This will be going out over a month from when I’m currently uploading it. Did you know I write fanfic as well? I will not be linking my ao3 account. Writing more is great to help figure out how to write. Who knew!

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Chapter 6

The space around me was dark the moonlight streaming into the tent as I laid there my body sore and my head aching. I could see Kat laid in her hammock to the right of me her arm lazily draping down to the floor. A figure laid next to me their chest rising and falling gently as they snored quietly.  My arm was surrounded by the warmth of the body next to me as I settled back into the cushion beneath me.

I shifted slightly freeing my hand from the grip they had on it turning to look at who it was laid beside me. I managed to see her face in the small amount of moonlight that streamed into the tent. Realising it was Alexis I quickly moved away as I started to wonder why she was here. My back pushed against the tarp wall of the tent as I pulled my knees to my chest.

“Why is she here?” I whisper yelled at myself trying not to wake anyone up as I became more and more confused. I worked through the events of yesterday trying to piece together why she was here and was coming up blank. Did she stay because of how I reacted? It was the only real conclusion I could think of as I tried to calm myself down.

I must have been being too loud because Alexis stirred slightly while I was rambling to myself. Despite my attempts to stay completely silence so she would go back to sleep the damage had already been done and she sat up looking over at me. “What are you doing up?” She yawned her arms stretching out above her head as she looked over at me.

“I’m not sure.” I responded lowering my eyes to the ground as the blanket that had been covering her fell, “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

 She laughed before reaching out and touching my cheek, “It’s fine, are you okay?” I nodded silently looking back up at her. She gave me a tired smile as she pulled the blankets, we were under back patting the space next to her.

I laid down next to her keeping as respectful a distance I could whilst in such a cramped area. Staring at the roof I thought about how quickly I had gotten to know Alexis without really getting to know her. I barely knew anything about her, but I felt like I’d known her for years. “Do you want to go out for a walk tomorrow morning?” I blurted out feeling her shift slightly beside me my face heating up as I was sure I was blushing, “With me I mean.” 

“Of course, but you need to rest for now.” She responded the tone in her voice sounding like more of a lecture than what a friend would say. I just nodded knowing she was looking at me and closed my eyes.

Did I seriously just ask her to go out with me?

My face was a bundle of suppressed heat if I wasn’t blushing before I was now. I seriously asked her out. What was I thinking? Did I even want to go out with her? I mean of course I did I want to learn more about her but in that way? Maybe I should clarify what I meant? What did I mean?

As I panicked over all the things I could have meant when I asked my hands began to tremble slightly my breath hitching in my throat. Without a word Alexis took my hand moving closer to me immediately calming the unravelling panic spiral. I decided to just let things play out tomorrow and closed my eyes again cuddling into the person at my side her body heat bringing comfort as I felt my heart calm back down. As sleep finally began to take me, I whispered my gratitude to her not getting a response as I succumbed to the darkness.

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The next morning, I woke up to Lauren pushing open the flap of the tent the sunlight pouring into the small space. Kat groaned from her place on the hammock and Alexis shifted burying her head into the blankets. I sat up looking over to Lauren who was just stood in the doorway with a smirk as she looked around the tent, “sleep well?” she asked making her way into the tent and pulling the blankets off Kat.

“Great.” My voice strained as my throat began to burn in moment Alexis was sat up a look of concern on her face.  I nodded at her as I stood up and headed toward the opening. I grabbed my bag that was near the front finding out my waterskin and taking a big gulp.

As I gulped down what was left in the waterskin I heard a yelp behind me and turned to see Kat now laid on the floor at Laurens feet. I laughed at her receiving an angry look as she sat herself up. Alexis to her side was barely holding in her laughter a hand over her mouth to hide her own smile.

“Breakfast will be ready soon so you should all get up.” Lauren said and the mention of food immediately had Kat up and getting changed. I grabbed some spare clothes out of my bag for myself and Alexis and changed.

Alexis grabbed the clothes I had dropped in front of her with a confused look, “They’re for you since I doubt you have a change here.” Her expression changed as she moved into the back corner turning to the wall. I looked away and pulled on my shirt before sitting to put some boots on.

When I had finished Kat had already left so I turned to see if Alexis was ready to go but she was just stood in the corner blushing, “are you okay?” I asked and she nodded to me.

