I Need Some Space

“Bobby is right, we're worn out. I don't know about you but I can't move my legs, and Anita also needs to rest, she got exhausted trying to save us. If we continue we'll be too weak to protect ourselves by the time we meet Elijah,” Jacob said with a gentle voice, he carefully shifted the strands of hair that were on Anita's cheeks.

“For once, I agree with this dimwit called Jacob, we all need to rest. We need our energy to untangle what lies deep in the forest,” Marcus tone was laced with sarcasm and he looked at Jacob with disgust.

“Okay, I guess you're right,” Jay agreed after a momentary silence.

“Fine, we'll send the night here,” Arianna said, and everyone was in agreement.

They {Arianna, Anita, Amira, Rose, Bobby, Jay, Marcus, Jacob} went their different ways; some to explore, to hunt for animals, and for a walk.

“Stick together no matter what happens,” Anita weakly informed them. She sat down beside Arianna and Jacob, they had refused to leave her side.

Rose was discussing with Marcus, Amira was hunting with Jay, while Bobby stood by a tree looking at the moon, he looked lonely and sad.

“Ari, I admit I don't know much about you and your relationship with Bobby, but trust me he was just trying to do what he thought was best. At the end of the day he was trying to protect us, and you can see by his actions that he is remorseful,” Anita murmured, just for Arianna to hear.

Arianna twisted her lips, unwilling to talk about Bobby. “I don't want to talk about him. We have a more serious matter to attend to,” she replied.

“Ari, I think what Anita is trying to say is, please excuse us, so that Jacob and I can have some quality alone time together,” Jacob said with a mischievous grin. Anita burst into laughter and gently hit him on his legs.

“Okay, fine, I will excuse the shameless couples,” Arianna replied with a ghostly smile and stood up. “Enjoy your time,” she smiled and left.

“Don't –” Anita wanted to stop her from leaving, but Jacob kissed her before she could complete her sentence.

“Rest, you'll need it,” Jacob said to her with a smile of mischief and seducingly licked his lips.

Arianna didn't know what to do because she wanted to be alone. She sat down by the edge of a fallen tree, resting her head on the tree's branch. Within a short while, she fell asleep and was woken up by a long hiss. Before she could react to it, she had a metallic sound.

“It's alright, enjoy your sleep, I have killed it,” Bobby informed her with a gentle smile, and raised his hands, revealing a dead snake.

Arianna's eyes widened, her heart racing. "Thanks, Bob."

"Anytime, Ari. It's my duty to protect you," Bobby smiled broadly at her.

The tension between them was palpable, and they were wondering who should talk first.

Arianna looked away, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry about earlier, but it wasn't my fault entirely, uncle Joe means a lot to me. He has helped me a lot of times and the rash way you treated him got me angry."

"No need to apologize. I understand, it was my fault. I really understand," Bobby's voice was low and a smile was still on his face.

Arianna turned back to him, her eyes searching. "Do you understand? Because I don't."

Bobby's expression turned somber. "I know I hurt you. But I was desperate to protect us. I wanted to protect you, I thought Joe was going to hurt you, that was why I did the first time that came to my mind."

"At what cost do you want to protect us? Our trust? Our love? Our relationship?" Arianna's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I know, I messed up. I am sorry," Bobby's eyes dropped, his shoulders sagging.

The silence between them grew, heavy with unspoken words. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the underbrush. Bobby's head snapped up, his eyes locked onto the noise.

"Ari, get behind me," he whispered, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Arianna looked surprised, and she looked closely, but she couldn't find any danger.

“You see, this is the problem; you never listen to me!” Bobby exclaimed and dropped his hands angrily.

“Humm?” Arianna looked surprised and arched her brows at him, wondering what had led to that topic. “What are you talking about?”

“I just asked you to get behind me, but you refused,” Bobby replied, his voice laced with anger.

“Bob, I have told you numerous times, I don't need you to protect me. I can protect myself. What if you're not around, what am I supposed to do? Look for you like a widow?” Ari asked with a sarcasm filled voice.

“If you're so good at protecting yourself, why didn't you kill the snake? If it wasn't for my help, that snake would have bit you! I think it's better to need my protection!” Bobby answered furiously.

Arianna looked at him with raised brows. “There have been countless times when I've saved you from dangerous circumstances, and I have never posted a billboard or told the whole world that you need my protection. It's funny how you think I badly need you to protect me. You should work on protecting yourself and leave me to protect myself. You weren't born to protect me, and without your protection I’ll still be alive. I am a woman not a paralyzed man, and I am tired of your overprotective and authoritative nature. We shouldn't be in a relationship if you plan to keep acting this way. All my life, I have been controlled by my family, I don't need a lover/partner who would do the same to me,” she said with a grimace and lowered her head. “I need some space from us, Bobby.”

Saying that Anita left that part of the forest to join Marcus and Rose.

Bobby looked shocked, and he raised his hands and opened his mouth to stop her, but nothing came out of his mouth. His eyes were swollen with unshed tears, and he collapsed on a tree.