The Wood Chapter 6

Chapter 6~

            “Boys are tucked in bed, the front door is locked, and dinner’s all put away. Can we go for a walk in the woods?” Cos stands next to Fin in the backyard, he’s looking up at the stars. Slightly startled, by shy Cossette asking him to go for a walk he searches her face, she smiles wryly at him.

            “Come on, I’ll give you a boost over the wall.” He replies.

            Into the dark forest the couple plunges toward the deep creek, already the height is beginning to lessen as the season is warming up. Closer to their destination Fin reaches out and touches Cos on the hand.

            “Tag, you’re it!” Taking off into a dead run he dashes away, Cos laughing and right on his heels. Veering right and around a huge tree, over the roots that poke through the soil and under looming branches he tries to shake her off his path. She’s not fooled and keeps up, only lagging slightly behind to conserve energy. He reaches the cleared out area by the water first and bends his knees and almost pants as he tries to catch his breath. Not noticing that he stopped Cos speeds up, and runs right into him.

            Tumbling to the ground they both fall in a heap, Fin on top of Cos. She giggles.

            “Woops, sorry I didn’t ahh notice that you stopped.” A small chuckle escapes Quiterfin’s mouth at her response, and he rolls over to his back, slipping his arms around her and bringing her on with him.

            “Should I get up?”

            “Do you want to?”

“Not really.” Cos smiles and blushes a little. “I’d like to talk with you though…” Standing up, she plops down next to him, Fin sits up and turns so he’s face to face with her.

            “What’s up?”

            “I’ve… I’ve come to the realization that I’m completely and utterly stupid. You could have easily moved to some deep unexplored part of the woods or started dating some girl rebelling from the society yet… yet you stayed here, where you hate the community and cant stand how controlling they are. Why did you stay?

            “Because you’re here.” He studies her face. Too afraid to even hope what he’s dreamed about her saying.

            “And that’s why I’ve been so stupid. Too blind to see the society for what it really is, a prison holding me back from reaching the potential you have always believed I have. Too afraid to see how much you care for me. And how all these years I’ve been denying my returned feelings. Fin, I really care about you, and, if you’ll have me, I would love to date you.” She looks down at her lap. She’s sitting cross-legged with a purple skirt half covering her calves. Glancing up, afraid of what emotions might be splayed across her Robin hood’s face, she smiles at him sweetly, and that familiar red creeps back up her cheeks. A huge burden has been lifted off her shoulders at her confession. She sits up a little taller and waits for his response.

            Chuckling, he reaches out and grasps her around her waist and pulls her into his lap. Wrapping his strong arms around her, she leans against his chest and sighs. She pushes herself back, looking up into his dark green eyes.

            “The guy generally asks the girl out, did they not teach you that in school?” He winks at her and she blushes redder. “Would you be my girl?” Cos smiles bigger and shakes her head yes. “It’s a nice night, want to go for a swim?”

            “I didn’t bring a suit!” She retorts. Standing up he sweeps her up into his arms and carries her like a baby to the water. Pounding on his chest she protests. “Fin! Fin don’t you dare!!” Laughing at her antics he slips out of his shoes, she kicks off her slippers, and steps into the cool water.

            “Fin!” Cossette shrieks when her body touches the water. He’s waist deep and walking deeper in. He gently puts her down when the water is up to his middle chest, slightly higher on herself. Again he wraps his arms around her waist and holds her close. She hugs him around the neck, and slips her hands into his dark brown wavy hair. Loosening his grasp, she leans back against his arms, and stares into Fin’s face, one she never really thought to look at closely. A scar along his jaw line adds dimension, and slight stubble is peeking through. Those eyes are framed by eyebrows perfectly manly, without being too bushy.

            “Cos…” His lips barely open to bring her attention back in. Cocking her head to the side she responds.

            “Hmm?”

            Fin moves one hand from the small of her back to the nape of her neck, underneath her waist length hair that is parity floating around her. Cos tilts her chin up, and smiles at the new sensation that sends shivers down her spine. He fingers the little wisps of hair at the beginning of her hairline. Her hands tense, still hiding in his hair. Lowering his head by her ear he whispers.

            “Relax babe, you’re ok.” Pulling back, his face is close to hers. Smiling at her, his lips barely graze hers. Butterflies twitter in Cos’s stomach. Fin tilts his head slightly right, and kisses her gently. An explosion of colors flash in her mind, her eyes close. Cos presses harder, tightening and loosening her fingers in his thick hair, deepening their kiss.

            Pulling away slowly, Fin’s eyes devour Cos’s face. She giggles and smiles, and blushes a deep red and giggles again. The corner of his mouth twitches up, and he gives her his roguish smile. Guiding her out of the water he gently helps her around roots and rocks hiding beneath. On the shore, Cos’s clothes stick to her figure and her hair drips with water. Ringing it out, she smiles and shakes her head at his rashness.  

            “I wonder what time it is? It’s getting quite late…” Her logic is showing. Taking a step nearer she stops talking and smiles up at him, and wraps her arms around his middle. He follows suit, and kisses her on the top of her head. Pulling away, they put on their shoes, and walk back into the dense wood. Fin reaches out and holds her hand. Enjoying each other’s presence they walk in silence to the wall.

