Meetings
Alina waited in an alcove by the side of the house. It was not really stalking - at least, she preferred to think it wasn't. She just happened to know that Alex passed this way every evening on his way to check on the horses. She was interested in Alex. Since coming to the house several weeks ago, she had kept mostly to herself, and though she shared a room with three other girls, she hadn't really spoken to them. They would ask too many questions about her, and she didn't like to answer questions anymore.
Alex was different. She had seen him talking to the gardener over dinner. She knew he was the Healer's son, eight years her senior, and his name, but little else. But when she saw how people spoke to him, asked him questions and valued his advice, she found herself becoming... curious. She began watching him from a distance, noticing his knack with animals and his ability to negotiate feuds between housemates. Then there was, of course, the fact that he was extremely good looking. She found herself drawn to him rather inexplicably, and searched longingly for a reason to speak to him. He probably wouldn't look twice at me, she thought privately, her heart jumping a little as she heard footsteps approach. And if he does... what if he finds out? What if he thinks I'm dangerous?
She panicked. Forgetting her plan she abandoned her hiding place at exactly the wrong moment, colliding head-on with the person who had been approaching.