My mundane life continued, day after day, waking up before the sunlight, walking solemnly to the mine, and sifting through unearthed sediment, looking for stupid rocks, stupid ores, and stupid shiny materials for someone else to look at. The environment of the mine was dark and gloomy, the stifling air caused my chest to hurt as if I were breathing in glass shards, and my body felt exhausted from the daily exertion of tedious labor.

  As I grew accustomed to the environment, it only hardened my aptitude towards the horrors of working in a mine. Whispers of injuries spread consistently like a local taboo subject of gossip, sickness overtook older people, and the squealing of overworked animals was constantly echoing through. Cages of little canary birds drifted along the tunnels by handlers exchanging the dead ones after they had been used to keep the workers alive from toxic gases the innocent birds were used to detect.

  Surrounded by misery and death, sickness and a sense of hopelessness, these were the risks everyone took for the security from steady source of wages. It was the only thing keeping people from thinking too much about the hazards that could be fatal to their existence. I was no exception, regardless of my inability to completely numb my self to it all.

  While I suffered through, my mother continued to demand for me to keep up with the chores. My father and mother fought extensively over the expectations they each had for me. I wished often for a sibling, just so that my parents would equally torment me and the other in order to appease their desires. At times, my mother demanded that I stay home and help her, possibly asking for part-time work instead of the equal amount as others. My father would then argue, stating my time at the mine was absolutely critical if I were ever to move above excavation. He himself worked extensively as a repairman, responsible for fixing broken carts, beams, and other items, but said that it took him many years to craft his skill—indicating I would need to also slowly rise above.

  However, the wages I brought home always convinced my mother to accept my absence. All my father needed to do was remind her of the importance of having extra money and the extensive changes in our life because of it.

  That’s what I was.

  Just another source of money for them to pay for food, pay the taxes for our home, and pay for the luxuries they were becoming more greedy with. That was my sole existence—work and provide for others.

  The neighbors were still asking for plants and medicine, my mother told me, possibly to only convince me to abandon my job. I had very little energy to extend to others, and felt a sense of guilt for abandoning the community. I could not even eat sandwiches from the butcher without feeling shame for treating myself to such a luxury. And the last interaction I had with Sable was only causing that guilt to creep into all the corners of my heart.

  When the full moon came once again, I was thankful to escape back into the forest, passing through that magical portal I feared was beginning to become corrupt with all my negative emotions. Yet, as the fresh air filled my hurting lungs and I felt as if I could breathe again, only the shame of my previous reckless behavior remained as I thought how I would bury my emotions while in Sable’s presence.

  When I thought about his loving embrace, regardless of my behavior, my soul craved to be near him once again, catching a whiff of his clean smell, and feel the softness of the woolen material of his clothes. I knew he was far from demanding, and, even with his occasional apathetic behavior, I still longed to talk to him and share food with someone always eager to try whatever I gave him.

  I stopped at Char’s and picked up sliced meat, and went to a local bakery to buy some fresh bread rolls, thinking a sandwich each would be enough for the two of us. The weather was warm enough to not have to wear a cloak, but I wrapped a brown scarf around my neck, feeling slightly amused at the thought of my crimson red scarf was probably lost in the woods somewhere, or torn up by the wolves themselves.

  I escaped into the meadow on the full moon, thankful Menses gave me an excuse to never have to work at least one established day a month. Although Menses was annoying in itself, I was thankful for such a female-topic that made someone as stubborn as Tim to cower in fear at its name. All men were the same—burly and tough until the slightest sickness takes over their body, causing them to act like babies, or the discussion of anything of women’s bodily functions outside of their own deeper wants, causing them to bawk like a chicken and run around the subject in fear.

  Well—maybe not all men.

  My heart fluttered at the thought of Sable and his stark differences to the other men in my life. I wondered if he would soon become like them, or if he would only continue to develop into his kindness, proving that not all men have to be subject to becoming cruel and careless. Even his apathetic behavior was evolving.

  As I moved past the tree-line, sensing a previous light rain casting moisture within the open area, my heart only continued to race as Sable’s dark figure rose from his perch upon a boulder, and I picked up my pace while flinging my arms wide, anticipating another warm embrace, to which he happily obliged.