            Hoisting her up over the wall, she almost falls back but he catches her by her butt. Burning red she throws him back a look of embarrassment and he returns the face with a piraty smile, not in the least bit apologetic.  Following her over, he walks her to the back door. Cos leans up against it and he puts his hands on either side of her head, his body inches from hers. Pinning her to the door, he kisses her. Gently he opens her mouth and explores with his tongue. When he pulls away she gasps, and her hand flutters up to her lips.

            “Good night.” He smiles at her reaction, and walks to the wall. Slipping inside the door she closes it behind her and leans against it.

            “Oh my…” Cos smiles to herself, then quietly tiptoes upstairs.

The Wood Chapter 5

Chapter 5~

 “And that is why the wall was built around our strong City. To more easily reach that Utopiam dream our oldest Elders strived for. Alright you’re dismissed for the day. Don’t forget the 4^th graders have a quiz on Tuesday, and we don’t meet Monday for the annual King’s celebration is on that day.”

The hubbub of thirty some students gathering their belongings and jotting down last minute notes is background noise as Cossette collapses into her chair behind her sturdy wooden desk.

“Mary Anne, do you know why Alfred and his younger sister Anna were not in school today?” Cos stops one of her students as they all pile out through the one door.

“No, ma’am. They weren’t at the corner where we meet to walk to school together, maybe they were sick?”

“Thank you, I’ll have to check in on them. Don’t forget about the test, alright? Have a good day!”

“Thanks for the extra help this morning before class, bye ma’am!”

Calla comes up to the front of the desk as Mary Anne shuffles out. On tiptoes his nose peeks over at Cossette.

“School isn’t so bad after a week of getting used to it, is it cutie?” Ruffling his hair she walks around the desk and pulls him into her lap as she sits on the desk.

“Not too bad…” Bear repeats tiredly, rubbing his eye with his fist and cuddling close. “Can we visit Quitter?”

“Now why would you do a thing like that?” The storage room door next to the chalkboard stands open.

“Quitter!!” Calla wiggles out of Cos’ arms and runs to Fin, arms held up. Coal and Lib come from the coatroom in the back with their jackets and practically run to Fin. Quickly hugging the kids he looks at Cos and winks her way.

“No hello hug for me?” That piraty grin melts Cossette’s heart. She slowly stands obviously stunned.

“How did you get in?”

“My dad helped build this schoolhouse, he showed me the secret door in the back. I haven’t seen you in a week and all you do is question me?” His light flirty voice breaks the spell and she throws her arms around Fin’s neck. Wrapping his strong ones around her waist he pulls her close.

“I’ve missed you.” Fin whispers into Cos’ ear. A slight giggle escapes her lips as she smiles and blushes under all the attention.

“Come on lets go home I’m hungry!” Coal cuts in. Cos pushes slightly on Fin’s chest and he loosens his grip.

“Ok I’ve got to make a stop at a student’s house. Fin can you take these kids home? I think there’s some chocolate chip cookies left in the cookie jar to munch on, I’ll be home in fifteen minutes tops!”

“Of course. Come on boys let’s go, Teacher Cos still isn’t off the job yet.” Another wink as he guides the boys to the storage room to show them the secret door. Cos is still blushing as she walks out the front door, which is really on the side wall, and locks it behind her. Practically jogging she runs in the opposite direction of her house, where her Robin Hood waits, to visit two of her students.

Panting and slightly sweaty she knocks on the door. No response. No sound. Knocking a little harder she tries again. A nosey neighbor pokes her head out of her window a house over.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking on a couple of my students. Have you seen the Aldins?”

“Go on home girl, you won’t be seeing them around here.” With that the old spinster slams her window and closes the curtains.

Odd… maybe they moved. I’ll have to check tomorrow at the King’s library and see if they did. Sprinting toward her house she arrives breathless, with pink cheeks and the wind whipping around her hair which hangs down to her waist in a tousled mess. Smells of chicken soup being warmed up on the stove greet her nose.

To her delighted surprise the boys re sitting at the table doing their homework, and Fin is stirring the left over soup he found in the icebox.

“You look out of breath! Did you run all the way there and back?” He walks casually toward her as she shuts the front door. Pulling her into another hug he puts his lips close to her ear. “You look gorgeous; defiantly leave your hair down more often.”

“When did you become such a flirt?” She whispers back.

“When I wasn’t able to see you almost every evening, you visited the boys more then you ever visited me!”

“Oh hush you big baby you know that’s not true.” She says flirtatiously back. “Now let me go I need to help the boys with homework and put some bread in the oven to-”

“Be warmed up for dinner. I know, and already done. But fine, I’ll let you go.” Another pirate smile. Goodness I miss that smile…

“How’s the homework coming?” Walking to an empty chair in between Coal and Lib Cossette’s hips sway slightly.

“Fine, hey Quitter do you remember that big storm last Friday?”

“Yeah Coal, I didn’t expect a thunderstorm this late in the year! Didn’t even see it coming. Was every one ok?” He takes a seat across from her.

“Mhm. We told a story!” Lib chimes in. “It was about a Forest Fairy and snow king and a pig and a treehouse!”

“Nawah! It wasn’t just about that!”

“So? That’s all the important stuff!”

“Lib, Coal stop. You both are tired and hungry, chill for two seconds. And I do believe dinner’s ready. Calla would you help me set the table?”