2 Chapter Two

"Nick! You might get sick swimming like that!"

The ten year old continues to ignore me and I sigh in frustration.

"Now that he's in he won't come out until he feels like it." Tyler suddenly appears next to me with my bow case in his hand

I scream, jump forward and, to my horror, land at the very edge of the pond. I tip back and forth, trying to regain my balance. Just as I begin to fall forward I feel Tyler grab my hand.

I sigh in relief and twist my body to face him. Since an incident when I was about Nick's age I've been terrified of water that doesn't come from a bottle or some sort of faucet.

"Nice save," I say to Tyler as I try to take a step forward. Only, when I do I feel something latch onto my hair behind me and yank me back.

"Ouch!" I yell before both me and Tyler loose our balance and land in the water. His leg loops around mine. I believe it was an accident but I can't be positive.

No, no, no, no, no! Did Nick pull me in?! Why would he do that?! The hell did I ever do to him?!

Just like that time when I was little water seems too force it's way down my throat without my even trying to breathe. I feel something wrap around my leg, and then my arm and begin to thrash around violently. I realize that whatever has a hold on me is dragging me towards the deepest part of the pond. Tyler tries to grab my legs to pull me back, but his fingertips only brush my ankle. I gag on the water in my mouth and open my eyes under the water to see what's pulling me. Looking above my head to my arm I see something... glowing has wrapped around me. The same situation with whatever holds onto my leg. Fear pulses through me as I try to scream, thrashing harder. I dig my fingers into the mud at the bottom of the pond to try to slow the rapid movement towards it's deepest area. It works for a moment until I feel something sharp slice into my back. I choke when the pain makes me gasp.

My head begins to spin when suddenly I feel hands grabbing at my clothes. Panic rushes through me as I fight against them, only to be pulled from the tight grip of the glowing things.

My face breaks the surface and I cough up a bunch of water before I can take a breath of air. Tyler clutches me tightly to his chest with one arm while he paddles towards shore with the other.

We'd popped up near the middle of the pond! And I was just at the edge when those things grabbed me!

"Are you bleeding?" Tyler sounds as if he's shocked by the possibility.

I notice that blood is swirling in the water around us.

Must be from my back.

Instead of answering I just look around wildly for the creatures that had just tried to drown me. There's no sign of them anywhere, but I can't relax. I pant, wrapping my arms around Tyler. He tenses up for a moment before he seems to get used to it and relaxes again.

The second its shallow enough that I can touch the bottom I release Tyler and make a break for dry land. I crawl out of the water and lay on my stomach, breathing heavily.

I hear Tyler follow me out and stiffen when he touches my back.

"Holy shit..." he mumbles.

"Did you see them?" I gulp as I try to sit up. My back throbs in protest and I quickly lay back down.

"We need to get you taken care of. I'll take you inside."

Did he just.. change the subject? Is there something he's trying to hide from me?

"Well did you? You had to have seen those things right?" Despite the pain in my back I lift myself up and try to turn to look at him. The movement sends a wave of agony up my spine and I tip forward with a cry.

"Whoa!" Tyler exclaims as he catches me gently. Tears slide down my cheeks as he lifts me off the ground and into his warm arms.

I tremble against his chest, clutching my hands together. Only then do I notice the bruising on my right arm. The spiral of where that thing had wrapped around me is literally bruised into my skin. Tyler inhales sharply when he sees the dark mark.

"Nick, go on inside. We'll be there in a second," Tyler says.

Nick! I'd completely forgotten about him in the struggle!

"Is he alright? Did they hurt him?" I ask groggily. My head is spinning.

"He's fine," Tyler carries me to the back door of the house where I'm surprised to find Nick waiting for us. The little boy shuts the door behind us and peers through the window at the pond suspiciously. Did he see the glowing things?

Nick then disappears up the stairs before hurrying back with a pile of folded towels in his arms.

"Lay them out on the table," Tyler instructs and Nick follows suit. After clearing the table and laying down the towels Tyler lays me on my stomach. He leaves and comes back moments later with what looks like rubbing alcohol in his left hand and a pocket knife in his right. Using the knife he cuts through the back of my shirt.

"Hey!" I try to get up but he gently pushes me back down.

"It was already ruined," Tyler says, pouring the alcohol onto a clean washcloth.

I grumble about it being one of my favorite shirts for a minute before I ask, "lemme guess, this is gonna hurt like hell right?"