  “I missed you,” I whispered while nestling my head upon his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat that instantly calmed mine. He was without a cloak, and I drifted my hands upon his back, feeling the soft material of the woolen tunic.

  “I missed you too,” he replied, his voice sounding hoarse, and I became ever so aware of our bodies pressing together, and I pushed away, suddenly too hot and flushed from our intimacy.

  “Come, let’s rest and eat,” I said, and swung the basket off my shoulder, and adjusted my scarf as heat continued to flush my skin, especially as the overbearing sun was brightly shining through the moving clouds. Sable helped lay the blanket down, and he began asking me about it, where it came from, and how it was made. While we sat down and I spoke extensively about the process of blanket-weaving, I served us the sandwiches, and noticed his eyes intently staring, and he was asking more questions than usual.

  He asked about the beads in my hair, then about the sandwiches, bread making, and for once I found it odd for him to be so inquisitive. Normally one or two questions were asked after something I would say, but as his eyes never once drifted away and his questions seemingly unending, his attention became unnerving, especially as he suddenly grabbed my hands.

  “Has someone hurt you?” he asked, obviously noticing the scars, but I quickly removed my hand, and adjusted the scarf around my neck once again.

  “No, it’s just from work,” I mumbled while looking away from him. “I use my hands all the time. It just happens.”

  Unwilling to speak about the dreadful mines with Sable, I spoke about the daily gossip from my mother about the food shortages due to greedy people, which only caused Sable’s eyes to soften even more, and I then talked about the seeds I wanted to gather on my way home. Yet, his eyes never darted away and his brows furrowed like he were watching me helplessly suffer once again.

  Why is he being so attentive? Just lay down already and relax! Why won’t he stop looking at me?

  “So, how’s mountain life treating you?” I asked, desperate to draw his attention away from feeling sorry for me.

  “Normal,” he said and his eyes slightly shifted as he watched my hands nervously adjust my scarf. “Actually.”

  His mouth slightly gaped, and his eyes shifted as if he were contemplating his next choice of words, almost as if he were holding back something.

  “Actually, I gathered my own honey for the first time,” he finally said, and looked down at his knees as he sat with his legs slightly bent to the side, and the tips of his small, pointed ears flushed in color.

  “You did?” I gasped while leaning forward. “You, Sable, gathered something other than basic food for survival?”

  “Hey, perhaps I need it for survival,” he said with a shrug, and I nudged his arm while giggling from his obvious desire to hide the truth of something else from me. I knew the shifting eyes and the flushing of skin all too well to know that Sable wasn’t telling me what he really wanted to say, causing a sudden eruption of laughter to escape my mouth as I realized he was just like me.

  I fell onto my back, allowing the amusement to overtake my demeanor as Sable also joined in my laughter, although relatively more nervously. I rested my hands upon my chest, feeling the beating of my heart as my laughter quieted, and began to loosen my scarf as the sun only grew warmer as it peaked out once again from behind a cloud.

  Suddenly, I felt a tuft of grass fall onto my face, and I shot up while my eyes widened as Sable snickered from his teasing. I thrust my arm over the blanket, and grabbed some grass, and threw it at him, which he simply dove to the side, and grabbed a napkin and threw it at me.

  I jolted to my feet and ripped my scarf off and threw it with a forceful strength, but he simply caught it while nonchalantly resting on his back, and tossed it right back at me while laughing menacingly.

  Without another thought, I lunged forward as he was attempting to sit up, but, he grabbed my waist and flipped me right onto my back, but ever so gently as his wings extended behind him, suddenly blocking the sun entirely, and a glowing light outlined his magnificent figure, and oh so ever impressive, but gentle strength.

  I flickered my eyes as he hovered quite close, his hand holding the back of my waist, and the tips of his jagged hair dangled over his forehead as he stared at me with his red eyes. Then, as we both breathed heavily, his eyes shifted down ever so slowly, and his tongue trailed along the edges of his plump lips. I dared not move my hands resting upon his chest that felt ever so enticing, and I anticipated his next move—fully accepting the act of kissing if he were to draw closer.

  Suddenly, he plucked a flower from the grass and tickled my nose with it, breaking the intensity of our actions, reminding me that we were, in fact, quite young for something so intimate.

