A few more days pass by and things remain the same. The wait, the anxiety, and the fear. I still have nightmares every night, but I'm sleeping a bit more, and it's not due to the medication but because Nora brings every night a mug of honeyed warm milk. It helps me relax and fall asleep. The biggest difference now is that I can move freely and my muscles are getting stronger, yet it is still a bit uncomfortable at times. However, I've been able to explore a bit more and realised time alone is actually necessary.

Nora can't talk too often to her parents because that would raise suspicions, so unless there's an emergency or something to report, she doesn't call them. Every time I see her I feel guilty about that, because it's my fault she's here, away from her family, hiding as well. She's going through that to protect me and I can't help feeling like a burden to her.

I know, I really know that she doesn't really mind because I'm also family to her and if I were in her shoes I'd do the same. That doesn't mean I can stop feeling bad for keeping her away from her parents. I just wish all this were over already and we could back to our normal lives.

However, I quite like it here.

The kids are wonderful and I love them all, playing with them, helping them study or just helping them in the morning to get ready. All that makes me at least feel useful. I'm also trying to help more around although I spend more time with Clarisse, understanding how they work here and offering some input of my own. In my head I can already see how to manage to sponsor all the kids here and the orphanage, creating a chain of help. When I'm back, it's going to be my first project, of that I'm sure.

Regarding Will... I've been avoiding him. Just tiny bit, because he makes me too nervous. When we run into each other, he's always close, smiling cheekily, making me blush or feel awkward. Most of the time, both. I think he does it on purpose, just to tease me. It's not to make me suffer or hurt me like before, but it's not exactly nice. And because I have pride, I don't like making a fool of myself in front of him. Despite the Dream House is quite big, we still run into each other a lot.

I've come to see the goats when I find him already with them. I turn on my heels, ready to leave before he can see me, but I fail.

"Leaving already, Princess? You just got here, though," I hear his voice. I sigh in defeat.

I turn around to look at him, trying to smile as if I weren't nervous at all. "I came to see Heidi, but you're already monopolising her attention so it's no use. I'll come back later."

"Oh, so you just come for the goat. What about me? You didn't want to see me?" he teases me and I have to roll my eyes, trying to stay calm when I see him walking towards the fence. Towards me.

"No," I reply drily and I hear him chuckling.

"Ouch. You're ruthless," he laughs, finally stopping at the fence, resting his forearms on it as he leans forward, closer to me. "You can stay, though. No need to keep avoiding me."

"I'm not avoiding you," I fight, taking a step closer to make my statement stronger, more certain.

"Oh really?" He arches an eyebrow, clearly not believing me. "Is that why every time you see me in the room find an excuse to leave?"

"They are not excuses," I insist. "Have you never just gotten so distracted that entered a room without knowing why or you just forget what you were going to do?" He only smiles and that makes me more nervous. "Anyway, the point is I'm not avoiding you."

"Then stay," he challenges me, and the smirk he's giving me makes me go against my better judgment.

"Fine," I reply, walking up to him and getting ready to go over the fence. I only get more determined when I see his smile widen as I get closer, but before I can even begin to climb, I hear my name being called.

I turn my head and see Nora that comes running with Sammy leading the way and more kids behind. Well, it's more accurate to say Nora is being dragged but she doesn't seem to mind, she is laughing as she keeps up with Sammy. She has an endless supply of energy.

"Blanca, we were looking for you. Nora said you'd be with the goats," Sammy comments. I notice Liam, Danny, Cata, Sam, Michael and Brian are also with her. "We thought of playing hide and seek outside as it's a nice day. Do you want to play with us?"

It is indeed quite a nice day for December, not that cold. It's why I also decided to spend it outside.

"That sounds fun, I want to play, too," Will replies before I can say anything. "You won't stay out because of me, right, Princess?" he says next to me. I jump with a start, when did he get here?

"O-of course no," I stutter, causing his grin to widen.

The kids cheer and soon, we are playing rock, paper, scissors to decide who'll be the first seeker, who happens to be Nora and I panic. The kids don't know, but every time Nora and I played hide and seek when we were kids, she would immediately finds me and anyone else. It's led me to believe she has some supernatural power, like a sixth sense to find people. It's scary. And she knows it, because she even smiles when she is the loser.

"You have one minute to hide," Nora says, choosing a tree to begin her count. "Sixty seconds. Use them wisely," she warns one last time and I'm still freaking out in my mind, trying to think of a good place to hide. "Oh, and the first one I find will have to pick up eggs tomorrow morning."

Everyone gasps because tomorrow is Sunday, and everyone is allowed to sleep in, so having to get up to go pick up eggs doesn't sound fun.

Nora is merciless.

She begins the countdown and all the kids run and for five precious seconds, I don't move, still not knowing where to hide. It's only when a hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me that I begin running. I look up and it's Will, dragging me away and towards the barn.

I follow him, not questioning anything and let him lead the way to our hiding place. Inside the barn, above all the animals, there's like another floor where they keep the food and some supplies, so he makes me climb the stairs that lead there and he comes behind. He pushes me until we're hiding behind some straw bundles, crouching down.

Only when I think we are settled, I look at him just to find him staring at me the whole time, the little smile still on his lips. The moment our eyes make contact, my heart races and not because we just ran here. I can't help myself, I look down, wrapping my arms around my legs for a better balance.

