natalie scatorccio

the forest was dead quiet, like the whole world was holding its breath. natalie stood there, just outside the clearing, her heart thudding in her chest. she felt like her emotions were about to crush her, but still, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

the only sound was the crackle of the campfire behind her, where you were chilling — her knight, like lottie had called you. you weren’t just some guard, though. you were hers, sworn to keep her safe from anything that came her way. but it wasn’t just about the protection anymore. over time, it had turned into something else.

natalie had watched you. seen how you moved with that calm, always there, always ready to step in. every time your eyes met, something deep in her chest would warm up, like she was finding peace in the middle of all the chaos. and the way you spoke to her — that soft, protective tone.

then came the night with travis.

she’d never forget it — how travis had showed up out of the woods, all twisted rage and desperation. how he’d pointed a gun straight at her chest, his finger twitching on the trigger, like he was ready to end it all. and for a split second, she thought that was it. If she didn't die when the cabin caught fire, she would died at that moment.

but you had stepped in, you moved between her and travis, like it was second nature, the way a knight should. your body shielded her, and in the blink of an eye you had disarmed him and thrown him on his back to the ground, straddled his lap and started beating him – like shauna had hit lottie the other day – but this time it was more intense.

when it was over — when travis was lying on the ground, without breathing and with an unrecognizable face — natalie had felt a strange mix of relief, fear. something that hit her harder than she wanted to admit. she saw the fire in your eyes then, that fierce protectiveness, and it stirred something in her. her gaze taking in the bloodied folds of your fingers, your chest rising and falling intensely.

and now? now, she couldn’t stop thinking about you.

she turned away from the fire, eyes darting to the shadows where you sat. the girl who had saved her life. the one who made her feel safe. she wanted to say it. had been dying to say it for days. but… she just couldn’t. she felt vulnerable.

"i don’t know how to say it," she muttered, barely loud enough for herself to hear.

you, who had been quiet this whole time, turned to look at her, sensing the unease. "say what?" your voice was low and calm.

natalie froze, her words caught in her throat. "that i… i don’t just need you. i want you."

you tilted your head, eyes sharp and searching, like you knew she was holding back, waiting for her to spill more.

"i don’t want to be… just protected," she whispered, barely audible. "i want you. all of you. not just as my knight and all this shit."

the air felt heavy between you two, and for a second, it was like time stopped. had she said too much? the silence felt thick, almost suffocating.