  “Hey!” I shouted, and then moved my knees under his hovering body, and attempted to push him off. He was surprisingly heavy—but, then again, he was a Teragane, a young man with wings— but he quickly moved himself aside, and the sun beamed upon my face once again. I crawled over to where my scarf had been thrown, and quickly grunted as I refused to gaze upon Sable while his lingering closeness and my desire to kiss his lips still plagued my mind.

  What was I thinking?

  I brushed off my green skirt, pushed back my loose hair, and allowed the sensation of presumptuous emotions to pass by, and I looked over at Sable who was happily lounging in the grass while bouncing his foot. Then, he bobbed his head, and looked up at me.

  “What?” I jeered while narrowing my eyes at him. “What is so—what are you staring at?”

  “Nothing,” he replied. “I’m just really happy you’re here.”

  “I’m happy to be here, too,” I said, but I quickly looked away. “Although you did mess up my hair.”

  “Sorry.” I glanced down again, noticing Sable’s smile slowly fade, causing guilt to rise once again.

  “Don’t be.”

  “Okay.”

  “You don’t need to be sorry for being so fun to be around. I’m just teasing you.”

  “And I with you.” His smile returned as he looked up at me, slightly bending his head backwards, and both my heart and stomach fluttered with those ever so fluffy feelings of butterflies.

  ***

  Despite the evolving idea of happiness that could be obtained whenever I spent an afternoon with Sable in the meadow, returning to my life in Cedrus City always overshadowed such fleeting moments of tranquility. With him, the warmth in my cheeks was something innocent and sensational. Anywhere else, the rise of heat to my cheeks was often due to anger, resentment, or embarrassment, and it was becoming increasingly hard to remember such tender moments with Sable while I was deep within the crust of the earth.

  “Why can’t you get this right?” Tim yelled at me, as usual. The veins on his forehead bulged as he dumped the cart over that I was filling. He accused me for sifting incorrectly, demanding I do my work all over again.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, the only thing I seemed to say those days. “I’m still new and trying to learn the best—“

  “That is no excuse!” he yelled again while swinging his axe over his shoulder, and pointed his menacing finger just under my chin. “It’s not hard. You literally have the easiest job. You’re just being lazy!”

  “I’m not being lazy!” I shouted back, and lifted my hand to push his finger aside, only stopping myself just before he lowered his hand away. “I’m working just as hard as anyone else! I do my share; I do everything you ask!”

  “Shut up, girl!”

  “My name is Lillie!”

  “Heyyy!” a new voice came from behind, and a relatively clean hand gently rested on Tim’s shoulder as Jamie grinned widely at his side. “I didn’t know a shouting competition was allowed during excavation.”

  “You again,” Tim sneered as he attempted to smack Jamie’s hand of his shoulder, but the witty man was too quick, and he spun around and rested his bent arm upon my shoulder. “Both of you get back to work.”

  “Aw, I thought we were playing games?” Jamie whined, his smile ever so annoying. “You really should know when to support the morale of your team.”

  “Oh? Is that so, funny man?” Tim sneered as the vein on his forehead only increased in size. “Do you want me to go all easy on you children? Do you expect me to throw a tea party and forget whatever work is left for the day?”

  “A tea-party? That’s more like it,” Jamie chimed, and his blue eyes darted over to me as he raised his thin brows in repetition. “I’ll bring the saucers, I’ve got a very nice porcelain set from the Kraventree Family.” While Jamie rested his arm on my shoulder and Tim’s veins seemed to be close to rupturing, our leader gave a final huff, and glared his eyes upon me once again.

  “Get your act together,” he snarled one last time, then turned around, and began stomping away.

  “And don’t forget to bring the crumpets!” Jamie called after Tim’s disappearing figure, and I finally released a slight chuckle as Jamie moved his arm off my shoulder.

  “You’ve got a lot of nerve messing around with him,” I said, then looked over at the mess the man had made, and I bent down to clean it up while Jamie sent a shrilling whistle.

  “He’s just a grump who needs someone to sing him to sleep each night,” Jamie responded as he stood by my side while I picked up the rocks. “Hey, don’t think too much of it. Okay?”

  “What? Of what it would take to get that man to stop being so mean? It’s like you said, he could just use a tea-party, I’m sure.”

  “Hey, you’re a funny woman—I like that. But, jeesh—you’re still new here and haven’t worked out all the kinks to the trade.”

