It’s not like her to want to be alone. I’m half tempted to follow just in case she changes her mind, but then, she’s not the same girl I grew up with. She’s different, stronger.
I hate seeing her like this, perpetually sad, heartbroken, melancholy. That’s not Andi. She lights up the room and brings joy wherever she goes.
My fists tighten at my sides. I want to smash that prick Myles’ face in for everything he’s done. For hurting her. But they’ll be gone tomorrow, then Andi can heal.
I find myself meandering towards Aron and Izaac’s. I haven’t been in to see Aron since I got back, what a shit friend. He’ll understand, I know he will, but that’s not the point. Izaac has probably caught him up to speed with Andi and her drama.
I knock on the door of their hut, it is substantially bigger than mine, but then they’ve been here for years. Izaac opens the door, and Seema is finishing up wrapping Aron’s wound with a fresh bandage.
“Well, look who’s finally managed to pull himself away from Nu’cov’s newest beauty?” Aron says, lying on his bed, he winces as Seema pulls the ties of the bandage.
I fake a laugh at his pathetic attempt at a joke. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.” I pull a bunch of flowers from behind my back, flowers I picked from their own garden—not that they’d notice.
Aron laughs and winces.
“What? Isn’t this what you’re supposed to do to help them feel better? Or would you prefer this?” I pull a bottle of whisky out with my other hand. Aron and Izaac applaud. Seema quickly picks up her bag and grabs the whisky from my hand, tsking at me. The cheers turn to moans.
“Spoil sport,” I shout out the door before she slams it shut.
Aron scoffs, shuffling to his feet, struggling to reach for a top, he spies the worry on my face. “It’s nothing, I’ve had worse. I never thanked you, mainly because you hadn’t deigned to give me your presence until now.”
Izaac helps Aron pull the top over his head, and assists him to a chair, then pulls out a bottle of ale and a few cups. “It’s not as good, but it’ll do.” He hands us a cup and starts pouring. “How is it, having Andi back?”
Aron swigs back his ale. “I hear she’s causing quite the stir? Everyone’s fawning over her.”
“Especially Ronan,” Izaac chuckles. “I’ve never seen him so distracted. We should take advantage of it.”
A wicked smile grows on his face. I grab the bottle from him and refill the cups. “That,” I point the bottle at them, “is not happening.” Aron and Izaac side-eye each other, laughing into their cups. “Stop it. It’s not funny. Andi is hurt and just doesn’t know what to think right now.”
“All I’m saying is, she’s newly single, she’s lonely, and here comes a handsome stranger to make her feel...” Izaac wiggles his eyebrows, and Aron nudges him but nods in agreement.
No, she’s not like that, she’s Andi. But Ronan has been trying really hard with her. I’ve seen the way he smirks at me when he’s around her, like he’s testing me, trying to wind me up.
“Fuck.” I slam my cup down and rush out of the door. Their snickering fades away as I run from their house, asking everyone I pass if they’ve seen Andi or Ronan. With no luck, I rush pastfolk gossiping on the path, looking out at the farmers hustling along their flock of sheep.
That’s when I see her, strolling along the river, alone, tossing stones into the stream. I let out a deep breath and slump down onto a log. She looks lonely, even from this distance, I can tell she’s been crying.
“Quit stalking her. She’s a big girl,” Ronan says. Sitting beside me, he rests his elbows on his knees, his eyes drifting to Andi.
“You’re one to talk. Why her? You just trying to piss me off?”
Ronan smirks to himself, his eyes still on Andi. “No, I’m not. You know, I don’t even know.” He lowers his head, picks up a small stone, and turns to me. “Look, I know she’s hurting. I just… there’s just something about her, I can’t stay away, I’ve tried. That sounds so fucking stupid.” He tosses the stone into the river.
“I’m gonna block you every chance I get. You know that, right?”
Ronan laughs as he stands, “I expect nothing less.” I look up and see Andi watching us. Ronan pauses, looking over his shoulder before walking away.
The afternoon sun is nice, warmer than it has been these past few days. The snow has started to melt, but the air is still icy, threatening more snow any day. Winter is a long way from ending.
The smell of cooked stew and vegetable soup sings to me, calling my stomach. I loop Andi’s arm in mine as she approaches and head to the dining hut. On the way, I spot Myles and Lura sitting with a picnic basket on the grass down by the river. I glare in their direction with a tight lip, catching Myles watching Andi with regretful eyes. He lowers his gaze as he meets mine.
“Wait a second. Here,” I place her silver ring in her palm, “you should give it back to him, make it final.” Andi stares at the ring, twisting it around before dumping it in her pocket.
The mess hut is busy, the table is filled with stews, sandwiches, soups, sausages, and bacon. I load everything onto my plate, and Andi watches me in disgust. I shrug, shovelling it into my mouth.
Andi, ever so proper, only has a small portion of stew and a sandwich. When she turns away, I keep adding more food to her plate, waving my hands up in the air, pretending I don’t know how it got there.
Arel plonks down beside me. “Hurry up, you two, we’re drinking. Call it celebrating the return of the lost Tanith princess.” He winks and grabs a few bottles of wine from the cupboard, hiding from the cook.
