. Adam didn't mind the tight fit, while Nila merely blushed a little when she caught him staring.

With a pocket full of lien from Madam de Thom and a promise to return on time, Adam led Nila across town to the inn. He'd forgotten that Nila hadn't seen the town in years, so everything seemed new to her. He and Erik saw it almost every day on the way to work, but Nila wouldn't need to get a job for months still.

A few workers at the inn recognized him when he arrived, making him feel like a celebrity. Naturally, when they noticed Nila and how she clung to Adam's side, they'd quickly realized his visit was for pleasure, not business. Adam could've hugged the innkeeper when she offered them a private booth in the dining room and heaped praises on Nila. As soon as Adam told her they were going on a picnic, she rushed away to the kitchen, returning shortly thereafter with a basket full of fresh food.

Adam pulled out his stack of lien, worried by the sheer quantity of food before them. "How much?" He hoped it would be within his budget.

"It's on the house." Adam's jaw dropped instantly. This much food could've fed half a dozen people.

Adam insisted he pay, quietly letting her know Madam de Thom expected a receipt and change when he returned. He didn't want her thinking he'd stolen the food. When the innkeeper heard the name de Thom, she bristled slightly before typing something into her register.

"Here you go!" she exclaimed, handing him a receipt that very clearly didn't match their order. Half of the items weren't included, and the total was far too round of a number to be natural, mostly due to a discount near the bottom.

"What's this?"

"Your receipt, sir," the innkeeper assured him.

"But it doesn't-"

The innkeeper reached out, pushing his hand and the stack of lien back from the counter. "Keep your money," she whispered. "As far as de Thom knows, this is what you paid. Keep the extra for yourself. Better yet, why not take your girl shopping after your ride?"

It only took a second for Adam to realize what she was saying. The total accounted for well over half of his lien, but sounded reasonable if they'd just gotten a small meal to share, as Madam de Thom no doubt expected them to. He could pocket the alleged payment and give the rest back with the receipt.

"Thank you," Adam said, no longer whispering. Anyone nearby would assume he was being polite, but the two of them both knew it was more than that.

The innkeeper winked along with the ruse. "My pleasure. You two enjoy yourselves!"

Adam hurried back to his date, hefting the basket as his excitement at the special discount was quickly replaced by excitement for the girl waiting for him. "You ready?"

"Can't wait!" Nila cheered, following him outside and around the back to the stable. She hesitated at the entrance, but a quick tug of her hand from Adam had her following along in awe. The feel of her hand in his may have added to his smile as well.

Many of the stalls they passed at first stood empty, the visitors and passing merchants likely already having set off for the day. As with most evenings, those same stalls would be cleaned and refilled by new horses, only to be emptied once more the next morning. The local horses and longer stays were kept further in, since there would be less traffic.

'Here she is!" Adam proclaimed as they finally reached his horse. "Nila, this is Eve. Eve, Nila."

"She's huge!" Nila exclaimed as Eve stuck her head out and nuzzled Adam's arm. Instinctively, his hand trailed up to stroke her muzzle.

"She's not that big." Eve wasn't tiny, but many of the merchants' horses were larger, more accustomed to pulling heavy carts than carrying a single person. "Abel was way bigger."

"Abel?"

"My da-" The words caught in Adam's throat for a second as pleasant memories drifted in, but he pushed on with a quick breath. "My dad's horse. He was an absolute giant."

"What happened to him?" Adam knew she meant Abel, not Father Bernard.

"Probably still in Shizukana," Adam shrugged. "Whoever took over the church probably uses him to visit other villages like Dad used to. He was one of the strongest horses I've ever seen?"

"Even stronger than Eve?" To Nila, who had never seen a horse in person, Eve's toned form must've looked massive.

Adam laughed. "Definitely, but Eve's faster than he could ever hope to be." Not that Father Bernard ever made Abel run. He wasn't the type to enjoy fast riding, always stressing the importance of pacing and stamina over raw speed.

Adam largely ignored those lessons.

"Eve might be the fastest horse here," Adam boasted. While they didn't exactly hold horse races at the stable, he may have challenged one or two in the past. So far, Eve was undefeated.

"Really?"

"He's right," a new voice added. Adam recognized it easily. "Isn't a horse and rider here that can hope to match these two, even on a good day. He's done a great job taking care of her." Adam had to stop himself from reminding their third wheel that Eve still wasn't for sale, but thankfully, he hadn't brought up his offer yet.

"S-so…do I get my own horse?" Nila asked, looking around as Adam led Eve out of her stall and worked on securing a larger saddle on her. The stablehand took the other side, helping get everything in place, earning a nod of thanks from Adam. "I don't really know how to ride…"

"You can ride with me," Adam said, more instructing than offering. Riding double wasn't ideal, but neither of them were large enough to overburden Eve. He also didn't want to trust some other horse with Nila's safety, especially with her not knowing what to do.

"Eve can carry both of you easily," the stablehand assured her, helping to ease her concern a little. "How long do you two plan to be gone?"