  “Yeah, I know. Thanks for the reminder.”

  “Let me know if you have any questions.” I stood up while holding the ores in my arms, and Jamie smoothed out the loose strands of his blonde, braided hair with surprisingly clean hands. “Or, if you need help with managing the old geezer, like I have done twice now on your account, so—you are ever so welcome, my dear.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” I moved over to the cart and dumped the ores in, feeling only slightly unnerved by Jamie’s persistence presence, somewhat hoping he would help me, for Mira was absent that day, which often led to Tim picking on me more whenever she wasn’t near. Before I could ask him to help, since he obviously hadn’t done much that day, he suddenly bowed, wishing me good luck, and then trudged down the tunnel, away from the other workers while whistling a rather happy tune.

  How does he get away with being the lazy one?

  Later, I left the mine alone, as my father had fell sick that morning, and I began walking along the forest trail in the midst of other miners leaving after the day’s work.

  “Hey Lillie!” I heard Jamie’s voice call from behind. I glanced over my shoulder, but kept walking down the trail. He ran up to me, stepping in front, but whipped around to face me, his long braid swirling in motion.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “Oh—hey,” I mumbled, and he continued to walk backwards with his hands in his trouser pockets that looked too delicate to be worn in the mine. Again, he seemed too clean in the midst of the other dirt-covered workers, his dark blue tunic without a single tear, and with a plunging neckline that seemed odd to be wearing in our field of work.

  “What are you up to tonight?” he asked while casting a charming smile. His eyes glanced around and I wondered if he only approached me after work due to the lack of my father’s disgruntled, but intimidating presence.

  “Nothing. My father is sick. So, I’ll be heading home to—“

  “Splendid! I mean, not about your ailing father, for that is too bad, yes, indeed. But, hey! Since you have nothing to do, how about joining me for a night of fun?”

  “Night of fun? That sounds presumptuous.” Jamie chuckled as he only continued to grin.

  “You’ve got quite the vocabulary. Anyway, I’m meeting up with my sister and some friends. Join me? Come have some fun—not necessarily a tea party, but definitely good for the spirits.”

  “What do you mean by fun?” The sky was darkening and my stomach growled, and I winced at the idea of going back to my house and being expected to manage whatever my mother would have been waiting to bark at me, wondering if the concept of having fun after work was worth the risk.

  “Just drinking, smoking, eating, music, dancing—Millie is playing tonight. Hey, her name is similar to yours.” Still walking backwards while in front of me, I noticed in the midst of the dull-gray skin of lost hues of the Tamarine mine workers, Jamie’s cool undertones were vibrant under his light gray skin, especially as the low light caused his blue eyes to glisten when speaking about the fun he anticipated on having.

  “Ever been to The Old Bowl?” he asked, then stumbled as he tripped on a rock on the dirt path, but steadied his footing again. “It’s the best tavern in the district—I can easily swindle for a second pint by just batting my beautiful eyes.”

  “Oh, I’m too young for that.”

  “What? No way! How old are you?”

  “I’m sixteen.” Jamie stopped, forcing me to halt my walking, and the crowds of workers passed by our figures as he dramatically blinked his long, blonde lashes.

  “Oh, shit. I thought you were much older.” His loud words stung, but he scratched behind his ear while looking slightly away, then back at me. “Wait, really? No way, you’re pulling on my braid.”

  “Yeah, really,” I said, then stepped aside, and hurriedly moved past his lingering figure, trudging along with the crowd once again. The cruel reminder of my mother’s comment of my fading hair greatly aging me caused my heart to ache as Jamie’s remark was evident of losing my youth.

  “I must be really bad at guessing ages,” Jamie suddenly said as he caught up to me again, skipping along my side. “I’m nineteen, by the way.”

  “Good for you.” I grumbled, feeling annoyed at his persistent presence. He continued walking next to me as we exited the forest and entered Cedrus City, moving away from the crowds. I stood at a cross-path, hoping Jamie would finally separate himself from my side, but, alas, the witty man had officially become as gripping as burdock upon linen.

  “You know, you can still come regardless of your age,” he said while tapping his thumbs on his trousers. “I don’t think ol’ Barno cares about people’s ages, of course unless they’re legitimate children that shouldn’t be drinking. I think I had my first drink at sixteen.”

