WAKE UP!

I jerk awake in my chair. A soft quilt has been laid over my lap. I look around the room. I'm in Bennet's library... Why can't I just fall asleep in my room for once?

The sun is up...But what my am I?

Because you are terribly late, Love.

I jump up. "For what?"

Our meeting! Hurry downstairs, we are all waiting!

Without thinking, I run down the stairs, panting, in the same dress I wore yesterday.

I know I should go change but Charis' voice is like silk for your ears, you can't help but listen.

I finger comb my hair and put it into a messy bun, emphasis on the messy.

Bursting into the room, disrupting the quiet chatter that has settle over the other young adults.

They all look up at me, and I feel my legs turn to jelly. "Sorry." I mutter as I make my way to the empty seat next to Bennet. I can see he is barely containing his laughter.

"Why don't you look positively radiant?" Bennet whispers under his breath.

"Shut up!" I whisper back.

Charis clears her throat. She stands in front of us, awaiting our attention.

I blush and think Sorry.

"My people, the day has come for us to begin our trials, in which I will find who out of you is best suited to rule alongside me." She looks at us each individually. I feel my spine straighten as our eyes meet. "You may be wondering, what are these trials we will be experiencing? Don't worry, I have told no one, so there is no unfair advantage.

"There are certain traits a successful leader cannot be without: Selflessness, honesty, creativity, charity. The list goes on and on, but for today we will be focusing communication.

"If you are going to work with me, to run this country you must be able to communicate with the people. They have to trust you, want you to be their ruler. A country where the people of the land loathe their ruler is doomed.

"I need to you all to go out into the world, and find one person. Get them to trust you, befriend you. I want you to complete this task and only come back once you have. They must be willing to come with you. You have two weeks. If you fail, you will no longer continue. Am I understood?" Her voice has grown louder and more intimidating with each sentence.

All around the room people nod.

"Wonderful. You are dismissed."

~

Half an hour later, all dressed and clean, Bennet and I walk the streets of Ersetu. We walk side by side in comfortable silence.

I look over at him and see the way the sun sparkles in his green eyes, looking like sun shining through trees.

He caughts me staring and asks, "What? Do I have something on my face?"

I look away, "Nope just in awe of how deep your dimple goes. I mean, it's like a canyon!" I say sarcastically, hoping to distract him.

"Shut up, Wes."

"My name isn't Wes." I stop in my tracks, and look him square in the eye.

"What am I supposed to call you? When I was raised it wasn't proper to call a woman by her Christian name." He says crossing his arms in front of him, his ever there smirk returning.

"I don't know, it's your problem."

"Well I guess I could call you Princess...But you're more beautiful than any princess I've ever seen, so I guess that wouldn't work."

I feel my cheeks starting to heat up. Is he saying I'm beautiful or only beautiful by comparison to some girls that didn't have access to toothpaste and shampoo?

"What about Angel?"

I gag.

"Alright, not Angel...I'm going to have to think about this for a while."

"Good luck. Just call me Hey You in the meantime."

"Lovely choice. Oh that's it! I am going to call you Love."

"Please don't." I plead.

"No, no its too perfect. I am now changing every memory I have associated to you, to under Love instead of Miss Wes."

"Fantastic." I mutter and begin walking again.

"You should be happy to have such an honor. When I was alive, women swooned as I walked into the room, now pet names needed."

"I'm sure they did." I seriously can't tell if he's exaggerating or not. I mean his is good looking but is it swoon worthy? I roll my eyes.

"Yes it was quite flattering." He winks at a girl that walks past us. She looks disgusted which somehow satisfies me.

"So if you could have any woman you want, why are you hanging out with me?"

His smile falters, "Because you are my friend. And I couldn't have any girl, I died young only soon after going through puberty, where I gained my dazzling good looks."

"You never were with someone before you died because you were sweaty and your voice cracked?"

"No I was courting one certain woman, breathtaking inside and out. But it didn't work out."

"Why not?" I ask softly, feeling as though he is too fragile to speak any louder. We are on a bridge now, not many people are crossing. It's seems as if the world have gone silent.

"I-" he cuts himself off, forcing a grin that doesn't meet his eyes. "Don't distract me so you can find someone and ditch me while I'm pouring out the woes of my heart." Bennet jokes.

I take the hint and we start off again.

I lead the way down a quiet road, Bennet follows close behind.

Being me, I trip over an uneven bit of cobblestone. "Are you alright, Love?" Bennet asks, crouching down next to me to help me up.

"I'm fine." I say meekly.

"Perfect." He says and then kisses me.

That's all I remember before I wake up from an eternal darkness.

----------------------------------------------------

This is long overdue. I was planning on writing it last Saturday but I...Yeah I don't have an excuse.

Sorry?

Anyway don't forget to make my day by voting and commenting!!