Sixteen

The tone behind his statement made me turn my head to look at him, only to find his staring back at me. My heart skipped a beat. A hint of an emotion that I could not figure out fast enough flashed in his eyes and was gone just as fast as it showed.

I stared at him, searching for the same emotion that I had seen before. He stared back at me, though I had no idea what he was thinking. I felt my heartbeat escalate. He slowly inched his face towards me. I watched in anticipation, waiting to see what would happen.

However, as he was only a few inches away from my face, he seemed to have broken out of the trance as he shook his head and returned to his original position, staring out at the forest. I felt a pang of disappointment strike my heart. I slowly turned my gaze out towards the forest as well.

I was silent for a few minutes before I remembered what had happened a few days ago in that very same forest. I remembered the little bird I had found on the forest floor.

"Uh… how is the bird?" I asked.

He was silent for a minute before replying, "It's fine. It will be better soon. You needn't worry anymore."

"Oh," was all I could say.

He was clearly brushing me off. Or was it just me that was overthinking things. My mind went to that almost kiss and an involuntary shiver ran through me. At that exact moment, the cold wind blew my way and I only found it easier to blame my shiver on it.

Prince alexander seemed to have noticed my shiver because in the next moment he asked, "cold?"

I was going to deny it but I did not get the chance as he took off his jacket and draped around my shoulder. I was stunned momentarily. I felt his warmth sip from the jacket, blanketing me like a warm shield. His manly scent filled my senses and all I felt completely surrounded by him.

"You shouldn't come out in the cold without carrying something warm. Come on, let's go inside right this instant," he scolded whilst standing.

"But I—"

"No buts. Up," he ordered.

"Okay. But let's stay out for a minute," I added quickly before he could reject.

He stared at me and concluded, "Only a minute." He sat back down.

'Yay.' I rejoiced deep inside. I honestly just wanted to enjoy his company a bit more.

I felt him move beside me, clearly agitated. He was looking at his watch every now and then. Finally, he erupted and said time was up.

Was he seriously keeping track of the one minute I requested? Did he really want me to leave that bad? I let out a sigh. I guess I couldn't complain. After all it was I who did not want to sit with him in the first place.

I slowly stood and we silently walked back to the palace backdoors. I was engrossed deep in my thoughts and seemingly so was he. We walked into the building and he disappeared before I could even say goodnight to him.

He was beside me one moment, and the next he was gone. I felt devastated as I stomped towards my room. I did not find anyone on my way.

I entered my room and immediately slumped on my bed. Jennifer was not in the room. Only God knew where that girl always went at night. I lay on the bed, my thoughts running haywire. I thought back to the lovely evening I have just had.

But when I thought about Prince Alexander's abrupt need to get back indoors, I was bummed. Did he not want my company any longer? But he was the one who forced me to sit with him in the first place.

I growled and stood up to go take a shower. Whilst undressing, I realised I had remained with his jacket. I held it in my hands and marvelled at its feel in my hands. I could not help bringing it closer to my nose to breathe in his scent. I had no idea what I was really doing, so I hurriedly folded up the jacket and thought about taking it back to him.