  “I think I’d rather go home.”

  “And what? Catch your papa’s cold? Come on, you had a hard day, you should hangout with some nice people for a change.”

  “Oh, like you?” I looked at Jamie, raising an eyebrow.

  “Naturally, my good young maiden!” Jamie nudged me with his arm. “You might be young, but sixteen is the perfect age to embark on all the pleasures of life. You’re in a position of adult-like responsibilities? Why not partake in the counter affect of such draining expectations? You’ve earned the right to enjoy a night of fun. And, if you don’t like it, by my honorable soul, I’ll take you home, like the gentleman I truly am.”

  “I’m filthy from the mine.”

  “Posh.” Jamie dusted off my shoulder with a flick of his hand. “Everyone goes to The Old Bowl after work—you’ll fit right in.”

  “And you’ll stand out?” My eyes glanced at his nearly spotless attire.

  “Naturally. Best way to get free drinks. I’ll teach you my ways once you get the jist of it.”

  “Fine—I’ll go—but not to scam people into giving me free drinks.” Jamie clasped his hands together, grinning even wider, and he guided me through the city while speaking animately about the songs in which he hopes for me to hear played by the local bard. He rambled, which was a common occurence, but gave me time to think about what others thought of me whenever I spoke excitedly about what I liked.

  We arrived at an old building wreaking of strong ale and smoke, and the loud noises jogged the memory of entering a tavern when I was a young child looking for the library in which I was afraid was actually a tower owned by a witch. My eyes darted as I observed the crowded tables of loud diners, but kept following Jamie as he led me further to the back of the building. A woman with similar features waved to him, and Jamie leaned against the table and I noticed two other men sitting along a wooden bench. They greeted Jamie between puffs of smoke from their pipes, their eyes widening, like predators spying a helpless prey trapped in the foliage.

  “Looks like a little mouse followed you,” one of the men said while showcasing yellowing teeth behind the cloud of smoke.

  “Yeah, found her outside, begging to come in,” Jamie surprisingly joked, then patted my shoulder as I stood stiffly next to him. Quickly, before any further introductions were made, Jamie pulled on my sleeve, declaring for us to get some drinks. I followed him once again, beginning to regret ever joining him as the rowdy crowd felt even more suffocating than the depths of the mines.

  “Two pints, Barno, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal,” Jamie nearly sung as he leaned against the bar while standing on his tiptoes, and signaling with his two fingers.

  “Really? We all know you can’t drink that fast,” the large bartender grunted while shaking his head. Jamie, glanced over his shoulder, realizing I was standing directly behind him, and he wrapped his arm around me, and pushed me up against the bar at his side. My eyes bulged as the bearded man smirked at my sudden presence.

  “Oh? A lady friend,” the bartender said with a chuckle. “Jamie—you dog.”

  “We’re workmates,” I clarified, and moved Jamie’s arm off my shoulder, who only flashed his enthusiastic smile up at the man. As the bartender poured mead into the wooden pints, he eyed Jamie with a single raised eyebrow who rested his arm across the surface of the bar, looking right at me.

  We were similar in height, both relatively thin, but his arms were obviously less defined than mine, as if he truly never did a day’s labor in the mine, causing me to wonder why he was there in the first place.

  “How much do I need to pay?” I asked as the bartender pushed the two pints across the bar, and Jamie leaned closer to me, pressing his ear into my face. “I said—“

  “Don’t worry about it, my dear,” he said while he grabbed his cup, and I moved away from his leaning figure, and grabbed the mug while the bartender winked at me. “I’ll pay for your first drink!”

  “I can pay for my own.”

  “Ever heard of a friendly offer of generosity?”

  “Or, is it because you plan to swindle your way into free drinks tonight?” Jamie gently pinched my elbow, and then moved past me, and I followed him while we returned to the table with his friends. Jamie joined the smoking men along the bench, and I sat by his side, and he immediately lit a pipe, and took a deep drag while throwing his head back with a satisfied exhale.

  Jamie’s sister appeared while holding a plate of food and a pint of mead, but was already well intoxicated as she hiccuped and her cheeks were rosy in color. She sat upon the curved wooden bench surrounding a round table, wedging me between her and Jamie, officially trapping me from escaping—like a prey caught in a trap while the predatory men stared at me through the clouds of smoke.