"A few hours. Why?" Adam didn't owe him an answer, and it wasn't like he needed the man's permission to ride his own horse.

The stablehand shrugged, making it clear it wasn't that important. "Just figure I'd clean the stall while you're gone. Easier when the horse is out."

Adam relaxed at the easy answer. Between that and the knowledge that he'd been protecting Adam's lien stash, the man had moved up in Adam's book quite a bit. Not enough to make Adam consider selling Eve to him, but still an improvement.

Adam swung into the saddle, adjusting to make room for Nila behind him. As much as he'd enjoy having her in front, basically sitting in his lap, it would be easier to control Eve with Nila in the back. He gave her some basic instructions on approaching and mounting a horse, offering a hand to help pull her up with him. The stablehand helped her along, guiding her foot into the stirrup so she didn't fall, then waving and telling them to have a fun time.

Adam didn't have to be told twice.

/- - - - - - - - - -/

"That was incredible!" Nila summarized, panting slightly as Adam set out lunch for them. A large blanket hidden in the bottom of the basket made for a cozy setup. "I've never gone so fast!"

Adam hardly doubted that. He'd started out slow so Nila could get used to the movement, then upped the pace when she seemed to get comfortable. He hadn't gone full speed, but to Nila, it must've felt like flying. And he certainly hadn't minded when she'd leaned into his back, arms tightly wrapped around him for safety.

"I told you. Eve's fast." As if she understood, Eve shook her head in thanks for the compliment. Adam hadn't bothered tying her up, trusting she wouldn't abandon him. Instead, she grazed happily nearby.

"And you ride her every week?"

"Most weeks," Adam corrected. "She needs the exercise, but I only get to take her out if I finish my work and the weather's nice. Probably won't get to ride as much once winter comes."

Nila plopped down next to him on the blanket, leaving almost no room between them. As always, Nila didn't bother with subtlety. "I still can't believe they let you keep her."

"I have to pay for her," Adam reminded her. "That's why I have two jobs. Or, at least, that's why I started a second job."

Nila knew all about his savings account and the small amount of extra lien he made from working so hard. His plan to split the money between both them and Erik when they aged out had been a huge surprise to her. He'd never shared the next part of his plan, though. Once he and Erik aged out, rather than waiting for another year for Nila, why couldn't she just move with them? They were only in the orphanage because they had nowhere to go and no one to look after them. If he had a job, money, and a place to live, then surely he could take care of Nila. There was no reason for her to stay at the orphanage longer. Surely they'd let her go early if he proved he could provide for her.

And if they wouldn't let her go with a friend, maybe he'd just have to become more for her…

Such thought could wait, though, as he had other ideas. Ones that could make it so they didn't have to worry about that at all. That was the real reason he'd brought her out here. For his plan to work, he needed Nila on board. He wanted to ask her now, but she'd already dug into a sandwich, causing his stomach to growl and demand he wait a little longer.

They tore through most of the feast, snacking on some small cakes at the end and even offering an apple to Eve. Adam made Nila hold it out, claiming she needed to bond with Eve more. Truthfully, he just enjoyed her reaching across him, brushing up against his chest as she held the treat out. She clearly enjoyed it too, lingering for a moment after Eve walked away again.

Without any warning, Nila turned, pressing her lips gently against his and pulling back with lidded eyes. She looked like she might say something, but never got the chance as Adam returned the favor, dragging his out a little longer. The moment he parted, she crashed into him, knocking him back onto the blanket.

His hands found their way around her small form, pulling her closer as she swung a leg over to straddle him. Without thinking, his hand slipped lower, only to jerk back uncertainly as it rounded a smooth curve. His fingers caught on the bottom of her blouse, accidentally slipping under the fabric to her warm back. Rather than be upset, she hummed in pleasure, somehow pressing down into him more. He squirmed happily as she shifted her knees lower, laying atop him.

Her kisses weren't the gentle, hesitant displays he was used to. Free from the orphanage and even the walls of Katai, she'd clearly decided his excuse of not liking PDA didn't hold out here. Her lips forcefully caressed his own as they both breathed heavily, fighting for air but unwilling to let up for even a moment. Without thinking, his tongue tickled between her lips, earning an appreciative moan from Nila.

She gasped as he rolled them over on the mattress, breaking their desperate kissing long enough to look down at her. She smiled slyly up at him, golden hair splayed out around her pretty face before she fisted his shirt and pulled him closer to reclaim his lips. His hands roamed higher, Nila rising slightly as they passed a gentle swell before gripping the fabric tightly. Buttons popped easily as he tugged, one hand pushing the blouse open as his other traced a deliberate path lower. He didn't hesitate as his fingers brushed against a new barrier, plunging-

Adam jerked away suddenly, leaving Alyssa startled and confused.

No, not Alyssa. Nila.

"What's wrong?" she asked, thankfully still fully clothed as she sat back, still straddling him.

