Chapter Seven - That Giddy Feeling

Eleanor's P.O.V

Hot.

It was too hot in this room. My entire face was heating up. It was getting hard to breathe with each passing moment.

Was I worried about him?

The question he had just asked lingered in my mind as my eyes refused to look at his face. Afraid of the reaction it might be reflecting.

"Eleanor?" Daniel called me as my head bent further as if I was extremely guilty of something. But what was that something was something even I was unsure of.

"Flower." Daniel called me by a nickname he has chosen for me as he lifted my face with his finger placed under my chin as my eyes met his.

Why was it that when he did such things to me I never felt repelled but when Derek would just touch me I would feel like beating the shit out of him?

We just sat there in silence for moment as I assessed his face which was devoid of any disgust, disbelief or arrogance I was searching for.

"I'm sorry for asking something irrelevant. Just talk to me. Okay?" Daniel said breaking the silence he removed his finger and a pleading look took surface on his face. But, upon receiving no reply from me he heaved a heavy sigh as he got up to leave.

Eleanor, what are you doing!? Why do you always choose times like these to be a dumb bitch? Fucking stop him. My subconsciousness yelled at me and before my mind could process anything. My hand tugged the hem of his shirt like a little child making him instantly turn around.

"Why do you call me flower?" I asked as I gazed into his pitch black abyss like eyes. Though it sounded dumb. I had two reasons to ask that question. First because I was just plain curious and second because I wanted him to stay.

Somehow, my vulnerable puppy like look made him stay as he sat down in front of me to answer my stupid question.

"Well, first of all you have that sweet fruity flower like natural scent. And-" Before he could continue his answer, a laughter burst through my lips which made Daniel stare at me with a look of bewilderment on his face.

"Seriously? I never knew I smelt like that before. Guess now I do." I said, finally gaining some control over my laughter.

"Well yeah. I do have a very strong olfactory system. So, yeah. And secondly because you seem delicately strong like a flower." He continued as nothing but truth and sincerity lingered in his eyes making me feel rather giddy. It was a good feeling.

"Delicately strong? That's a new one. Thank you." I replied as I started feeling rather overwhelmed by this 'good feeling'.

"Your welcome."

Not wanting Daniel to see me so flushed and think I was a pschyo of some sort, I decided to put him to sleep.

"Daniel... You should sleep. You need rest." I whispered at him with a genuine smile on my face as I tilted my head a little.

He shook his head in a 'Yes' as a sad smile flashed on his face which was gone as soon as it came. As he got up from the bed, making his way to the door.

But, before he could leave I said something that made him stop in his tracks. "You can sleep here. Let Petroka, Henry and Teris share that room."

"Where will you sleep then?" He asked, turning around with a confused look on his face.

"In the living room?" I replied in a duh tone as I got up from the bed picking a pillow and walking towards my cupboard to get a blanket.

"That's dangerous. That dickhead could break in. You could be harmed. Just stay here. Okay? I'll manage in the next room." Daniel said as I felt his worried presence behind me as I shuffled through the shelf in search of a blanket.

"Nah. It's totally fine. After all, we don't want your stitches opening up again. Do we?" I said as I pulled out the blanket, stood up, closed the cupboard and then turned around to face his worried expression.

"Still-"

"I'll be fine, Daniel. I know how to protect myself very well." I cut him off moving towards the door. Without giving him a chance to respond, I walk out closing the door behind me, leaving a guilty him behind.

I have never been that good at comforting people so me staying there would have never just made things a lot more awkward than it was. And, the fact we were practically strangers wasn't really helpful at the moment either.

I walked into the living room as a tired Henry sprawled on the couch filled my vision. It was probably the creaks of my footsteps created by the wooden floor that made him snap his eyes open as he turned his head around to look at me with a tired smile.

"Tired?" I asked placing my stuff on the couch in front of him as I grabbed the water jar on the table and poured a cup of water for himself and me.

"After dealing with that crazy person? Definitely." Henry responded heaving a long sigh as he took the glass of water I held out for him.

"I hope you didn't kill him. Though he totally deserves it. I personally wouldn't want the village chief to come and ruin my peaceful life." I said as I laughed sitting down on the couch opposite to Henry.

"Good thing that I didn't then. I wouldn't want to destroy the peace of my brother's lifesaver either." Henry said as he placed the glass on the table passing me a toothy grin.

"Thank you."

Henry smiled as he replied to my gratitude with his. "No, thank you. Thank you for helping my weird ass of a brother. Trust me when I say this he is not even half as much expressive around people as he is around you. Not only that, you also saved his life without even knowing anything about us. It really means a lot to me."

"Your welcome? I mean I would have helped anyone not only your brother but yeah. He's a nice person so I too am glad that I decided to help him. And... you should probably head towards my room to comfort your brother because I'm sure he's feeling guilty for something he hasn't even agreed to." I said as a faint laugh passed my lips as Daniel's face instantly flashed in front of my eyes.

"Ah! That's new. A guilty Daniel. Well, thank you for informing me. And, I hope you have a good night sleep." Henry said as he got up instantly and left to check on his brother.

I wish I too had a family. Or maybe, a sister like him. Daniel is really lucky to have a brother like him.

A little envy was something I was feeling right now but I decided to brush it off as I opened my blanket and slipped under it, trying to sleep.

Yes, trying to sleep. But, somehow the conversation I had with Henry kept lingering in my mind as I tossed and turned on the couch, unable to fall asleep.

Daniel is not half as expressive to people as he is to me.

The thought made some sort of weird feeling bubble up in my heart.

Not good. I need to do something about this asap.