Vague Rejection

CHAPTER 4: In which everything goes wonderfully wrong

RED

"Bothy!" I swallowed suddenly, dumbstruck at the sight of this huge man looking up and giving Kelly a full-blown smile.

I sucked in a breath as I noticed the dimple on his right cheek— OH MY GOODNESS HE HAD DIMPLES— he looked like he came from one of those paintings that portrayed the Gods of Olympus; which I'd believe if he said he came down from heaven because holy slime balls he is beautiful!

Kelly holds her tiny uninjured arm out and wiggles her feet, giving him a toothy grin. "Bothy! I made a friend!"

His gaze turns to me and I give him a hesitant wave and small smile. Just as our eyes locked, I suddenly couldn't get a word out. His eyes were the lightest shade of brown I've ever seen surrounded by long curved lashes, he had strong features from a straight nose to high cheekbones but complimented by soft plump looking lips— does this even make sense!? Even my wolf was interested and peaking through her foggy veil in my consciousness.

"You're not friends, Kel." He picks her up with a water bottle and all, after one last look at me and places her on the ground, leaving me there gaping with my mouth open at his blatant rudeness.

So, apparently, he doesn't have it all. How cliché that he would have the looks but not the attitude? Teenage romance book much?

Just as he turns to leave, I jump from the tree and chase after them.

"Hey! Why in the world am I not her friend?" I protested and blocked his path, only now realising that Kelly was pulling him back.

"Yeah, Bothy! Why am I not her friend? She has really pretty hair!" Kelly looks at my hair with a sparkle in her eyes and frowns as she turns back to the man.

"Yeah Bossy!" I provoke and rest my hands on my hips as I raise my eyebrow and plant my feet on the grass.

He stays silent and merely stares at me for a full minute before probably realising I'm not worth his time, and picks Kelly up, side steps and continues walking. Did I mention I had to crane my neck almost all the way up?

"Hey!" Kelly and I protested simultaneously. Me, running after them once again and Kelly slapping his shoulder. "Kelly! I'll save you!" I declared, sprinting faster towards their direction. He was only walking yet I had to sprint to catch up to him. He was that tall.

"Arielll, Help!! Thave me pleatheee!" Bothy stops walking and sighs as he turns to me with a blank stare.

"Kelly, this girl isn't Ariel. She's no princess, she has no prince charming, see?" I froze, my heart pounding uncomfortably at his words. Yeah, I had no prince charming. I admit his words hurt, they hit a little too close to home for my liking. I swallow, refusing to let his words get to me, hah! Screw Prince Charming, all I need is the internet!

I gave Kelly a smile. "Yeah, but I am friends with the real Princess!" Kelly's face shifts from confusion to happiness in a span of one second and she kicks her legs, successfully making Bothy-- Yes I am calling him that, put her down.

She immediately runs towards me and I bend down to welcome her into my arms. "Are you really friendth with the Printhess?" I nod my head eagerly.

"Do you want to talk to her?" Now she nods her head eagerly and jumps up in excitement.

"Kelly." I glanced up and sucked in another breath. He really is so handsome. Damn him. "We have to go."

"I'm pretty sure you don't." He glares at me but I merely laugh, hah! My mother's glare is scarier! "Come on baby girl! Let's go disturb the Princess." I held my hand out, which she immediately accepted and walked away, stopping after three steps to turn to Bothy who was watching us with disinterest.

"You can come too." I gave him a smile and started to walk again before he stopped me.

"The Princess isn't even here." I smirked as I continued walking with Kelly.

"There's something called FaceTime, Bothy. Geesh, what era do you live in?" I threw him one last smile and walked away with Kelly chatting excitedly about the questions she had.

         •        •        •

"Hhheeeeeyyyy!" I laugh as Orion steals Sapphire's phone and holds her at arms length.

"Red! It's been like a day! Can't you give us five uninterrupted days together?" I laughed, shaking my head as I pointed the camera to Kelly who was standing beside me. I glance at Bothy, who leans against my door frame with a very pissed expression and give him a big grin as I sit cross-legged on my carpeted floor. "Oh. It's a tiny human."

I laugh and nod my head. "Yep, a tiny human who really wants to talk to Sapphire." Kelly nods her head beside me, making Orion laugh.

"Do you want to talk to the Princess?" From the corner of the camera I could see Sapphire's arms reaching for the phone but, obviously, Orion was too tall for her to reach it. "Orion! Give me my phone back!"

"Shhh, I'm talking to your fan!" I laughed and grab Kelly, settling her on my lap. So we could both fit in the camera frame. "Hi!"