"Nothing," he muttered, convincing no one. Adam tried to shake the images from his mind, hating how desperately his brain tried to hold onto them. His hands itched to pull her back to him, but he held back, not trusting himself.

Nila looked worried as she pushed herself to the side, kneeling beside him as he sat up. Words rushed forth in apology, despite it not being her fault at all. "I'm sorry. It's just…we're alone, and we were already so close, and I thought…I guess I messed things up."

"No!" Nila jumped at the shout, reminding Adam she was right in front of him. "No. It's not you. I liked it too." Really liked it. "I just-"

"-don't like rushing things?"

That wasn't it at all. In fact, the opposite was true. He wanted more. Much more. Too much. He was afraid of just how far he might take things if he wasn't careful. Nila clearly wanted more than just their chaste kisses and handholding, but he didn't really want to see how far she would go.

Mostly because he worried he'd go farther.

But her excuse would be an easier explanation than the truth. "Y-yeah. That." He couldn't exactly tell her his real reason for hesitating. Couldn't tell her how messed up he was thanks to Alyssa.

Couldn't tell her the truth.

Not yet.

For now, Nila accepted the lie. "It's fine, Adam. I guess I figured, since we've been dating a while, that we could…you know…take things to the next level?" What did that mean? And what level were they even on? "But it's okay if you don't want that. We can ju-"

Adam silenced her with a kiss. Not the fiery, drawn out kissing from earlier, but a more simple pressing of his lips to hers. Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned closer, drawn in by his hand lightly resting against the side of her face. After only a few seconds, he broke it off, not missing how Nila followed him for a moment, trying to draw it out even a moment longer.

"I do want that," Adam declared as much with his words as his actions. She leaned her cheek against his open palm and Adam had to fight the urge to pull her in again, afraid he might never stop. "I just need a little time."

"Then I'll wait," Nila promised. "Just don't take too long, okay? It's rude to keep a girl waiting."

Adam hid his shudder at the familiar words by standing up and offering his hand to Nila, easily lifting her to her feet as he tried to block Alyssa's voice from his mind. Nila kept hold of his hand as they walked along the edge of the forest, Eve following close behind. They'd circle back for the basket in a bit, but they still had plenty of time.

More than enough time to talk.

Adam walked in silence for a few minutes, trying to figure out what to say. He'd rehearsed it a thousand times in his mind, but with the moment in front of him, he panicked. Words failed him as he imagined her refusing each attempt.

They had to escape. Not today, but soon. Alyssa would never stop, and Adam couldn't endure years of her torment until he aged out. He needed to get as far away from her as possible, but he couldn't just leave his friends behind. He needed to get them out, too. Some might have called him callous for going to Nila first, but he had to start somewhere, and he figured she'd be easier to convince. And if she was on board, surely Erik would agree, right?

"N-Nila?" Adam stuttered, trying to force words out.

"Yes?"

"Do you think…" No, that was wrong. "D-do you trust me?"

Nila stopped, letting go of Adam's hand. Whether the question or his tone had clued her in, she could tell this wasn't just some idle question. "What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"I…I think so." Nila studied his face, searching for clues as to where he was going. "Why? What's wrong?"

And there was the million lien question. Everything was wrong, but he planned to fix that. "Because I want you to do something for me."

Nila waited, knowing better than to agree to something blindly. She wanted details first. Details he was scared to give. If she said yes, she'd be trusting her fate to him entirely. Her very life would be in his hands.

But if she said no? If she said no, he'd have a horrible decision to make. He could run away without her, abandoning her just as they were growing closer and breaking her heart, or he could stay and suffer just to spare her feelings. Or she could rat him out and ruin his plans entirely. She'd probably think she was protecting him from a dangerous decision, which she would be, but the alternative had quickly become too much for him and would only get worse.

Taking a deep breath, Adam pushed those fears aside, looking Nila directly in the eyes.

"I want you to run away with me."

As last chapter hopefully made clear, Adam has already reached his limit and can only think of one solution: Escape! But he isn't just gonna run away and hope for the best. He's got friends to think about, including one very affectionate bunny-girl who he definitely wants in his party. He doesn't have all the answers, but I'd say he's doing pretty good so far. But what will Nila think, especially when she doesn't have all the information? And will Erik agree to be their third wheel forever? And will I ever name that random stablehand that I didn't even intend to use? Only time will tell. One week of time.

Obviously, for those that didn't catch the hints, Adam didn't actually field strip Nila (Get it? Stripping...in a field...I'll see myself out). I'm hoping the subtle discrepancies and snap back to reality made that clear, but figured I'd clarify here in case there was any confusion. They started to make out a little, Adam's broken mind imagined him doing other things the he'd experienced with a certain someone, and then he realized what was happening and jerked away. Poor Nila went from sucking face to being shut down again. Boy's sending out some pretty mixed signals here, but Nila's no quitter. After all, he'll get better, right?

Right?

Next chapter: Adam tries to convince Nila to run away with him.