Woodchoppers Secret

Chapter Nine | Nuvole Bianche

1976

"Okay, favourite colour?"

"Easy, red."

"Red? I like yellow and white." I mumble as I swallow the cut strawberries in the bowl. Matias shakes his head sharpening his axe as he takes out cheeky glances thinking I cannot see them from the corner of my eyes.

"Of course, you like yellow," I pretend to read, when in reality I come here because he was the only friend I basically have. The only friend that does not know of my background, or that I am going to be Queen in a matter of months, probably years.

"Are you trying to interpret something, Max?" I flip the page and scan the words; my back is leaning against the arm chair and my legs are dangling of the other.

"What would I be interpreting Annie?" We have our little nicknames of each other, say any name with the first letter but not our actual name. I enjoyed it; this was the first joke I have ever shared with someone.

"Could I ask you something? I do not have friends, so I do not know if there is a limit of speaking of this subject."

"Go ahead."

"Why is being a virgin so important to males?" I shot out, he stops sharpening his knife and raises an eyebrow as he gazes at me dumbfound. He settles down his Axe and looks around the room. "Is there a problem?"

"No, some men care and some don't."

"Do you?"

"It doesn't really matter to me; a woman is still a woman at the end of the day. But some men take it-like being clean."

"So, people who have lost their virginity are somewhat dirty?"

"No! No, wrong way to say that, what I am saying is that boys like being first." I bite onto my bottom lips closing the book.

"I hope I didn't offend you?"

"Not at all, I understand now, why all these suitors talk to the Queen about being a good virgin. They have no self-respect and it irritates me in some sort of way."

"People with money, there are worse men out there."

"There are? Whatever do you mean?" I ask, suddenly feeling intrigued.

"Have you never been to the village? I don't understand, were you never-"

"My mother is head of the palace, I was born and raised and I have never left."

"That's boring, you never experienced life at all."

"I have the chance; this is my only week off and I am experiencing it with you."

"I feel pleasured."

"As you should."

"You want something to drink?"

"Just a water please." Matias stood up and drags himself as he pushes my hair onto my face whilst tumbling to the kitchen. "Do you think I am lady like?" I hear the tap continuing and bring myself up to sit properly, I catch his eyes on me as he focuses onto something else. "Answer me."

"Yes, sort of," I shake my head and laugh it off. "I mean you talk like you had years of education, you dress very well for a maid and you're pretty." I feel my cheeks glow into a bright colour as he hands me the glass of water before sitting down to where he was.

"You think I am pretty?"

"I-I guess-I." He stutters, I could not hold in the laugh that tangles in my throat as I look down at the book in my hand.

"This book makes no sense; how can someone fall in love in two weeks?" I stand up and talked about it so passionately, instead of getting shushed up or getting slapped for talking nonsense he rose an eyebrow and listened. He listened. He did not roll his eyes; he did not tell me to be quit or that he was busy. He listened. Listening. Something I have never experienced.

"I believe that is an utter lie! The question really is, does love really exist, or is it a fantasy for children. I do not believe in love, do you?"

"I believe in mates."

"What ever do you mean by Mates?"

"In my culture, we believe- it's better if I give an example. Say, you looked at me deeply in my eyes, my heart would tell me that you are the one for me and would shout 'Mate' . It's just what I believe."

"That sounds beautiful, let us try."

"I-I don't think-" I rush towards him, dropping the book onto the coffee table as I bend down in front of him, I rest my hands onto his knees for stability and he looks me directly into my eyes, I stare back at him, overpowerfully. The moment I was about to give up, I observed a slight change. His pupils dilated bigger and his eyes were changing colour, from emerald green, to a dark black then he pushes me away slightly.

"It didn't work, you should get going, it is getting dark." He stood up and I along with him, his eyes-they changed colour.

"Y-your eyes-"

"Amie, are you not worried for the Queen looking for you?"

"Oh, my goodness, it is past bedtime. Alright, I should get going, thank you for having me once again." After realising how dark it has gotten and knowing I should get going. I remove my feet from the armchair and stand up, I slip on my coat and pick my bag up as I slide the book back into the shelf, all whilst Matias glances at me.

Matias stands up and leads me to the door. "Are you coming over tomorrow?" He whispers out, rubbing the back of his head. I tug onto my ears and look into his emerald green eyes.

"Do you want me to?" I ask.

"I guess, I don't mind, I hate to admit this but I sort of like your company." We have only known each other for one week. One week. Yet I feel like we are good friends, he secretly loves my company no matter how much he does not want to admit it. I secretly like his. Not so secret, tending to the fact I am always smiling around him.

"You are not so bad yourself, Malu." I throw on my hood and walk down the steps.

"Get home safe Amelia,"

"It is not like something is going to happen to me." I whisper leaning in towards him, he glances down at me.

"You never know," he leans against the door frame and folds his arms as he glances me up and down. "Wolves might come and eat you." I snort at his stupid dreams.

"Oh please, wolves are just a silly fantasy." I roll my eyes.

"Is that what you believe?" He murmurs.

"I have never encountered a single wolf in my twenty-one years of living, I have seen pictures of them, drawings in books but they have been extinct for over fifty years."

"Get some sleep Ava, I will see you tomorrow."

"I will bring food over; you should really go shopping."

"I should but I'm unbothered. Goodnight." I smile and wave goodbye as he watches me make my way into the forest.