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All Characters in the story are 18 years of age and above...
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Chapter Forty Three: An open position...
Shalia stood in silence beside the entrance to the infirmary. The sun was slowly sinking in the horizon to the west and any time now Roka would be exiting the infirmary to head home. Anyone looking at the calm expression that she had on her face, wouldn't be able to guess at the storm of emotions that roiled within her. It wasn't often that the Town-head's daughter didn't know how to feel about someone. That insufferable boy, however, had managed to worm his way into that category. At first, Shalia had thought the boy to be beneath his notice. In fact, the only reason she'd even known his name was because of how often his mother came to ask after him while he was in the infirmary.
That indifference, however, turned to dislike when she was forced to put up with his ugly face as a fellow student of the healer. His only redeeming quality, as far as she was concerned, was the fact that he didn't try to get her to date him like some other commoner toads in the town had. At the very least, he seemed to recognize his station in life. Or at least, that is what she had thought right up until he was invited to their house for dinner. It had been a tight slap to her ego to learn that not only was the boy not attracted to her, but worse yet, found her to be barely tolerable. The fact that he managed to also get her to be punished by her father had sealed the deal for her. Roka had firmly been in the group of people she hated. The fact that her father had been trying to get her to marry him had only solidified this status.
When she began her punishment as the boy's servant, she'd been dreading all the demeaning tasks that the boy would have her do. He'd expected the boy to go on a power trip and get her to do all kinds of things just so he could brag that he'd gotten the Town-head's daughter to do those things. Much to her pleasant surprise, however, the boy had come up with an arrangement that not even she could argue against. So long as she escorted him to the infirmary in the morning and back home in the evening, then she could do with the rest of her day whatever she pleased. It was the perfect deal. She could spend most of her day with her friends, the other noble kids, instead of tending to stuffy herbs and the like. A small part of her had been miffed that the boy seemed to be trying to get rid of her as quickly as possible. This annoyance, however, was quelled by the thought that she now had the chance to pursue Bran. Before long, she believed she'd have her crush wrapped around her finger.
That should have been the end of the story! And from what Shalia could tell, it was, for the damnable boy. Other than responding to her greetings with a smile, he would go on to act like she didn't even exist. Even with the wooden mask on, Shalia would have noticed if he tried to sneak any glances her way, but no such thing happened. As far as the boy was concerned, she might as well have been a wooden statue. Despite not liking the boy at all, it would be a lie to say that it didn't sting her ego even a little bit to be completely disregarded. But other than her slightly hurt ego, it was the perfect situation. Not only was she no longer forced to go for the dreadful lessons, but she also had the whole day to herself to do as she pleased. It was perfect! Or at least it had been... for the first three weeks.
With her days to herself, Shalia had spent this time with her friends, the other noble kids, with the majority of her attention going to Bran. For as long as she could remember, she'd always had a crush on him. With all the free time she now had, Shalia had considered this to be her chance. Unfortunately for her, Bran seemed to have a one track mind and right now it was firmly fixed on training his body to perfection. He gave all other things barely any time of day. That included Shalia. It had been frustrating, especially because she'd be left to watch him lift weights or do stretches that put that damn perfect body on display. It always left her feeling hot and bothered. Something she usually dealt with in the privacy of her room imagining all the naughty things that Bran and his perfect body could do to her.