Intertwine

42 - I Couldn't Even Beg

The next three chapters will be introducing some new characters to the story. Not all of them will be main characters, but they'll be important to a part of the plot. Don't worry! We'll be back to Alina and Roara shortly!

ADITI

They were standing by the outskirts of an old fashioned army camp, pretending to look busy, putting empty crates away into the back of an empty truck.

"You've got mud on your face." The long haired girl turned to him and smiled. She put her hand out to rub the dark streak from his cheek.

The young man beside her leant away. "Cut it out Hazel." He batted her hand to the side, but she just made to rub his face again.

When he realised she wouldn't give up he took off in a sprint along the dusty path, through the pine trees that surrounded them. He knew the way well, had walked it with her many times.

"You're all dirty, come here!" The girl called Hazel cried, running after him, her arms pumping, legs hitting the beaten track with immaculate accuracy. It didn't take her a lot of effort to catch up with him, but just as she reached him she tripped over a stone in the ground, falling head first.

It was like dominoes. Her scream alerted him to what was going on, he turned to see her shocked expression and her arms stretched out in front her instinctively to try and stop her fall. First she went down, catching hold of him to try and steady herself, and he went down under her.

She looked down at him, and with the sleeve of her dress, wiped at his face. "All better now, was it really that hard."

"No, but something else is." He grinned and with a disgusted snort she pushed herself off him.

Hazel landed face first in the dust. As she lifted her head up the first thing she said was, "You're terrible James. One would think you soldiers might have some more manners." But despite her words a smile played on her lips.

Graciously James held out a hand to help her up. She took it and he pulled her to her feet. "You're going to have to learn to stand up without me someday you know."

"What if I don't want to?" She took his hand and pulled him after her, further down the path.

"You know, I'm starting to think you trip up all the time on purpose."

"I've never heard anything so ridiculous in all my life." She turned back to look at him as she said this, a strand of her long dark hair falling over her eyes.

"Well, nineteen isn't many years. I'm sure I can come up with something worse." As he said this, Hazel's smile faded, but James didn't see it.

"I'm sure you can." Her voice was tighter now, but only a little bit. As though she'd practiced hiding her hurt away.

"C'mon doll, don't be like that!" He pulled her around to face him, taking her other hand in his. "Soon this war will be over I'll take you back to Brooklyn and show you around."

"You better." She huffed, but her expression softened. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and let one of his hands go, walking along beside him.

He moved his palm so that their fingers intertwined, and instinctively she rested her head on the side of his shoulder.

They finally reached their destination; a thick tree trunk on its side made into a seat from years of wear. It overlooked a lake, the forest stretching around its perimeter, as though protecting it from the war raging beyond.