15. Drown, float & wait
1271 Words
She felt the warmth touch her skin as she busked under the shinning sun, no clouds in sight. The gentle breeze brushed against her skin as well, it felt quite lovely she had to have had her eyes closed — enjoying each second of it.
But the sight before her was magnificent as well, she could not keep her eyes closed too long.
With that her eyes flew open staring into the vast ocean, clear waters created waves as their ship sailed through.
Amelia brought her hand closer to her face brushing away the hair strands disrupting her sight-seeing. She firmly but lightly grabbed onto the railing for whenever the ship rocked about from the waves clashing, it was a bit scary to end up falling overboard when swimming was a talent you lacked.
Better safe than sorry.
"Careful." Amelia turned towards the voice, Elis was walking towards her from the cabin.
Her arms were crossed in front of her, her shirt swayed lightly with the wind and for once her hair was held together in a well put half up half down bun. "I'd hate to be made a widow so young." Elis added now standing before Amelia.
Who playful punched her arm in an attempt to hide her smile. "We are not married." Amelia pointed out, she was grateful her skin could not tattle tell how warm her cheeks and ears felt.
"Yet." Elis said with an eyebrow raised, Amelia had to be quite delusional to think Elis would ever die happy without having her hand in marriage. "We aren't married yet."
Amelia immediately covered up her entire face with her hands, hiding away from Elis' intense stare and the silly smile across her face she could not control.
Elis smiled while placing a strand of Amelia's hair behind her ear. "So is it as adventurous as the books? Though I'm sorry the captain isn't taking you right here, right now." Amelia groaned lowering her hands and pointedly glared at Elis, wishing for nothing but to wipe that smug smile off.
"What? I'm quite greedy and jealous." Elis laughed out loud as Amelia once again punched her arm, this time around with a bit power.
"Those aren't books I read!" Amelia felt embarrassed, the one time she had let Elis read her book had surely been a mistake — one that she should have thought through ten times — because how could it still haunt her after all these months.
"Really? Because I remember what I saw." She grinned at Amelia's displeasure, truth be told Elis enjoyed annoying Amelia. Elis knew it had to be the cute frustrated face she'd make everytime, or Amelia's willingness to prove a point each time.
"I'm quite sure." She breathed out calming herself. "Going back to the earlier topic before you became annoying—"
"Annoying?" Elis questioned cutting her off.
If that wasn't proving her point as she said, then surely she was very unaware what example would do it.
Amelia did not hesitate to agree, mumbling a "Definitely." She continued to speak, hopefully without interruptions this time around.
"And as I was saying, it's much more than I expected — sailing is lovely Elis, greater than words in a book limited to my imagination." She spoke in completely starstruck, it had been everything she had hope and surprisingly much more than she gave it credit for.
"Is Amelia Bennett admitting defeat!" She laughed staring at the girl.
"Once, only this once!" Amelia said pointed at Elis.
"I take whatever I can get Amelia." Her arms rested on her shoulders, turning Amelia around to face her she smiled brightly at the annoyed girl. "You're fairytale adventure is missing one thing." Her arms slipped down to her hands, Elis had now intertwined their fingers ever so gently.
"What is that?" Amelia asked staring into Elis warm eyes, she could melt away with how Elis looked at her.
Her tummy would always be in twists, her heart fluttered so much she nearly always lost her footing and she was sure it was the butterflies she read about in books — Elis made her feel butterflies and flowery meadow gently caressing her skin.
"A kiss under clear blue skies, clear waters — the perfect contrast between a sunny and a windy day. The charming Princess to tell you, m'lady, are splendid." Her glanced down briefly at Amelia's maroon gown. "The envy she holds against the sun, wind and your gown for having you first."
"Quite a shame." She whispered her eyes fixed on Elis' lips, the girl talked quite a lot.
"Pitiful. I couldn't perfect it as per wish."
Amelia turned away from her moving lips to her warm brown eyes, she had been so hypnotized she forgot to listen to the rest of the words that left her lips. She did not care right now, it did not matter.
Amelia hummed at whatever Elis said — she didn't know if it was a question either. "When am I going to be cursed with your lips on mine, Elis—"
Words failed Amelia. Elis had touched her lips with hers, her body melted into Elis'. Her arms went around her neck breaking free from the entanglement Elis had them before, she needed Elis closer.
Pulling on Elis, Amelia deepened the kiss their lips gracefully moving one another, their hands holding onto — gripping onto the others fabrics afraid of being ripped away from eachother.
Breaking the kiss both panted.
Elis stared at Amelia lovingly as she her chest rose and fell, much more from her heighten heartbeat.
Her expression was soon replaced with a puzzled one as she suddenly remembered something. "Curse?" Elis asked breathless, she almost let Amelia slip away with such lies.
"You harm me. My heart is skipping stars!" Amelia sighed resting her head against Elis' chest, it was quite peaceful being held so close.
A gasp left Amelia's lips as she found herself being lifted off the ground with a joyous Elis laughing and smiling. Her lips brushed against hers one more time before Elis began spinning the two of them around — disregarding Amelia's warnings to be placed down, even when she too had a bright smile on.
§
Isla still had her gaze fixed on Layla as she pulled her arm away. Layla stared at Isla puzzled at what she just saw and how much familiarity it brought her — like memory she loved but forgot.
"Don't." Isla paused studying Layla's eyes. Her throat tightened staring into her eyes — still the same light brown eyes that always haunted her dreams and thoughts. "Do that again, please." Her voice withered.
No second later Isla rushed out the room, taking two steps at a time on the staircase — she just needed to get away as soon as possible before she broke down.
Eda stood in front of Layla stopping her from running up the stairs after Isla, she held onto her shoulders turned her away from the staircase.
Layla was about to protest but Eda interjected. "Tomorrow." they would both be better and calm, talking it out right now would do more harm than good. Even if she was curious to know that it would leave her sleepless, she still needed to wait. "Right now let's get you home to rest."
Layla dropped her shoulders admitting deat, her body was exhausted only now had she noticed how much. And the unsettling feelings she felt were taking quite a stroll on her body, she needed to silence her mind.
So just like that she let Eda take her home.
- Writer