  All men are the same.

  “I’m Lara,” the woman said while smiling at me. “I’m Jamie’s older sister.” Her hazel eyes disappeared behind her rounding, rosy cheeks and closing lids, and she tucked a loose hair behind her pointed ear, and I noticed that her hair was a lovely light brown shade, loosely wrapped in a bun.

  “I’m Lillie,” I said. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you, too! Cheers!” She clinked her cup to mine, and happily sipped her mead, and I hesitated until Jamie moved his cup against mine, clinking it loudly as he also cheered.

  “Drink it up and don’t go wasting my generous providence,” he shouted and moved the cup to his lips. I looked over at the men still staring at me, and one licked their lips, causing me to glance down at the cup of unfamiliar liquids wafting of yeasty aromas that only filled my nostrils as I forced the cup to my lips and took my first drink of alcohol.

  It was disgusting, and I nearly spit it back out as it tasted as if honey had gone bad—which I thought was impossible. The sour flavors induced a grimace, and the strong smells of smoke and loud noises began to cause my head to pound and my stomach turn with nausea.

  “Such a cute little mouse,” one of the men snickered as he eyed me with brown eyes and placed the pipe between his teeth. I sipped the drink again, feeling distraught how to proceed without further embarrassment of not being able to tolerate the gnarly beverage.

  “You should eat a little something,” Lara recommended while pushing towards me a plate of dried fruits and nuts. I grabbed a handful, she as well, and we both ate the dried mixture, a delicacy I had never tried before. “So, tell me, is my brother a terrible, lazy worker in the mines?”

  “Terrible?” I asked, and hiccup escaped from my mouth. “No, not really. Lazy? Maybe a little.”

  “Oh, I believe it. But, hey, aren’t we all?” She moved her drink to her mouth and took a long gulp. My eyes glanced at Jamie from the side, who was looking at me also from an angle. Then, in a smooth movement, his intrusive eyes looked away, and he puffed out smoke in front of his face as he refocused on the conversation with his other friends.

  Lara continued to ask me questions between munching and drinking, and I forced another sip upon myself, but decided to abandon the idea altogether. As music began to play in the corner of the tavern, Lara jolted up, and grabbed my arm, nearly dragging me through the crowded tavern, and stopped us in front of the musicians.

  A bard with a lute and another with a flute played a song that sounded something similar to what Jamie had described from earlier, and Lara sang along with a cheerful tune. His melodious voice joining hers, Jamie swung his arm around his sister, and their sibling alikeness became strongly obvious. I looked back at our empty table, noticing the other men had also moved elsewhere, and I pushed my way back to the free space, feeling uncomfortable with the entire social event.

  Is this really how adults have fun? Is this my inevitable future?

  “What’s wrong, Lillie?” Jamie shouted from behind me. “Don’t like the music? I thought for sure you’d like Casting of the Greatest Dunes.” He came to my side, placing a hand on my back, and his smokey breath caused further nausea.

  “I’m leaving,” I said. Noticing the nearly full pint on the table, I dug into my coin purse in my pocket, and pulled out a few Den, placing them on the table.

  “Well, that’s rude—I said I’ll pay for your first drink!” he retorted, and placed his hand onto mine on the table, and our eyes met. “Don’t think I’m a man of my word, do you?”

  “Buy yourself another,” I said. As if his forward attitude wasn’t enough to repel me, the sudden movements of his hands upon me caused me to jerk away, and I spun around and weaved through the hyped up crowd that had broken out in a dance as a bard sang a song about a flightless bird and a fish with legs.

  Perhaps, I thought, I could enjoy the silly antics of clever puns and alcoholic beverages, but the lingering eyes of the smoking men and their presumptuous treatment of me as a young maiden caused me to fear what could happen if I stayed any longer through the night of fun antics. I was no fool—I heard plenty of stories of what happened to girls in the city when the predators lurked in the night.

  “Wait, damn-it woman, wait!” I heard Jamie call after me as I quickly walked through the dimly lit city streets. “At least let me walk you home. It is the least I can do as an honorable man who invited a lady out for the night.” He caught up and walked by my side, tipping his nose up, panting heavily as he caught his breath after chasing after me. I feared him being near, especially after drinking and already being so forward, but he kept his hands in his pockets and simply walked by my side.

