A New Kind of World

Adam closed his eyes at her touch, and he almost felt like trembling himself. He didn't want to hear it. How could he be feeling like that? He had just met her. It was sweet, but it was horrible, horrible feeling. His heart had been broken again, and it didn't feel like it. No ... His heart couldn't be broken by someone who had never accepted it in the first place.

The knight felt awful, as if he had pushed his affection onto her, as if he had been trying to force it. He knew he liked her. He was sure of it now. She didn't. She was trying to end it before leading him on. That was the way he understood it. He was doing it all wrong, and hurting her in the process.

He breathed in softly and raised his hands to put them over hers. She was sweet, and maybe that's why he couldn't have her, he didn't deserve it. Perhaps, it was for the best. Whenever he started to feel something towards a lady it always ended up badly. Always. He exhaled, and wrapped his fingers around her hand before lowering them.

"I understand" He said while prying his eyes open. They were indeed blue, but a really dark blue, almost black for those who weren't close enough to notice it. Though faint, a smile teased its way to his lips "I understand, Rebecca. It's okay. We should really get inside" And with that, he let go of her hands.

"Quite" If she was with him, Elisa didn't want to interrupt. So she followed Victor and settled in front of him on an empty table. When the waitress approached them to take their order, the blonde couldn't help but notice the other woman avoided to look at her in the eyes. Come on, she couldn't have made her feel as bad, could she? Now she felt bad about it.

"I'd like some eggs and milk" She stated, and tried to give her a friendly smile, the woman gave a nod, her eyes going from the table before Elisa to look at Victor. She huffed a bit. "Thanks for the free food" She tried again. The woman simply mumbled something in response.

Elisa knew that some people tried to appear stronger when they were actually not. The best thing to deal with the, facing them upfront. It was a blow to their confidence. Now the girl seemed scared of her, and Elisa didn't find it nice. However, if she tried to speak to the woman again, perhaps she'd make it worse. The best thing was to just leave her alone.

"Rebecca?" There was no response given. Adam didn't understand. Why was she still standing there? Why ... why did she look so ... so hurt? Was it his doing again? It'd mortify him if it was, not that it wasn't doing so right now. He wanted to make her smile, not the contrary.

"Is it me?" He finally stuttered. For goodness sake couldn't he do anything right? "I really understand, I really do" Given that she didn't tell him much, the young man couldn't help but misunderstand the situation completely "I won't pester you, I swear" Adam could've never believed he'd be saying those words, ever. "You can ride with Victor the rest of the trip"

It made it all really awkward if she didn't say anything. He wanted to hold her hand, pull her inside the inn with him. He didn't.

"We can be friends. I'd love to be your friend, really" Now he was panicking "I've been told I'm a real good friend" He smiled. Aaand now he was being an idiot.

Elisa ate her eggs and milk with gusto. It was nice that her stomach didn't feel upset enough to stop her from enjoying her meals. Perhaps it was the idea that they were actually going somewhere, and that they were doing something to solver their problem. She couldn't deny that the company had some influence on that as well.

"Okay" She nodded with yet another grateful smile settling on her lips. It was really nice of them to do something like that for two strangers who they had found on a lake. "Speaking of which ... " She paused to take a sip of her milk before setting it own "How's the city like?" She asked curiously.

Adam took a step back, as if the vehemence on her words had pushed him backwards. He looked at her, eyes wide. That morning had taken a real crazy turn on events, like a roller coaster. The knight's mind was trying really heard to keep up.

"Wha-What do you mean by-" He couldn't get coherent words out of his mouth. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. She didn't say she liked him. She only said she didn't want to hurt him. "So ... So would you rather push me away?" He asked, and his voice came barely above a whisper.

He was starting to understand, if only a bit, and because of that his body had started to tremble a bit. At first, and to his surprise, he thought it was out of anger. But then, he knew he couldn't possibly be angry with her, not for that. It became apparent to him that he was trembling with emotion.

"Don't I get any saying in this then?"

Elisa watched Victor's light shimmer with excitement, and she couldn't just not smile at that. She entwined her fingers and leaned her chin between them, her elbows resting on the table. She had heard that country boys either hated the city, or loved it.

She compared his description with her city. He seemed surprised by the height of the buildings, what would he say if he saw the huge buildings that stood high back on Michigan. Or the Empire State Building in NY.

"And the castle? Tell me about the castle" Adam had only told them they'd love it, but hadn't given them that much of an actual description.

Something strange happened to Adam's expression then, it softened, yet darkened at the same time. She raised her arms towards him in an attempt to defend herself, and he saw in that gesture the ghost of what she had surely been forced to do so many times before. The one who hit her, who tried to kill her, he doubted he'd spare his life if he was given the choice to do so.

He silently reached for her, and with deliberate slowness lowered her arms, so that she could stop him if she wished to, before he pulled her into an embrace. She moulded perfectly to him, as he had realised the day before while they were riding the horses. If she was to push him away, he was at least glad that he had gotten the chance to held her in his arms.

"I like you too" He declared while his words came out muffled, his mouth pressing against the top of her head. He didn't care if he had met her two days ago. She had captured his heart in such a little time. That was what he felt, and if they were really bound to bid their goodbyes soon he didn't want to waste time in questioning his feelings. Because that's what they didn't have; time "I like you, Rebecca" And he hugged her even tighter, though not enough to hurt her "I've had my heart broken many times in the past, much more that I could count, but it'd be my honour to have my heart broken by you" His voice shook a bit at the end, because he was not done yet "However, I can't ask the same of you if you don't want to. I can't ask you to let me like you if that means you'll get hurt and don't want it"

"You really like it, don't you?" She commented, and moved her chin so that it was resting on the palm of her hand. She looked at him and saw a child, a kid so 'in love' with his new toy that he radiated happiness off of him. "How nice" She said before a silent sigh escaped her.

Elisa didn't feel that way for many things. Her house in Michigan was her home, but she didn't love it. Scotland was her parents home, but she didn't feel particularly fond of it. Home ... Home had been before her family's economic crisis, when they didn't live surrounded by money, but where not poor either. A relatively small apartment where the three of them lived happily. Once the crisis was solved, she wanted to return, but her parents choose a much bigger apartment, nearer to their work places. She hated to admit she needed them there.

"It's been decided" She suddenly stated, blinking away the sudden grim look that had momentarily settled on her face. "You, Sir Portswell are going to take us sightseeing" She declared before she laughed "Well, if you have the time" She shrugged. She didn't know how much spare time did knights have.