CHAPTER 14- WINNING OVER PRISCILLA

Priscilla couldn't think of anything else other than Gaius since what happened yesterday. Did he really feel the same way about her now? She wondered. One part of her wanted so badly to believe what he said, wanted to be with him. But the other part was just too scared that he wanted to take advantage of her and would discard her the first chance he got.

"Priscilla!" Mera snapped. That brought her back to reality. "Were you listening to a word of what I was saying?" she asked folding her arms. "I'm sorry. I guess I got a little lost in thought." Priscilla said apologetically. "You know, if you've got a problem that needs solving, you can always tell me. You're my best friend." Mera said placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I know..." Priscilla said giving her a reassuring hug. "I'm fine."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Priscilla said picking up the list of items she was to help Mera buy at the market. "Okay, so remember to get the Indian spinach okay? It's the most important ingredient in the list."

"I'll keep that in mind." Priscilla said, and then she set out.

•°•°•°°•°•°••°°•°•°•°•°•°•°°•°•°•°°•°•°°°••°•°•

I paced uneasily as I waited for cruise to get back from the store he had just walked into. He had asked me to accompany him here, and well...I owed the guy big time so I didn't have much of a choice. He was one of the few friends I still had that Bren hadn't won over.

How was I going to convince Priscilla. I needed to do something big if I was going to win her over, since she seemed to be an expert at playing hard to get. Maybe, I'd just leave things be and focus on recruiting other allies I thought.

Just then, I sighted her. I blinked a few times , just to be sure I wasn't imagining things. Mera had probably made her do her shopping chores again. And of course, because Priscilla couldn't simply say no to her best friend, she did it. Well, I couldn't say she was entirely wrong, because Mera would do the same for her as well.

I didn't want to rush up to her immediately, so I just watched her from afar. She bought something from the vegetable market but forgot to take it along with her as she lugged the other heavy bags. This was my moment! I thought. Cruise was just coming out now."I gotta go!"

"Where?" he asked, surprised.

"I'll explain later. I gotta go!" I ran over and grabbed the bag she forgot, then I began to hurry after her. I finally caught up with Priscilla at the fish market.

~°°~°~°~°~°°~~°~°~°~°°~°~°~°~°~°~°

"Thank you." I said collecting the crabs from my favorite retailer at the fish market. Whew! That was all the items on the list. I hoped the Indian spinach was still here I thought checking around in my bags. Oh no! It wasn't. How could it not be here?! I was certain that I bought the Indian spinach. I felt frustrated. Mera would kill me if I didn't bring her the Indian spinach.

Where could I have left it? I thought palming my forehead. ''Looking for something?" a deep but pleasant bass note rumbled behind me. Jolting, I turned around, bumping into a solid wall of chest that spoke male. Looking up into topaz eyes that gleamed like stones at a river bed, I realized who it was. I shoved his hard wall of a chest. "Damnit Gaius! You startled me!"

"Hello to you too." He said with a smile.

I could see he was thoroughly enjoying himself. "Look, I don't have time for this Gaius." I said trying to brush past him. "Relax silly, I just wanted to give you this." he said holding up a small brown grocery bag. Could it be? I snatched it from his hand and practically tore it open. The spinach was in it.

"Oh thank goodness!" I exclaimed in relief. "You forgot it at the vegetable market." Gaius said folding his arms over his chest. "Thank you." I said looking at him suspiciously. I began to walk away from him again, when he followed me and grabbed most of the heavy bags I'd been holding. "I don't need your help." I began to protest, but he ignored me and went on.

I glared at his back. The muscles in his back and shoulders rippled tantalisingly as he walked and held on to the bags at the same time. I was now only holding a small bag that carried spices.

I hurried up to catch up with him, and Gaius smiled. "I'm always happy to help you Priscilia. Even when you don't want me to." He said looking deep into my eyes. I quickly looked down at the floor. I wished he wouldn't do that! I fumed. Whenever he spoke to me, and looked into my eyes like that, I could feel the walls I had painstakingly managed to build between us crumbling down.

"So, what's going to be for dinner tonight beloved friend of the Ms chef?" he asked. Playing stubborn, I decided to keep mute. "oh come on. You must know?" he continued. I drew in a deep breath, wishing we could fly back home so this conversation could end before I did something stupid. Eventually, when we got home, Mera was very grateful and she welcomed us both with hugs.

After that, I didn't get to rest one bit. There'd been a little accident with some horses, and there were lots of injuries to tend to, though thankfully, no one had died. Everyone was up and doing since it was soon to be the most celebrated festival in Doria- the red lantern festival.

One of the injured guards had forgotten a most important item at the site of the accident. The sunflower oil. Without it, the lanterns for the festival could not float properly, so I offered to get it even though I was dog tired at the moment.

Gaius met me along the way. "Priscilia, let me get the oil for you." Gaius offered taking my hand in his. I jerked it out. "I'm fine!" I yelled. I was not fine. I had begun to feel nauseous from the smell of blood, and I was feeling dizzy at the same time. "You're not fine! Can't you see that you're about to collapse?" he said in a pleading voice. "I said I'm fine!"I yelled.

I tried waking away from him, but the next thing I felt was that I was sort of flying upside down. I nearly fainted. He caught me before I could touch the floor. "You need rest." Gaius said looking at me worriedly. I looked up at Gaius. I liked the feel of his arms around me. "Why are you doing this to me?" I whispered, a tear trickling down my cheek. "Because I care about you Priscilia...I really do." we stared at each other, drawing closer slowly until...he kissed me.

I snuggled against his broad chest listening to his heart beat slowly. "Let's get you to bed." he said lifting me up in his arms. Surprisingly, he knew the way to my bedroom. "How did you...?" I began. "Just rest while I go get the oil." he interrupted. He put me down on my bed, tucked in the sheets and gave my forehead a quick kiss before stepping out. "Gaius?" I called out before he could leave. He turned, hand still on the door knob. "Thank you." I whispered as my eyelids were becoming heavy with sleep. Gaius smiled. He nodded, before opening the door. That was the last thing I saw before I fell into a deep sleep.