  “Too bad you weren’t having fun,” he said quietly. “But my sister seemed to like you. She was like—where’s Lillie?”

  “Yeah? Well, I didn’t like the way your friends were talking about me,” I said with a low voice. “Or looking at me.”

  “Ah, I’m sorry. I won’t let them talk that way to you again.”

  “Bold of you to assume there would be another time. This is not my preferred way of having fun.”

  “Alright, then tell me what is? You’ve piqued my interest. Tell me, alright?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Ah, so let me get this all laid out. You’re sixteen years old working in a mine. You don’t drink, you don’t smoke, you don’t like music. You don’t have any fun doing—“

  “I don’t need to do any of that to have fun.“ I interrupted Jamie, furrowing my brows as anger continued to rise in my heart. Full regret of ever accepting his invitation caused me to wish for a way to escape his following figure. Yet, was it regret, or simply feeling out of place amongst others in the adult-world I felt rushed to enter?

  “Then, help a guy out. You’re like an unbreakable geode—I’m just trying to get to know you.”

  “Well, don’t bother.” Suddenly, Jamie jogged in front of me, spinning around to face me as he walked backwards, his long braided blonde hair twirling with his movements.

  “I’ve heard about you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re the girl who spends a lot of time in the forest. You can find anything, like food and medicine. You’re the one who learned to read and write. And the girl who is known to stand up to the Keepers.” His blue eyes glistened in anticipation at my response of his detailed description of my well known reputation.

  “Yeah, so?”

  “You’re interesting. Brave.”

  “Isn’t that observant of you.”

  “I just find it hard to believe someone like you would end up in the mine.”

  “Well, why are you in the mine?” I stopped walking, and Jamie paused, and I rushed around him again, but he only spun around and followed at my side as we both turned down the corner of my neighborhood street.

  “Cause I have nowhere else to go. Gotta make an earning somehow to fund my expensive taste in luxuries.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe I am under the same circumstances.”

  “With trousers too big for your hips?” I shot a side glare, and Jamie raised his hands while widening his eyes. “I meant as in it’s obvious that you and I do not have the same taste in luxuries.” My eyes wandered down to his high-waisted grey trousers with intricate ties at the front, and the thin sleeves of his dark blue tunic that could possibly be made from silk—a material only worn by those of higher class.

  “Unlike you, I don’t have the luxury to waste money on clothes.”

  “Exactly! You have so many talents. Why waste your time in the mine?”

  “Because that is just what I have to do, okay?” It was getting late and I was exhausted and hungry, feeling depleted even more from the work day, socially exhausted from the tavern, and utterly annoyed with Jamie’s bombardment of questions and knack for picking apart my reasonings for working.

  “You should be part of the inspection team, if anything,” he continued, ignoring my obvious annoyance. “Maybe surveillance. Anything but under the cruel dominance of Timbo and his silly excavation efforts.”

  “That’s not my decision.”

  “You should talk with Taffy.”

  “I don’t know who that is.”

  “She’s like you. She’s brave, stands up to the Keepers, and wants to make the mine a better place.”

  “Sounds like she’s better than me.”

  “Come on, you’re just getting started. You might as well make the mine worth your time, since you won’t continue pursuing your other talents.”

  “Hey! You have no idea what you’re talking about!” I shouted while pointing my finger at Jamie. His blue eyes glistened in the lantern light, and he tilted his chin up, turning his nose up at me.

  “Maybe I don’t. But, you definitely need some better influences in your life,” he said then grabbed my finger to lower it.

  “Stop talking to me like that!” I shouted as I removed my hand from his grip.

  “Like what? A helpful friend?”

  “Like I’m stupid and don’t know what’s best for myself.”

  “You’re not stupid. Just naive and maybe a little ignorant due to your innocence.”

  “Those are the same thing.”

  “No, they’re not.” Jamie’s smile turned to a frown, and I looked away while we continued to move down the street.

  I hated how right he was—I was wasting my life away, but I couldn’t believe how quickly he had figured that out while everyone else around me simply sneered at me for doing anything but slaving away.

  Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

  “I can walk alone now,” I said, but Jamie merely whistled a low tune, still walking next to me with his hands in his pockets, reminding me he was still a man. “I don’t need you to follow me like a dog.”

  “I know you don’t need me to,” he replied, softening his voice. “But, I would feel better knowing you got home safely. You’re just a girl, anyway. And I took you out—so, I gotta take you home too.”

  “Trying to prove something to me?” I asked, and Jamie shook his head.

  “I just like being chivalrous. The world needs more people to look out for each other. You know?”

  “Fine.” I looked up, noticing we were approaching my house, and sighed in relief that he would soon part ways. Regardless of his act of chivalry, I still felt uncomfortable with him nearby.

  “Sorry tonight wasn’t very fun for you,” Jamie said as he followed me up the staircase leading to my home and we approached the front door, standing on the balcony. He looked around, observing the area and his eyes focused on my father’s pipe and pot of herbs in the corner.

  “It’s fine,” I said while looking down. “Thanks for at least attempting to cheer me up.”

  “Let’s find something that you do like next time,” he said, then patted my arm. “I’m a pretty fun person—got plenty of tricks up my sleeve. Get called life of the party all the time.” I looked up while slightly smirking, wanting to say something sarcastic in response, but the front door suddenly swung open, causing both Jamie and I to flinch while my mother’s formidable figure nearly began growling like a beast.

  But, upon seeing Jamie, she suddenly turned into a gentle creature, feigning a smile she often did when unknown prospects were presented before her.

  “Oh! Lillie, who is this?” she asked, her coy obvious to me, but also an opportune moment as Jamie dramatically bowed with a twirling hand.

  “Great mother of Lillie,” Jamie sang, then straightened up while casting his charm. “I’m Jamie Bari Jamin of the Kraventree Family, one of Lillie’s mates—soon to be bestest of friend as time allows it to take its course.”

  “We work together in the mine,” I said quickly. “He’s just walked me home.”

  “Oh, that is so kind and considerate of you, Jamie,” my mother said, caught up in Jamie’s impressive introduction. “Lillie’s father, Bene, usually walks with her, but he is terribly ill today. So, thank you for taking care of our precious daughter.”

  “The pleasure was all mine, my good and lovely matriarch,” he replied, flashing another smile. “I would be happy to always walk Lillie home whenever needed, for one cannot be too careful out there in the wild streets of ruffians and barbarians.”

  “Good grief,” I said and rolled my eyes.

  “Come on, dearest, don’t be rude,” my mother said as she waved her hand, holding back her desire to scowl. “Can’t you be more grateful when a desirable young man holds his hand out for you?”

  “Jamie took me to a tavern,” I said and thoroughly enjoyed the switch of demeanor as my mother’s face no longer could hold back her anger. Jamie’s face turned red, and he sheepishly scratched his chin as he struggled to find a quick enough excuse to hold back the wrath in which was erupting.

  “You did WHAT?” my mother screamed, and Jamie raised a pointed finger, but she grabbed my arm, and shoved me inside while slamming the door behind us, leaving the man no chance to defend his act chivalry. I was thankful to be away from Jamie finally, but knew all too well that my mother’s wrath was not entirely over.

  “How could you let that happen?” she shrieked after pushing me onto a chair after dragging me into the kitchen. “He seemed like such a nice man! And obviously from a well-off family. Why would you let him take you to a tavern? Huh? To get drunk and—oh! Those despicable men preying after my daughter! You probably lured him, didn’t you?”

  “No. We met up with his sister, and he wouldn’t stop following me,” I said, my face solemn. Although my evening was far from a comfortable experience in which I wished she would have comforted me, I did not feel like giving her more details, especially about the other men, nor Jamie’s persistent behavior. “Nothing happened. He’s actually not a bad guy—just wanted to cool off after a hard’s day work. I’m going to bed.”

  “I can’t believe you would go with a man to a tavern!” she continued to yell and I walked away, for I didn’t care to hear her fears and anguish. “Don’t walk away from me, young girl! Just because you’re working with a bunch of men doesn’t mean you can just wander off with them! Do you know what happens to scandalous women?”

  “Goodnight,” I said while wandering down the hall and shutting my door. I heard her muffled voice, but upon laying onto my bed, I ignored my racing mind and allowed the exhaustion to overtake my body and I drifted into a deep slumber.