Kelly smiles shyly at the camera and looks at her lap.

"Hi." I couldn't help but squeeze her tightly and plant a kiss on her chubby cheeks. "Are you the Printheth mate?"

Orion nods his head seriously and pulls my best friend beside him gently. "Hi!" Sapphire greets, her eyes sparkling with life. "I hear you wanted to meet me?"

Kelly nods her head excitedly and mini-squeals, making all of us laugh— well almost everyone Bothy was still frowning.

I sighed and handed my phone to Kelly, who started to interview Sapphire as I placed her on top of my bed.

I then turned to the handsome man behind me and eyed him as he regarded my movements with suspicion. "You know you can come in, right?"

"I don't know you." I rolled my eyes, something I find I've been doing a lot lately, and stopped a few steps in front of him so I wouldn't have to crane my neck all the way to meet his eyes.

"Well then. I'm Red, uh- Lady Red, if you want to be all formal and stuck up, I'm the Princess' first Lady and best friend." I hold my hand out but he merely stares at it like it's an offending object. Okay, this dude was seriously starting to piss me off. I put my hand down and glared at him instead. "A little kindness can go a long way, you know?"

Silence.

Damn it! What is with all these men and silence!? Even my wolf couldn't get anything from him! Huh, Like human, Like wolf I guess.

"Fine." I huffed and turned around, picking Kelly up and snuggling in to her. Sometimes I wonder why I even try. If my mate ignores me, why wouldn't other men, right?

Link doesn't ignore you.

Yeah but Link is Link. He doesn't ignore me because I annoy him and the only way to get me to shut up is talk to me.

You are very aware of yourself.

Of course I am, I have these daily monologues with you, my own conscience. Imagine if my wolf could talk? It'd be amazing!

You only say that so you can blame your conscience or your wolf if you make the wrong decision.

Shut up, self!

"Kelly, that's enough. Let the Princess and the Alpha get back to their business." I snapped out of my inner chiding and turned to Bothy, who entered my room with a scowl.

"Vos?" I took my Phone from Kelly and see Orion take the phone from Sapphire, not like it made a difference because now she was on Orion's lap.

"You know this dude?" I point the camera to Bothy who takes a yawning Kelly from my bed.

"Vos! How are you, man?" Orion asked cheerfully and I couldn't help but notice Sapphire leaning on his shoulder, making my stomach turn in weird directions. That could have been me and Abe.

"Alpha." Bothy, who I now realise is named Vos, nods. "Let's catch up when you get back here." He glances at me after saying those words.

"Yeah, okay I get it you," I pointed to Bo- Vos, "can't tell him," I pointed to Orion, "the reason you're in the palace because I'm here."

Orion smiles through the phone and I once again roll my eyes.

"I can take a hint, you know?" I laugh lightly and hurriedly say bye to Orion and Sapphire while pushing Vos out of my room with little Kelly already fast asleep on his shoulder, but before Vos fully exits my room, I stop him.

"Turn three rights then left, then go down the staircase, you'll find the kitchen. You can ask anyone there how to get back to your quarters. Bye." I shut my double doors and leaned against them, trying to breathe slowly.

I don't understand why it made me sick to my gut that Orion and Vos didn't want to include me in something. It's so petty, a small reason, yet I felt so unwanted and useless in that second.

My wolf is fine but I know she could feel the strain of my human emotions. I take another breath and close my eyes as my head thumps on my door, finally allowing the tears to fall from my eyes.

Why the hell am I crying? Red, why the hell are you crying?

Because you feel rejected once again.

I screamed silently and let more tears fall. Is this why they say that rejection can kill a mate? Because of all this second guessing, and doubting— this, this self- hatred?

With my heart pounding through my heavy chest, I ran out to my balcony and jumped off, landing heavily on the grass below. I could feel my right ankle crack from the impact but I ignored it and ran towards the direction of the Eastern forest, every step the radiating pain in my ankle felt worse, but nothing compared to the shattering of my heart. What the hell is happening?

I suddenly couldn't breathe, causing me to fall face first on a pile of dead leaves with twigs poking me on every side of my body as I tried to make sense of what was going on. I reached for my wolf but she was feeling the same pain I was. She was clawing hard at my consciousness and nothing could calm her down.

"Make it stop!" I breathed out as I crawled towards a tree trunk grasp my head as a headache exploded just behind my eye lids.

My vision started to blur and I could no longer hear the sounds around me as a sharp ringing invaded my audition. Slowly, ever so slowly, the choking around my throat became so much that I eventually closed my eyes, too tired to fight.

Que, sera sera.