I have done a rather admirable job at avoiding Byron, however. So, I’m not totally incompetent.
Now I’m stressing in a private alcove off the training room, trying to calm my nerves so that I can concentrate on this upcoming mock battle. I feel completely unprepared, but just because I haven’t been able to focus as much as I should this past week at the academy doesn’t mean that I didn’t have some practice from my time in Woodsbury. I used to turn the woods beyond Marvin’s father’s farm into an obstacle course that I had to make it through in record time.
I’m strong, I’m fit, and as untrained as I am as long as I keep my focus, I should be able to hold my own.
Focus is the problem though, isn’t it?
I take a bite out of my apple that I brought along because I was too nervous to eat breakfast and yet I also know that I need to keep my strength up.
Marvin sighs loudly, looking up from where he is fastening on leather gauntlets to protect his arms. “Willow, I can’t help but get the feeling that something is bothering you.”
“I’mfine.”
“And this has nothing to do with the fact that Byron is moping as well?” he presses.
I pause mid-stretch, the apple held in place by my teeth. I reach up to dislodge it. “Byron has been moping?”
“He’d probably prefer it if I used the term “brooding”, but yeah, he’s been a bit of a mess of late. Just like you.” Marvin regards me with narrow eyes. “Did something happen between you two?”
I’m tempted to just shrug off his concern since I still don’t want to talk about it. But then I realize that he could ask Byron, and I would rather he hear it from me.
I puff out a breath as I begin making certain that my training leathers are on properly for the mock battle. “I finally told Byron how I feel about him.”
Marvin’s eyebrows shoot up. “Well, I have no idea why he wouldn’t handle that well. You’ve only hated him since you were a kid.”
I nibble on my lip as I shake my head. “And then I kissed him.”
“Youwhat?” Marvin gasps out, he begins choking on air.
“I kissed Byron,” I mumble under my breath as I duck my head. “And he kissed me back, I’ll have you know.” My heart rate picks up a bit thinking of how he kissed me back.
“What would possess you tokisshim, Willow?”
“I don’t know,” I reply, smacking my thigh with my free hand. The other I flex my fingers around my apple although I still haven’t much of an appetite for it.
“I do know,” Marvin replies pursing his lips, “But I don’t think you’re ready to hear it from me.”
“Oh, don’t give me that, Marvin,” I say moving over and sitting down next to him. I nudge him with my shoulder. “You’re my friend, it’s your duty to tell me when I’m confused. Indeed, you seem to know my emotions better than me sometimes.”
He holds up his hands to stave off my buttering up. “It’s the same reason that you have always fixated on Byron, I think.” He pauses, licking his lips.
“Come on, spit it out already.”
“The last thing you have ever felt toward him is apathetic.”
“Yeah, because I despise him. Always have.”
“No, you’re jealous of him and you’re jealousforhim.”
“What?” I demand with a scoff. “You’re talking nonsense now, my friend.”
“You despise Byron not because of anything he does or is, but because you want what he has.”
I squirm a little bit. His words, though harsh, perhaps carry a little credence. Ihavealways been jealous of Byron’s grandfather and magic and standing in town.
“And because you wanthim.”
I whip my head, narrowing my eyes. “Didn’t your father teach you not to lie?” I demand with a scoff.
