“Something along those lines,” I said, pulling at my left hand, which Malakai refused to give up still.
Lionel patted my head. “Sorry, I’ll let you sleep on my shoulder next time.” He winked, as he stretched for the bag too. “What do you want to eat?”
“I’m not really hungry,” I lied, trying to hide my left arm.
“Since when?” Lionel asked, surprised.
“She likes the potato soup,” Malakai said, flashing a wicked smile our way.
“I do not, but it keeps me full at least,” I muttered bitterly.
“Good, because carrot soup is mine,” Ashley squealed as she found the can she had been searching for.
Nate lunged out from nowhere, taking a firm grip of Ashley’s hands around the can. “Share it, will you?”
“Why would I?” Ashley snorted, trying to rip out of his grapple.
“I’m sick and tired of potato, please share with me.”
“Fine,” she sighed and only then did he let her go.
Lionel held out a can towards me, and I felt Malakai let go of my hand. I took the opportunity and flung my hand out to grab the food.
“Let’s fix a fire to warm the food a bit,” Lionel suggested. Eve and Nate volunteered to gather wood, while Mey and Ashley tried to start a fire.
“You could’ve made their job easier,” Malakai muttered next to me.
“Stop,” I hissed low. “Haven’t you teased me enough for the day already?”
He leaned closer, invading my space. “You’d rather I let you show off your burning hand in the open? Or have you forgotten how it feels when the flames consume your hands?”
My head snapped towards him. “Were they…?”
He nodded before I finished my sentence. I hadn’t noticed my hand burning while I slept. “I’m sorry… for snapping.”
“You’re growing restless, the flames will take advantage of it when your guard is down, like when you sleep.”
I nodded slightly. “How come the flames don’t bother you?”
“Because you don’t want to hurt me, not really.”
My treacherous heart stuttered. Was that true?
“Liar,” I said, averting my eyes from him.
Instead, they found deep brown eyes watching me from across the camp. Quickly, I pushed off the tree and went to him. “You want to share my watery potatoes with me?” I asked, offering a half smile.
Lionel chuckled, surprised. “Sure.”
“Fire!” Ashley shouted, as they finally achieved a burst of sparks. I wouldn’t have called it flames, but… it was a start.
The next day was a lot brighter than the previous, but fog clouded our view all the same. Mey was studying it, perhaps trying to learn how to control it, while Nate and Ashley kept snickering and bickering.
“Nate, can you help me tighten the bag’s strap?” Eve asked, sounding awfully soft and sweet.
“Nope,” Nate deflected easily.
Lionel sighed, as he slowed his pace and helped Eve, even though he probably knew as much as the rest of us that she only wanted some attention.