"You'll survive," he says just before he places the cloth on my wound. I cry out in pain and clutch the towel beneath me.

"No warning or anything?" I gasp at how bad my back stings beneath his hands.

"Sorry," he mutters as I release the towel and lay my face down on it.

I wince as he moves the cloth along my back, cleaning the cut that must be there. From the way he's working at it I can't help but assume that it's fairly large. I scream when I feel Tyler pour the rubbing alcohol onto my back.

"Again?! No warning?!" I sob into the curve of my arm.

"Sorry," he repeats as he gently scrubs my back with the cloth. I continue to cry as Nick brings more clean cloths. Tyler cuts one of them up into strips and places another on my back.

"Could you... uhh... lift yourself up for a minute?" I look over my shoulder at Tyler and see him blushing a bit. I understand what he's trying to do: wrap those torn up strips of cloth around my abdomen to keep the one on my back in place. Only problem is the fact that he cut my shirt off and I can feel that whatever had sliced into my back had cut through the back of my bra too. I've had my chest on the table so even though it was slightly embarrassing at least I'd been covered. Now I only have the front of my bra laid on my chest. But if I were to sit up...

I try something simple. Grabbing the remnants of my shirt I sit up and immediately use it to cover my chest. Tyler presses the cloth to my back again and starts to wrap the strips around me. He uses every strip to wrap me up as much as possible.

"Is that uncomfortable?" He asks as he then drapes a clean towel over my shoulders to cover me up. I drop my ripped up shirt and pull the towel around myself.

"I'll manage," I say. "Is it just me or is it really cold in here?" Some time while he was bandaging my wound I'd begun to shiver.

"No. Must be the blood loss getting to you. I'll take you to your room."

"It's fine, I can make it myself." I grunt as I slide off the table and land on shaky feet. Nick steadies me by holding my waist.

"Thanks," I smile warmly at him. He looks away and I barely manage to keep in a sigh. As I stagger towards the stairs I feel a sudden throbbing in my back that pulses into my right leg. I gasp as I topple over. In the corner of my eyes I see Tyler's body literally blur until he's right besides me. I land in sturdy arms and get lifted off my feet.

"Don't be so stubborn, you shouldn't be walking in your current condition." Tyler says as he takes me up the stairs.

"How did you do that?" I ask. "There's no way you should've been able to catch me before I hit the floor."

He doesn't respond until we reach my room, "I'm just a fast runner."

"I could barely even see you Tyler, and I didn't hear you either. No one could be that fast and silent. What's going on here? And why won't you tell me what was in that pond?! After what happened I believe I have a right to know." I say as I cuddle into his warmth.

Why is it so goddamn cold in here?!

"It's best if you don't know, Jane. Trust me, it's for your own good," Tyler refuses to meet my gaze as he holds up a knee for me to sit on while he pulls the blankets on my bed to the side.

I grunt in pain as he lays me on my back and turn on my side.

"How is me not knowing anything for my own good?! You guys aren't cereal killers are you?" Just as I say this Tyler chuckles a little.

"If we wanted to kill you you'd most likely be dead by now," he says as he pulls the blankets over my shivering body.

"Oh how reassuring," I roll my eyes as I snuggle under the blankets.

"You're really that cold?" His voice and eyes are laced with concern.

"How are you not cold?" My teeth begin to chatter. "By the way, how many scratches did I get on my back?"

"Because it's not cold in here. And I wouldn't really call them scratches, you've got three fairly deep cuts going from the bottom of your left shoulder blade to the back of your right hip."

"Really?" I ask with a loud sigh. "What were those things?" I mutter to myself.

"Must've been snakes," Tyler shrugs.

"No way in hell. They were glowing and they didn't bite me. If a snake is trying to kill something it bites it to make sure it can't get away. Plus a really big snake would've had to do it to be able to pull me out like that, but these bruises on my arm aren't thick. And besides, snakes don't normally try to drag off their food. And again, they were glowing and last time I checked snakes don't glow."

"You were probably just imagining the glow, and I'm sure snakes sometimes move their prey to different places." Tyler doesn't meet my gaze.

I narrow my eyes at him, "well you see, I just don't believe you Tyler. I know you know what's going on here."

He smirks, "yeah? How would you know that?" Shoving his hands in his pants pockets he quickly glances at my own hands.

"Because you're nervous," I say immediately. "You're sweating, avoiding eye contact, hands in your pockets, and you're hiding things from me."

