Chapter 6

Death to a loved one

When Stella woke up from her restless sleep, the conversation she had with Eric came flooding back. God, I'm so stupid! Was the first thing that came to mind. She stumbled down the stairs and walked into the den. "Eric?" she called from the doorway. "Yeah?" came the response from the dark. "Did I wake you?" She walked in feeling a heavy atmosphere in the used-to-be friendly room. "No."

"Are you not tired?" She sat on the floor by the couch and near his head. He was looking at the ceiling, appearing to be in deep thought. "No, not really."

"Um, about last night."

"It was nothing, Stella."

"But."

"But?"

"Never mind, what are you thinking about?"

"I found my parents."

"Really? That's great! Where are they?"

"In the forest, next to each other and burned to a crisp."

"What? Oh god how awful! How did you find them?"

"I smelt their corpses."

"Ewe."

"Yep. By the way you are going to be late for school if you do not hurry."

"I don't have school today."

"What? But you told Poco you did!"

"Yeah, so I could get away from him!"

"Huh?"

"What, did you think I wanted to keep talking to a guy who doesn't even know how to flirt?"

"I-uh-well you seemed to enjoy it."

"Well you seemed pretty comfortable with Anne."

"Heh that's how I always act with someone I trust. Like a little sister."

"Oh. So, why don't you act like that with me?" As soon as she said, she wished she didn't. Eric turned his head and looked her directly in the eye. His red eyes on her blue ones felt like they were seeing deep in her soul and heart.

"Maybe because I don't think of you as a sister."

"T-then what do you think me as?" She managed to spit out, still looking at his eyes. He leaned closer to her, and she wanted to move thinking he was going to stand up or something, but before she could, his lips pressed firmly against hers. At first she was too much in shock, but then her senses came back and she kissed him back. This was her first kiss, and she didn't want it to stop. She stood up slowly, but did not break contact, and laid on his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist. After what seemed like a year, they broke apart, gasping for air. "Wow." Eric said after he caught his breath.

"My words exactly." Stella laied back down on his chest and listened to the slow heartbeat. Heartbeat? She thought and got up quickly.

"What is it?" Eric asked, worry filling his voice, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no. It's just… did you know you had a heartbeat?"

"What? A heartbeat?" He pressed his hand over his chest. "I feel nothing."

"Huh?" Stella pressed her own hand over his chest and also felt nothing. "Well that weird. I could have sworn I heard something."

"Maybe it was just your own heartbeat pounding in your ear."

"Maybe." She resumed her spot that she left and kissed his lips again. "So wanna go out?" She asked, praying he wouldn't say no.

"I just made out with you and your on my chest, what do you think silly."

"Just making sure." He kissed her also and held her tighter to him. "So why don't you have school?"

"It's Saturday."