Chapter Eight

"Wooo!" Jack and Jake cheered as James gave Tash a kiss on the cheeks. I laughed at them and everyone was teasing the two lovebirds in front of us.

It was lunch, a few days later, that the two had the courage to announce their relationship to the whole group. As if we don't already know. Everyone noticed it by the way they acted around each other and their love for each other was so obvious in their eyes.

James was sitting beside Tash and he had his arm slung on her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. Everyone couldn't stop smiling. After all, every memory counted. Like James had said, we had no idea when we'll die so we have to make the most out of everything.

We were having a little celebration to commemorate their relationship. Drew was playing the guitar he created months ago. Steven was drumming next to him while Rose gifted us with her sweet voice as she sang. Annie and Carlos were dancing together in the middle. Coleen joined Rose at singing while Jack and Jake clapped to the beat and Lily was swaying to the beat between them. Griffin joined in the drumming. James stood up and gave Tash a hand as he led her to the middle and they danced together. I laughed at the scene in front of me. I never wanted the moment to stop.

It was perfect.

"It's perfect, don't you think?" a husky voice whispered in my ear.

I felt a shiver ran down my spine. The good shiver. I looked back and came face to face with Zoi. He was smiling as he looked at me in the eyes. And it hadn't escaped my notice that we were only inches away. I could feel his warm breath and felt myself being intoxicated by his addicting scent.

I saw the way his lips curved into a smirk as my breathing turned heavy and my heartbeat picked up. My lips felt dry so I ran my tongue across it. I swear my world stopped spinning when I noticed him closing the distance between us. I closed my eyes as the only thing I could hear was the loud beating of my heart.

"Katra!" Carlos's voice kicked me out of my reverie and I involuntarily jumped from my seat.

Zoi laughed at my actions and he leaned away from me. I gave him my death glare, but he only laughed again. Then, he leaned back on the table and gestured for me to entertain the waiting child. With one last look at him, I turned to Carlos who was smiling at me.

"What is it, Carlos?" I asked with a smile.

"Can you dance with me?" he asked sheepishly.

I laughed at him and nodded. Then, I let him lead me to our makeshift dance floor. Our self-proclaimed musicians have started a new beat and I dance in tune with Carlos. Laughter and music filled the air as we continued to celebrate.

Though, I tried my best—I couldn't help but feel Zoi's lingering stare.

~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~

The joy from yesterday's event had spread like a fever. Because 'til the next few days, everyone couldn't stop smiling. James and Tash had only become closer as everyone accepted their relationship—they became more open about their feelings. It was like a wake-up call for all of us because everyone became so carefree and jolly like there wasn't a war happening.

And I hadn't known if it was a good or a bad thing. In a war, he who lowers his guard loses.

"Katra!" Tash's voice called, and I stood up from the plot I was busying myself with.

I removed my garden gloves and put it in my jeans' pocket. Then, I stood straight up as I welcomed the running Tash towards me. She gave me a tight hug, and I had to step back to accommodate her weight. She was laughing as I returned her hug.

"What is it?" I asked with a laugh.

Tash laughed for a few more seconds before she leaned away from me and danced in front of me. I raised my brow at her but I hadn't stopped laughing. For the first time in a year, Tash was back to her playful self.

"Nothing," she said with a goofy smile. "I'm just so happy!"

Laughing at her, I took my gloves again and returned to work but Tash hadn't left. In fact, she knelt down beside me with a strange look in her eyes. Suddenly, Lily and Rose joined her and they all held that look. I cleared my throat and dropped the spade I was holding.

"Oookay," I dragged the word out, suddenly nervous. "What do you three want?"

"As if you don't know, Katra," Lily answered as she raised her brow.

Rose giggled, "Tell us!"

"What's between you and Zoi?" Tash asked.

My eyes widened in shock. Between me and Zoi? What were they talking about? I mean—true we always talk with each other but I don't think there was something going on between us.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Don't play dumb!" Tash grunted.

"Everyone could see it!" Lily added, earning another giggle from Rose.

"There's nothing between us," I answered with a laugh. "I swear!"

Coleen joined us and I hid behind her as the three followed me. I asked for her help but Coleen only laughed and she also asked me about Zoi. Apparently, she was on their side. How could people misinterpret the things between me and Zoi?

I laughed at them and told them there was nothing going before us. Eventually, the four girls gave up when it was time to start dinner. Lily and Rose picked their baskets up, which were full of ingredients needed for dinner, and accompany Coleen and Tash to the kitchen.

I sighed as they left me alone. Rolling my head at their retreating figure, I took the spade from the ground and put it on the small crater of gardening tools. I threw my gloves inside and started to walk towards the river where I'll wash the dirt off of me. And I took an empty pail with me.

We had a stack of water in the camp, courtesy of Jack. But I was planning on catching some fish. It had been a long time since we had fish so, since I wasn't doing anything why not just go fishing?

On my way, I've met with Jake who was flying around the woods to see if anything or anyone were around the camp. Thankfully, everything had been quiet. I exchanged a few words with him before he returned on flying and I made my way to the river.

I could hear the soft gushing of water. I carefully threaded the slippery rocks and knelt down on the river bank to wash my hands. When my hands were clean, I sat down on one of the big rocks to wait for some fish to pass by. Since I was fast I don't need a fishing pole to catch some. I just needed fish to catch.

With my trusty bucket beside me, I watched the water flow.

"Serene, huh?" a voice said behind me, making me jump.

I looked behind me and saw Zoi. He was leaning against the tree with a smirk on his face. He was looking directly at me with those spellbinding eyes of his. I cleared my throat and turned towards the river again. Trying my best to focus on waiting for a fish but it was hard since I could feel his stares on my back.

I squirmed under his unfathomable preoccupation of looking at me. I cleared my throat for the umpteenth time. Zoi just stood there for a while now. He wasn't saying a word nor was he making a move to leave. To make matters worse, no fish had appeared. Forcing me to just sit there and receive his attention.

"If you have the time to dilly-dally, why don't you help out in the camp?" I groaned at him.

"Dilly-dally?" he laughed; and I felt butterflies in my stomach. "I just finished helping Carly collect some herbs. You could say that it's my break time."

"Then, why don't you actually take a break and not—get on my nerves?"

Even without looking at him, I knew he had that smirk on his face again. "I am taking a break."

"You know what I—" the words were stuck on my throat when I turned to face him and saw him just inches away from me. There was a glint of mischievousness in his eyes as he gave me a flirtatious smile. I found myself leaning in closer to get more of his addictive scent. He lifted a hand between us and ran a finger through my lower lips. My throat felt dry as he looked at me with hooded eyes.

I closed my eyes as he started to close the distance between us. I could feel his warm breath on me and it felt like everything was in slow motion as his lips brushed against mine.v