Chapter 7

Each day has been so great, with his kisses which have become an addiction to me. Marcy has become very distant. I never see her at dinner or even at any meal. It's like she decided to keep to herself. The other people don't mind. Is it how it's going to be like?

It's been days since I started my green house. I am still thinking of flowers to plant.

Everyday, Mason is getting close to me and I am happy. He comes by the garden and helps to water all the flowers that I have planted. He doesn't stop kissing me and I am not complaining but how will I feel if he ends up with another person? Will I be hurt? Of course but to what extent? I have been scared to ask myself these questions.

Rebecca is doing fine, she had already made friends with many people here. She is been busy helping in the clinic. She seems happy. I am also happy. I get to spend most of my time searching for flowers in the forests. I made a friend as well. Her name is Lily. She is really friendly but there is something off about her. I just don't know what.

As for my search for Emilda, it isn't going so well. I had tried to ask for Mason's help. But on second thought it didn't make sense to ask it from him. He wasn't anything to me. We just spent time together, kissing and that's it. Even if I like him. It's a crush that might not matter to him.

"Little one.......Charlotte!" He called shaking me slightly. I had been lost in thought and I forgot we were picking wild berries and herbs for Rebecca.

"Sorry what were you saying?" I asked awkwardly trying so hard to make him understand.

"I was just saying let's hurry it looks like it's about to rain."

I looked up in the sky. He was right, the clouds had darkened threatening to bring astounding rain.

"Okay."

I began picking the berries at a quick pace not wanting to disappoint Rebecca. After all she has become a mother figure to me since the day I came here. It wasn't long as the silence between the two of us got interrupted by a loud roar of thunder and a lightning spark as the water droplets began to fall, little by little getting harsh and wetting our clothes.

If not for Mason who dragged me to an abandoned house near the clearing, we would've to feel the heavy downpour in our bones.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he searched for something around the room. It was getting dark and darker and I felt scared to be out in the forest at this hour and it was raining too.

After his searching, he brought a blanket and prepared fire. We were both wet and I felt really cold and thirsty at the same time.

"You don't look so well." Mason pointed out getting close to me. He put his palm on my foreheard.

"You're burning up." I don't know what he meant because I was feeling cold. I shivered feeling the cold air passing through my wet clothes.

"You have a fever," he declared as he brought a blanket and wrapped it around me. He looked at me as if he was begging for forgiveness for what he was about to do. He put his hand on my blouse trying to get it off. I let him. I had no energy in me to get him to let go. He removed my skirt too. It was as if he was shaking as he removed everything and left me bare. He spread the blanket on top of me and went outside leaving me alone. I could still hear the sounds from the rain outsides pit patttering on the rusted roof.

I saw that he was holding himself back, as if controlling the desire within him. I am happy he did it for me. I could still feel the touch of the cold on my bearly covered skin and a sharp headache announcing its arrival. What were we gonna do? I hated to be this weak in front of him. I shivered wishing for more warmth. He returned with some dish full of water. He put it on fire, heating it up as fast as he could. Putting more firewood to make the fire much bigger. He waited for it to boil and sat beside me. He looked at me with pain in his eyes. It's as if all this has been taking a toil on him.

When the water started boiling, he tore off his shirt and deeped one of the piece in the water. I could see the steam coming out of the dish but still I felt cold. He brought the cloth to my forehead and placed it there. Finally I felt some warmth. I didn't realize I was sweating till then. He wiped all the sweat on my face. He looked so concentrated as if I was fragile at that moment. He wiped my body and took off the rest of the shirt covering my body and putting the blanket on top.

I was feeling a little better. I felt my eyes drooping and yearned for some sleep. I kept on squinting my eyes for some time. In spite of the rain making too much noise, I ended up sleeping.

The next morning, I opened my eyes to see Mason by my side. He looked exhausted. It seems he didn't have any sleep. He had not seen me when I looked outside to see that it was still raining but it had lessened a bit. Mason was wearing a jean only that he had lent his shirt to me.

"You are awake. How are you feeling?" I watched him as he made his way to where I was laying in the way holding my hand in his.

"A little better. What about you, you look like a ghost did you have some rest," I asked getting worried. He smiled gently before reaching for my head caressing my hair.

"I am fine don't worry. Anyway the rain hasn't died down yet. Hopefully it will be gone soon. We don't have anything to eat. Yesterday we left your baskets outside and I am sure they are likely to be ruined "

I nodded not really sure what to say. He remained holding my hands with his. The familiar tingles spreading like always. I looked at his exposed chest expecting to see goose bumps for it was still chilly due to the light showers. But I did not see any so I decided to look where the fire had just been last night.

It was replaced by ashes and the dish he had used was exposed at the corner.

"Can I please have some water," I asked feeling thirsty. He released my hand and exited the room returning with a tumbler full of clean water. I thanked him and gulped it down my groggy throat with one gulp. He watched me as I did this and freely wiped a drop which had escaped. A smile surfaced on his mouth and just in time we both looked outside to see that the rain was slowly dying down. And we could go home.