Fan Fiction ❯ gentle love ❯ love pays up ( One-Shot )

GENTLE LOVE Chapter1 Pale light played over the whitewashed windowsill. A redheaded girl slipped out of the window and plopped onto a soft pillow on the roof of a timber workshop. It was only a small jump to get off the workshop roof.Tris landed expertly on all fours. Getting to her feet, she looked around her to see if anyone had heard. She never saw the face that looked out of one of the ground floor windows.Lifting the latch on the small, iron garden gate, Tris crept out onto the winding path, which gave the temple its name. Closing the gate behind her, she walked toward the great wall that encircled her home. From there she would have a clear vantage point to see the approaching storm.Unnoticed by Tris, a dark-haired boy followed her out onto the path. Being an ex-thief, Briar knew how to be stealthy. Unlike Tris who was a merchant, Briar was bought up as a street urchin on the streets of Hajra, Sotat. Now he lived in a temple being trained by the best plant-mage in the Pebbled Sea. The most sneaky of his housemates, he would often steal away to the kitchens to see a dedicate famous for giving treats to visitors.Tris and BriarÕs housemates were best friends, like Tris and Briar themselves. There was Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, a noble and kin to royalty and Daja Kisubo, a Trader girl branded Trangshi among her people.Tris, still oblivious to Briars presence, started to climb up the stairs up the wall. Puffing and panting, she reached the top of the South Wall, as Briar was halfway up the stairs. Winds tugged at their clothes and blew TrisÕs hair out of the pins that was holding it in place. Settling in to one of the notches in the wall, Tris took a deep breath and flung herself into the wind. Laughing, she rode the winds into the storm. The spiral formation pulled her in and spun her around until it finally spat her out the top.A hand on her shoulder bought her back to her body on the wall. Looking up into Briars face, her heart flipped in her chest. His startling grey-green, almond shaped eyes caught her blue-grey ones and held them. She rose to her feet, lost in his eyes. Briar grasped her hand in his. Heat rushed through her. Tilting her chin up. His lips met hersÉTrisana Chandler sat bolt upright in bed. It was the third time that week she had dreamt about her and Briar on that South Wall. Shaking her head she slipped out of bed and groped in the dark for her brass-rimmed spectacles. Jamming then on her long nose she tied a scarf around her uncooperative curls. She padded out of her room and down the stairs to where one of the dedicates was making tea.Could she really be in love with Briar? No. Besides he liked Sandry, not her . She shook her head again. She wouldnÕt think about it. It was just a stupid dream. She continued down the stairs, ready for anything. Chapter 2Sandry was up and sitting at the table when Tris came down. She looked up and smiled warmly at her housemate.ÒGood Morning,Ó she said brightly to the hot-tempered redhead, who grumbled, still pondering over her dream. Sandry shrugged and let her self be engrossed by the beautifully woven tablecloth, Tris had something on her mind, and whatever it was she couldnÕt feel it.Tris poured herself a mug of tea, which was nice and warm. After a momentÕs hesitation, she poured one for Sandry, who smiled to herself as Tris handed it to her. TrisÕs frizzy hair fanned out around the scarf as a streak of lightning wound its way around her wrist. She banished it and pawed at her hair, trying to get it to sit flat, with little success. Sandry looked on thoughtfully. Something was really bothering Tris.At that moment, Briar walked in yawning. When he appeared, Tris yelped and nearly lost her cup of tea. Her hands were shaking and a flash gave away the sparks of lightning on her fingertips. Briar and SandryÕs stomachÕs knotted up with Tris at itÕs source.Briar eyeballed the redhead as a cry sounded from upstairs, followed by a thump. Cocoa skinned Daja appeared at the doorway, scowling.ÒWhat was that?Ó she demanded. Briar and Sandry both turned to Tris, who drew back. Briar glared at her.ÒWell?Ó he prompted. Tris seemed to quiver, and then she turned and bolted out the door and down the path.Sandry went to go after her, but was halted by BriarÕs hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, perplexed.ÒLet me go after her,Ó then, not waiting for a reply, disappeared in the darkness, as a street urchin should.Briar made for the wall. It was TrisÕs favourite place. They would always count on her riding the breezes on a hot night. Sure enough, he felt her presence. He was pretty sure he knew why her stomach had acted as it did, and it had nothing to do with bad food.Briar approached his friend cautiously. Tris shrank back further into the shadows and whimpered.ÒGo away,Ó her voice was husky, as if she were crying. The boy ignored her and went closer, sitting on the stones next to her. Their shoulders touched as Briar shifted position, a rock was digging into his ribs. He felt her flinch away.ÒI said, go away,Ó Tris repeated and Briar glanced over at her huddled form.ÒNah. I donÕt think so,Ó he said, to her, his voice was gentle with a drop of his street urchin arrogance and a smooth accent. Her heart flipped.ÒWhatÕs wrong, Tris. Why wont you talk to me?Ó Tris bit her lip. Briar sighed, reached over and took her hand in his.ÒIÕm your best friend arenÕt I?Ó He held her hand and looked through the darkness at her storm-grey eyes.ÒYes,Ó Tris managed to squeak. Why was he doing this to her? If they noticed the magical selves of Daja and Sandry above their heads, they ignored them.ÒThen tell me whatÕs wrong,Ó She looked at him. In her imagination she saw him as clearly as if she saw him at noon. He was a tall, lanky boy, with a tanned body and beautiful almond shaped eyes that changed from pale grey-green to lime. Another tear slid down her cheek. How could he ever love her? She sniffed and Briar wiped the tear away with his free hand, his other still holding TrisÕs.ÒDonÕt cry Copper Curls,Ó Tris managed a shaky smile at her nickname. Briar saw it and grinned, white teeth flashing in the dark. He squeezed her hand and this time, she squeezed back.ÒCan we go home now?Ó Tris asked, wiping away the rest of her tears. Briar smiled.ÒRight after I do this,Ó Briar said softly. He reached over and lifted her chin up. His hand was warm and comforting. As his lips met hers, she knew that this time, it wasnÕt a dream.Chapter 3As briars lips left hers tris looked up and said Òwell that's better than the dreamsÓ. ÒWhat dreamsÓ Briar questioned as he helped her up.ÒOh I was having dreams that you kissed meÓ Tris said as she started going down the stairs.Òno joke that's the same dream IÕve been havingÓ briar said. ÒIt is but I thought you liked sandryÓ said tris but he silenced her with another kiss. As soon as they reach diclpline cottage they saw rosethorn scowling.ÒOh no how long was I cryingÓ tris askedÒonly about 1 candle markÓ briar answered.Òa candle mark I was supposed to help larkÓ tris exclaimed.Òat least it was not rosethornÓ briar said as they reached the gate.ÒLark told me you ran offÓ Rosethorn scowled.Òtris what happend I can see tears around your eyesÓ lark said from behind rosethorn. Converting /tmp/phpQsLtUo to /dev/stdout