I see a muscle tick in Tyler's jaw as he finally meets my gaze.

"You don't know me, there's no way for you to know if those really are my tells."

"Well for one, those are the same for plenty of people. And two, I happen to have a theory about you Tyler. And you're pretty much proving me right." I say as I sit up while making sure the blankets stay over my chest since I'm still not wearing a shirt. I grind my teeth as my back throbs in protest and close my eyes for a bit.

"Yeah and what's this theory of your- what?" Tyler suddenly rushes to my side and grabs my arm roughly.

"Ouch! What are you doing?!"

"Nick! Get in here!"

After a moment Nick comes rushing in, "Tyler we've got a problem outside-" he stops dead and stares at me in shock. His voice... it sounded like that of an older boy rather than a ten year old. Weird.

"What? What are you starring at? Is something on my face- you spoke! That's the first thing I've ever heard you say! Wait, but what's going on outside?" A tad bit of happiness pings in my heart that he's finally said something, but it's quickly followed by a wave of concern.

"Mom was right..." the little boy mutters. "She's the one..."

"What are you talking about Nick? And what are you guys starring at?" I ask looking up at Tyler.

He releases my arm and steps back. Something catches his eye and he walks to the glass wall to peer at the front yard. A mistake apparently.

He jumps back and ducks low, "shit!"

He races over to my unpacked bag and ruffles through the contents then back to me again.

"Hey! Don't go through my stuff!" I bark. I gasp in surprise when Nick leaps onto the bed and slams a hand over my mouth.

"I need you to listen to me very carefully, ok Jane?" Tyler says quietly. I stare at him for a moment before nodding nervously, Nick let's me go.

"There's no time to ask questions so don't. We're gonna need you to put this on and come downstairs with us. Ok?" Tyler holds up some clothes from my bag. My fuzzy, black robe.

"What?!" I ask incredulously.

"Just do it!" Nick orders. His manly voice surprises me yet again.

"Not with you two in here! No way in hell!"

"Quiet!" They both hiss.

"We won't look ok? But you need to do this now. Without any more questions, got it?" I'm shocked at the anger Nick is showing.

I nod and he hops off the bed and disappears out the door. Tyler hands me the robe and also moves to the door, only he doesn't leave. He stays at the doorway and keeps his back towards me.

I grunt in pain and begin to shiver again as I slide my legs off the bed. I keep my eyes on Tyler to make sure he isn't watching as I hurry over to my bag. No way I'm only gonna wear a robe. I struggle to change into a pair of dry panties, pants and also a dry bra and white long sleeve shirt. Instead of the robe I put on my bulky jacket and walk over to Tyler. He turns and inspects me.

"Huh, the jacket hides the bandage on your back better than the robe would've... did you know that's what I was trying to do?"

"Of course not. I'm freezing ok?" Even with my jacket I still shiver. Just as I say that I see someone, to tall to be Nick, whisk out of the boy's room. Tyler slams a hand over my mouth to keep me from screaming. The guy has features similar to Nick's.

"Drink this," he whispers as he places a little bottle of red liquid in my hand and looks me in the eyes. "This is gonna help with your back. It tastes awful and will make your body feel uncomfortable for a few seconds but once that passes you shouldn't be in any pain anymore. Not for a while at least." His voice...

"Nick?!" I ask as soon as Tyler releases my mouth. The guy nods. He looks as if he might be my age! How the hell is that possible?!

He gives me a once over and nods, "you should be fine, there are some people in the front yard and you need to act like you know me and Tyler well, okay? They need to believe we've known each other for awhile. So from this moment until they leave, you're my girlfriend got it? You're back isn't injured in any way. The girl who was hurt in the pond was sent to the hospital to get stitches. Now drink that and fast."

"What is going on?!" I whisper before remembering the no questions policy. I stare at the small bottle on my hand, open it, but hesitate when I put the top to my lips.

Am I really gonna just drink some random vile that two guys I basically just met gave to me? What if they try to poison me? Or knock me out so they can go lock me up somewhere I won't be able to get out and rape me or something? How can I trust that they won't hurt me?

Just as I'm about to deny and give the bottle back we hear a loud banging on the front door. Nick jumps at me and forces the bottle into my mouth. The contents spill onto my tongue and then down my throat quickly and I gag, trying to spit it out. Tyler covers my mouth again.

"Jane, we aren't going to hurt you, but if those people think you're suspicious in any way they will or they'll take you. Please just do as we say, we're trying to help you."