"You should sit down," he advises in a whisper. "Your legs will go numb if you stay like that."

I take a quick glimpse to see him indeed sitting down, his back carefully against the bundles, his head towards me, still staring. I look away again, quickly, as I get in a more comfortable position, trying to keep a good distance from him but we are behind a pile of three bundles, at the sides there are two so not tall enough to hide me, which means I need to sit next to him or lie down. If I do the latter, then it's too obvious I'm doing it to stay away from him.

Pride gets in your way most of the time.

I end up sitting next to him, feeling awkward and nervous per usual, pressing my lips together to keep me from saying anything, but the silence makes my heart race even more. I can feel his eyes on me, examining me closely.

I bring my knees closer to my chest, leaning a bit forward, letting my hair fall around my face like a thick curtain between us, sheltering me from his intense gaze. But he surprises me by extending his hand to grab some of my hair and pulling it behind my ear, exposing my blushed face again.

Startled, I jerk backwards, hitting the straw bundles too hard, making the tower rock forward threateningly. I gasp and raise my arms protectively, but Will is faster or maybe more used to these things, so he stops the bundle from falling over us with his arm, using his body to put it back in balance. I blink up at him, my heart racing because I keep being clumsier than normal when I'm around him, just because he makes me too nervous and I can't control my motor functions properly.

"You okay?" he asks, kneeling in front of me and reaching out but I retract, away from his touch.

"I think I better find another place," I mumble, trying to stand up but he grabs me by the wrist and pulls me down, towards him.

As I was just standing up, it's easy to bring me down and make me lose my balance, ending up kneeling in front of him, face to face, too close. His hand is still around my wrist, but slowly slides until it's holding my hand, playing with my fingers till his and mine are entwined.

"Blanca," he whispers, making a shiver go down my spine and my heart beat so fast in my ribcage when he leans closer, his hand holding mine tightly, firmly. I have to hold my breath, wondering in my head why I'm not pulling back. At least I'm not leaning forward.

He gets incredibly close, his head tilting a bit to his right, as if adopting a better angle and I'm still holding my breath, not even thinking at this point.

His nose brushes mine and I feel his breath tingling on my lips, too close to me. Shakily, I take a breath in, my heart practically beating in my throat and I feel my whole body turning into jelly or something, like all my bones have melted and I can't hold myself anymore.

Against my better judgment, my head tilts in the opposite direction of his, finally moving a bit closer, my eyelids too heavy.

"You can keep playing love birds, just to let you know I found you already," Nora exclaims from below, startling me so my head moves involuntarily, all my body does to be honest, and without realising, the little gap between our mouths is closed when I bump into him, eyes wide open, body tense and frozen.

I pull back as soon as I realise I kissed Will. Sure, just a peck, it was accidental, too brute and a bit painful, but still a kiss. I start pulling back, away from him to give my head room to think and snap back to reality, but before I do, the hand that's holding mine pulls me back to him, his other finds my neck and drags me until our mouths are pressed together again.

It's not a peek, not an accident, it doesn't even hurt when our lips touch, this is a kiss full of intent and before I realise what I'm doing, I close my eyes and kiss him back. My body melts like honey, my free hand holds and squeezes his jumper, as if holding him still.

I let the warmth of him and this contact embrace me, coaxing me to relax despite all my nerve endings coming alive, making me feel like I'm buzzing. My heartbeat has made me deaf and my head is spinning.

It's Will who breaks the kiss, although his hand is still holding my neck, his thumb rubbing the space behind my ear, making me stay calm despite what just happened. Right now there's a dam blocking all torrent of thoughts and emotions in my brain, which is keeping me from freaking out.

He looks at me as his grin starts growing, he bites his bottom lip while I just focus on breathing.

"We lost already. I would've regretted it too much if I lost also that chance," he whispers and I can't even mumble a reply.

Will leads forward again and I hold my breath, thinking he'll kiss me, but his lips land on my forehead and even if my heart is racing, this soft touch is soothing and helps me control myself. When he pulls back, creating more distance between us, his smile isn't cheeky, it's calming and warm.

"Let's go?" he suggests then. "And let's hope she didn't find us first. Although that was quick."

"Nora has powers," I reply, focusing on that instead of what happened. "She always finds everyone."

Will chuckles and then stands up, not releasing my hand and using that connection to help me back on my feet. He only lets go of me when we have to climb down but once we're back on the ground, he doesn't hold my hand again and we just walk side by side towards the tree. Sam, Brian, Liam and Danny are already there, and I see Nora and Sammy running towards the tree. Michael and Cata are still hiding. Nora is faster and Sammy can't save herself.

"Who was caught first?" Will asks when Sammy is on the floor, catching her breath and accepting defeat.

"You two," Nora replies with a smirk. I turn away, my cheeks blushing. "Enjoy picking up eggs tomorrow morning."

My guts twist not only because it means I'll have to wake up early and be with Will, but also because Nora caught us and although I'm not sure what she saw, I know I won't have a chance to lie to her.

I predict a lot of awkwardness and embarrassment in my near future.

❅ ❅ ❅

Am I forgiven for not updating yesterday? *blinks innocently* hehehehehehe just one word #WILLCA

Dedication to luvorange28

Bel, xx

~updates Monday and Friday... thinking of changing them 'cos schedule~