“Would you mind stepping out while I change?” She blushed more and I just nodded walking out and standing in front so no one would enter. A few moments later she exited the tent her hair was still slightly tangled but she had grabbed her cloak to cover it. I offered to borrow Kat’s hairbrush for her later as we walked to breakfast.

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Once we had ate, I borrowed Kat’s hairbrush so that Alexis could brush her hair and then we went for the walk we had planned. Alexis suggested the nearby forest as she said she knew a peaceful area out there, so we set out on foot. We passed the gates out of Ilamont and headed into the nearby forest the sun still high as we passed through thick foliage.

She led me through the forest easily jumping over unearthed roots and rocks as we spoke. There was no path through to where she was leading me, but she seemed to know the route like the back of her hand as she walked without a moment of uncertainty. The trees stood tall as we approached a clearing a few deer stood grazing at the river that led through.

We headed over to the opposite side where a couple trees had been cut down the stumps being left their roots still strong in the ground. I stopped to look at the stumps for a moment before Alexis grabbed my hand with a smile pulling me along.

Her hand was warm as she pulled me along following the river. We passed the grazing animals some of which running away as we approached them. My arm stayed outstretched as she gently pulled me along. She was explaining that her parents used to bring her out here a lot, but I could barely focus on what she was saying.

Eventually she let go of my hand a deep crimson blush spreading across her cheeks as she apologised. My hand felt cold after it left her grip and I wanted to hold her hand again. My fear got the best of me though as we continued our journey towards wherever Alexis was taking me.

Alexis came over to me and held out a piece of cloth with a smile, “Can I blindfold you the rest of the way?” she asked with a smile. I nodded immediately my head hurting slightly from how it shook. Alexis laughed putting the blindfold over my eyes before leading me the rest of the way my hand back in hers so I wouldn’t get lost.

We eventually stopped in a clearing the sound of rushing water loud in my ears as I waited for her to remove the blindfold. Water crashed down before me ricocheting off the lake below where remnant of the ledge laid fallen from their original height. A light mist obscured my vision into the lake however small glowing orange crystals lined the edges giving direction. Low hanging trees cast a shadow over the water their inhabitants running across branches as I looked on with excitement.

While I was staring Alexis had gone over to one of the trees finding out an old warn out crate, “So what do you think?” She asked as she opened the crate that seemed to contain some form of cloth.

“This is just… woah” I replied the last part slightly whispered as I admired the view that I had. I couldn’t wrap my head around it how is this so close to the city, yet no one is here?

She began to set up the cloth forming some form of hammock as she tied the rope around two nearby trees. “I love it here my parents used to bring me every time we were in the area.”

I walked over to help her nodding slightly at the statement, “Do you still come out here with them?” I asked as I held one side of the fabric that she was trying to secure to the tree. She shook her head at that but didn’t comment on it so I left it.

Once the hammock was set up, we decided to go for a swim in the lake. She told me to get in first and turn around until she got in. So, I stripped into my undershirt and shorts and jumped into the lake the warm water soothing my aching muscles as I waited for her. After a couple moments I heard the rumpling of clothes then she appeared beside me the water reaching just below her collarbone.

She smiled at me before my vision became a blur with warm water. Alexis laughed as I wiped the water from my eyes before filling my hand and splashing her with the water. She gasped as water went into her mouth and dripped from her hair. “Two can play at this game.” I said stepping back slightly as I gathered more water.

“You’re on!” She yelled back water spraying across my face as she splashed me again before stepping away.

Our back and forth lasted for a while eventually ending with up both tiring out and deciding to go dry off. We went and sat up on the hammock Alexis wrapped in her cloak and me in my undershirt and shorts and just talked for hours. The sun and heat from the lake keeping us warm as we spoke.

Before we knew it the sky was a mix of oranges and pinks as the sun began to set over us. We decided it was best to head home so unravelled ourselves from the hammock and getting dressed. Our underclothes had dried at this point, so we quickly dressed and put everything away.

We made it back to the city after dark a warm glow emanated above the gates. Alexis had to put her hood down to get past the guards and when she did, they both immediately bowed to her. I shot her a questioning glance as we headed into the city however she didn’t give me an answer. She just continued as if nothing happened as we made our way back to camp.