I look him in the eye and see a silent plead in their depths. Tyler doesn't seem like a bad guy... Nick on the other hand creeps me out because of that child to man transformation.

I reluctantly swallow the remnants of the fluid in my mouth and begin coughing aggressively. My throat burns and my body begins to tingle. It feels as if hundreds of bugs are crawling along my entire body.

Once my coughing ceases and the tingling subsides I stand strait and notice that my back no longer hurts.

"Told ya," Nick says as he grabs my hand. I'm dragged to the top of the stairs and as we hurry down them he starts talking again. "Remember, you aren't the one who got hurt, that was a different girl who's already been sent to the hospital. You're my girlfriend and you've known Tyler and I for a while. We need to seem like a convincing couple. Now... you might see some things when we open the door. The people who are here are... different. They aren't like normal people okay? Just act like you're perfectly fine with it."

"What do you mean-"

Nick shushes me as we reach the door. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. Before I can say another word Nick opens the door to greet the people on the other side.

Act girlfriend-ish. I tell myself. How do I do that?

I hesitantly slide my arm around Nick's waist and smile at the large man in front of us.

There are about ten people behind him. They all seem to be close to my age. All but one of them are men. The girl looks at me, she seems almost... sad. She looks as if she might be eighteen or nineteen, maybe a little younger.

"Nick, nice to see you again. It's been a while." The man before us says in a deep voice. He looks me up and down and asks, "who's this?"

"Andy, meet Jane. She's my girlfriend." Nick kisses my head and gives my shoulder a squeeze. I blink in surprise when his lips touch my hair.

"Does your girlfriend know about you? Or us for that matter?" Andy asks in a low tone.

"Not much," Nick replies. "She knows we aren't ordinary humans and that she can't say anything about it to anyone else."

"Is she trustworthy? Can you vow that she won't breathe a word to another human being?"

I'm right here you know!

"Absolutely, I'd never tell anyone." I say calmly even though my pulse is racing and my heart pounds wildly. Nick shoots me a look.

Andy looks at me in surprise as if he'd expected that I didn't have a voice or something.

He leans towards me, "and how am I supposed to believe that? I don't know you."

"Well if I told anyone I'd be putting you all at risk right? I could never do that to Nick and Tyler." I say matter of factly.

"Babe, why don't you let me do the talking here, hmm?" Nick looks at me sternly.

"No, let her speak." Andy holds a hand up to silence Nick. He returns his attention to me and grins, "I like you, you aren't afraid to speak for yourself."

I smile and hold out my hand, "likewise Mr..."

"Oh, Andy is perfectly fine my dear." He says as he takes my hand and kisses my knuckles instead of shaking it as I'd intended. I blush a little.

Nick clears his throat, "Jane, would you mind getting Andy and his friends here something to drink?"

"Don't worry my friend, I don't plan to steal your woman from you." Andy laughs, the people behind him join in, except for that girl. I blush even harder when I hear him say, "yet," under his breath.

Huh? I must've miss heard him. There's no way he said 'yet'... right?

"Oh it's quite alright. Do you all like sweet tea?" I ask politely.

Everyone nods and I say, "alright then, sweet tea it is."

"Martha," Andy speaks over his shoulder and the girl walks to his side. "Why don't you give Jane here a hand?" She nods and follows me into the kitchen. I notice that everything Tyler had used to clean my back has disappeared from the table.

As I open the fridge I see the two one-gallon jugs of sweet tea and pull them out onto the counter.

"Where are the cups?" Martha asks.

"In that cabinet." She opens the one I point to and pulls down twelve cups.

"Are you and Tyler going to want one?" She looks at me expectantly.

Before I respond I hear Tyler's voice behind me, "that would be great. Thanks Martha."

After jumping in surprise and nearly cursing I sigh and say, "no matter how often you do that I don't think I'll ever get used to it." This makes Tyler chuckle while Martha raises her brow at me.

"Never thought Nick would go for someone so jumpy."

I'm about to say something when she leaves to carry two cups to the living room where most of the others have gathered. I scoff a little at her rude action as I pull out a tray and carefully place the other cups on it. To add some flare I place them in a small circular tower, making sure to line them up well. Martha comes back to fetch more cups but stares at me in surprise as I balance the tray perfectly with one hand. Seems working at my mother's Caffe came in handy after all. As I walk into the living room I hear a whistle and turn to Andy.

He's grinning at me as he speaks, "correct me if I'm wrong Nick, but your girl seems more capable then you've led us to believe."

I shoot Nick, who is sitting next to Andy, a glare, "oh? And how incapable did he lead you to believe I was?"

"Lets just say he basically called you a brainiac with hardly any physical strength and no coordination. But from what I've seen, the brainiac part might be the only true thing about what he said, my dear."

"Please, you are more than welcome to call me Jane." I pull the top glass from my tower of drinks and give it to Andy with a charming smile. I've gotta keep up the act until they leave. Nick grumbles under his breath as he reaches for a drink, I slap his hand away.

"That was for calling me weak and clumsy," I realize that I've got a chance to embarrass him as payback for what he'd said and smirk. "And this," I flick his forehead roughly. "This is for apparently forgetting who pinned who first in this relationship."

Everyone including Tyler bust out laughing, even Martha, while Nick just gawks at me in shock. I wink at him victoriously and continue passing out drinks.

"Dude, you just got murdered," says the guy sitting across from him as he laughs.

"I love how feisty you are Jane," Andy chuckles as I hand Martha her drink and take the last cup for myself. "Not to mention you're quite beautiful. Is that the reason you tried to hide her true personality, Nick? Afraid one of us will take a liking to her and thought making us believe she was meek and clumsy would ward us off?"

Nick clears his throat, "though I'm sure this is entertaining for you all, this is not the reason for your visit."

"Ah yes, down to business I suppose." Andy sighs, but causes my cheeks to heat up a little when he winks at me. He grins, noticing my slight color change.

Tyler walks up to me and says, "could you go upstairs for a bit?"

"She may stay," everyone turns to Andy in surprise.

"But sir, she's—"

"Nick's girlfriend, not to mention my new favorite, therefore she is welcome to sit amongst us. Understood?" He narrows his eyes at the group and a certain power and authority seems to radiate off of him. When everyone backs down and argues no further he smiles at me, going from frightening to welcoming and down right gorgeous in less than two seconds.

"Come, sit with us. I'd like you to be a part of this conversation." He pats the empty spot on his right and I scurry over to him, still clutching my drink. Nick glares at me over his shoulder and I glare right back with a little shrug.

What was I supposed to do?! Deny him?! I'm not supposed to be suspicious remember?! Even though I know that he can't hear my thoughts I proceed to yell at him in my head.

I'm surprised by the sudden sent I catch wafting off of Andy the second I sit by his side. It's... I don't know it's like... a crisp wintery smell. It's hard to describe but it smells familiar. I kinda like it. It's very alluring.

"Now then, we come to the topic of the girl from the pond. The water deities smelt and tasted her blood and say they are positive that she's a white fae. Possibly the last of her kind." Andy looks at me, "Jane, are you in any way familiar with the white fae I speak of?"

"Not particularly, but— and correct me if I'm wrong— but I'm assuming that it's the girl who got hurt in the pond?" My heart beats rapidly in my chest. He's talking about me. What the hell is he talking about, me being a white fae? What even is that?! And the last of my kind? What is going on?! Ok, remember what Nick said, that wasn't me it was a girl who's already been sent to the hospital.

"You aren't wrong at all, where is she by the way?" He looks at me sternly before his gaze softens, "were you in the water as well by chance? Your hair is wet." I see Nick stiffen and try to play it cool with a small sigh.

"Thankfully no, I was actually in the shower when it happened. All I really ended up seeing was her leaving to be taken to the hospital. I'm sorry I can't be of more help to you." Nick almost sighs in relief but catches himself.

Come on, give me some credit, jerk.

It takes much effort and restraint to keep myself from rolling my eyes at him.

"Hmm..." Andy peers at my face. Trying to tell whether or not I'm lying? I rack my brain trying to think of something- anything that I can say to throw him off.

"Are you wearing colon?" I wince internally as the sentence leaves my mouth before I think about it. I couldn't think of anything to say! Tilting my head with what I hope is a convincing smile I say, "I don't know what it is but it smells pretty good." It's true that I do smell something, but for some reason I'm almost certain that it isn't store bought.

Everyone in the room goes tense and stares at me with mixed emotions in their expressions, except for Andy. He just smirks and looks into my eyes, making me uncomfortable.

"Well, well, well. It looks like I've found what I was after."

In an instant Nick is on his feet and reaching for me. Only he doesn't reach me... because I've already been scooped up in Andy's strong arms and zoomed to the other side of the room.

How did he move so fast?!

"Hey! What's this about?! Put me down!"

I struggle against him and notice my back beginning to throb in pain. Whatever Nick gave me before must be wearing off, or the sudden movements are to much for it to handle.

As if reading my mind Andy says, "sorry if I hurt you dear, but you're too precious for me to allow you to be stolen away."

"Precious? The hell are you talking about?!" I try to get away but his grip around my body is too strong. Kicking my feet and digging my nails into his arms does no good. And with the effects of the elixir fading I can feel myself becoming weak from blood loss again.

"Careful Jane, you're causing yourself to bleed again," Andy's voice sounds genuinely concerned for me which leaves me dumbfounded.

If you're gonna be the bad guy stick to it! Stop confusing me!

"Let her go!" Tyler shouts and just like before, his body blurs and he's suddenly right next to me, grabbing my arm. He yanks me out of Andy's grip and picks me up, swiftly running to the front door. It opens as I yelp from the pain in my back. Just as we get out onto the front porch I feel someone barrel into Tyler. The blow knocks me out of his arms and sends my body rolling down the porch steps. I scream when I land with my face slamming into the cement path and my back arching. For a moment all the air in my lungs seems to have been snatched away from me and I gasp for breath. I struggle, trying to move and get away. Blood drips from my lip and forehead, along with several other cuts and scrapes from my trip down the stairs. My jacket is totally ruined.

I gasp and groan as I start to drag myself down the path, panting and crying in pain. A quick look over my shoulder and I see Tyler grappling with two of the guys from before. One of them must have been the one to tackle Tyler. I catch glimpses of Nick fighting in the house, trying to bypass the men to get out to me.

But where is—

A loud thud in front of me makes me freeze. Ever so slowly, I turn my head and look up at Andy's slightly annoyed gaze.

"I did warn you, dear. Now you're hurt even worse." Anger fills his eyes as he looks up at one of the men fighting to keep Tyler from helping me. There movements are so fast and so hard to keep track of... my vision is getting hazy too.

"I seem to remember that my direct order was to collect the white fae without further injuring her body." Andy's voice is heavily laced with menace and anger. It sounds like a promise of pain. "Yet she is in worse shape than she was before because of your actions." It looks as if the man is trembling in fear.

"I am so sorry my lord, please forgive me," he says as he bows his head in respect and terror. I try to blink the spots out of my vision, I can barely make out Andy walking towards the man. I strain my muscles as I try to keep moving forward.

"Wait! Wait please! I beg of y—"

I tense and close my eyes at a blood curdling scream as it rips through the man's throat, demanding to be heard.

My head feels as if it's been filled with glue. I can't quite process anything or put any of my thoughts together except that I'm afraid and in pain. My body seems to go limp of all movement except harsh shivering as cold air seems to swarm me again. I pant into the ground wishing to move but being unable to control my own muscles. I feel as if I'm about to pass out when I hear footsteps coming towards me.

I close my eyes again, knowing that it was most likely Andy coming to hurt me in some horrible way like he had that man. But instead of aggressive and violent hands... I feel him very gently lifting me up into a sitting position to lean against his chest.

He's so warm...

I cuddle into his warmth, against better judgment, and don't argue when he takes off his own shirt to softly wipe blood from my face. The closer I am to his skin the warmer I get, not even attempting to struggle when he wraps his warm arms around me.

"Your teeth are chattering, Jane. Come, I will take you someplace warm and comfortable." With my strength completely drained, Andy has no problems picking me up. I lean my head against his shoulder, trying to get as close to his body heat as possible.

Why am I so fucking cold?!

I don't even notice that we had started moving until I hear splashing beneath me. We're going into the pond!

"Not water..." I say weakly, my throat course and achy. "Please... not water."

"Dont worry my dear. Nothing is going to hurt you while I'm around." He hadn't stopped walking and I flinch when the water reaches me. He notices and looks into my eyes with a soft but stern glint in his own, "trust me Jane. I won't let anything happen to you." I stare up into those eyes and, even though my sight is kinda blurry, somehow I do trust him just a bit. I hesitate before I slide my left hand up his chest and over his right shoulder and curl up in his arms so that I have my face burrowed into the corner of his neck and shoulder.

"You promise?" I ask quietly.

"I promise," his response is so gentle and sounds so genuine that I feel butterflies slowly flapping their wings in my stomach.

"Ok."