CHAPTER 21

Audrey put her bag on the ground and took a deep breath. They finally arrived, just in time, before I dropped dead.

But it was worth it. Enzo took them on a hidden trail through the forest, and after two hours of hiking, they arrived at a big clearing amidst the forest. She couldn't stop smiling, she was glad she came.

The grassy, even ground looked ripe for just laying down and chilling, the morning air kissed her sweat covered clothes, the coolness of the wind felt like heaven.

Huge trees of red, green and yellow canopy towered around, and best of all, the sounds: birds, and wind through leaves and the laughter of students. This wasn't such a bad idea after all.

The trail had been long, and even though it wasn't exactly difficult, she wasn't used to that kind of exercise. She had to sit down a few times to catch her breath.

Serves you right, you can't just work and forget about your health.

She was covered in sweat, Enzo talked aloud a few hundred feet away, both to his group and to everyone, laying down the rules, mostly.

"We rest fifteen minutes," he said, "then start setting up camp, choose your favorite spot, just make sure it's out here in the open, we don't want the boogieman taking out one of you during the night."

The kids laughed, then he continued, "after we set up camp you can either explore with one of your team leaders, or come with me to the lake, it's another long hike too, but it's worth it. I brought some fishing poles, if you want one just let me know, I'll lend you one. If you catch something we'll even cook it later!"

"I brought two rafts," Mr. Dunley said, "you're welcome to use them, too."

"Just remember to put on a life jacket, I brought several," Enzo finalized.

Audrey sighed, just looking at him in his tight freakin' sports shirt made her blush. It wasn't that he was hotter than any other guy she'd ever seen. It was worse. He was in complete control, especially out here in the forest. She couldn't help herself. He was magnetic. She had to take a step back or she'd start developing feelings —real feelings— for him.

That would be her end.

"Audrey, what about you?" Enzo asked.

She looked up, a bunch of people stared at her.

"What about me, what?" she said. The students smiled.

"Well," Enzo said, "do you want to come to the lake with us?"

Shit. Concentrate, Audrey, you can't be daydreaming like that. Especially not around students, pay attention.

Her feet hurt and she just wanted to sit down and rest for the whole day. She shrugged, as if the hike wasn't a problem at all.

"Sure, count me in."

Darn it, Audrey. Just... darn it.

***

Her feet burned, it was almost torture.

"We're almost there," Enzo shouted, "don't give up on me."

The students seemed unaffected by the long walk down the lake, oh, to be young again.

She was dying.

And her feet. Seriously, she was so done with all of this.

He gave you a choice and you said yes, it's your own fault.

"I can carry you if you want," Enzo said, walking up beside her.

"What?"

He shrugged, looking at her.

" I look that bad?"

He chuckled, "no, of course you don't."

He was a terrible liar.

She elbowed him, "tell the truth."

She caught a glimpse of his eyes, and for that brief moment, all this crap was worth it.

"You might look a little tired," he said, "but don't worry, we all do."

"Shut up, you look fine."

"Well, some look better than others, check out Peter."

Peter Dunley walked ten or so yards ahead of them, carrying the end of a raft, a student on the other end. He did look tired. Not just tired... done.

"Isn't that heavy?" she asked, pointing at the raft Enzo carried in one arm.

"What, this? Not at all, they're made of light carbon fiber and kevlar. They weight almost nothing. The only thing is you have to look where you're going, or you'll end up stuck in a bush or hit a tree with them."

She nodded, "I didn't know you were into that."

"Just a hobby, nothing too serious. Wanna hop on one?"

"Definitely not. Not now at least, my feet are about to explode."

"All right, it'll be next time, then."

"For sure, how long 'til we get there?"

"Oh my God!" a student ahead of them shouted.

"Seems like we just arrived," he said, with a big smile on his face.

***

Breathtaking. A cascade fell down on a small lake in the middle of the forest, it was truly a sight to behold, something that you see on a magazine or TV, or one of those awesome Bob Ross paintings. It was truly a sight to behold.

"Impossible," she whispered as she saw a flock of birds flying above the lake and getting lost behind the peak where the water fell.

Just looking at the the blue water, mirroring the greens and yellows of the forest, along with the mountain and the clouds above, made her forget about her pain. You need to make sacrifices to find greatness. Being able to see this place made the pain in her feet worth it.

Some students ran to the edge of the lake and started taking off their shoes, others began playing with a football. They seemed really happy.

"Remember, everyone," Enzo said, "don't get too confident, respect nature and do not go near the waterfall. This is not a movie, and you can get hurt or worse, Lets avoid accidents. Have fun but remember that not abiding by the rules will definitely end up in detention or extra community service hours. Be smart."

Audrey smiled. The students really paid attention, she knew they wouldn't do anything stupid.

He put the raft on the water and threw a couple life jackets on the ground, "if you want to use the kayak remember to use this."

Audrey sat down under the shadow of a tree and sighed loudly, taking off her shoes. It was mid morning now and the cool breeze on her swollen toes was a gift from the heavens.

"Hey, you," Enzo said as he walked towards her, a small bag in his hand.

"Hey," she said, acting as cool as she possibly could, "I thought you were going fishing?"

"Nah," he replied sitting across her, "I let the kids use my fishing rods, I can go fish any time I want. Are you all right?"

The question took her by surprise, "I guess so, why?"

He glanced at her feet, "may I?"

And without even waiting for her response grabbed her right foot and started massaging it. A shiver ran down her spine, she was about to say "no" but this was too good. You couldn't deny it. The man could do the job.

"Oww, oww," she burst out, half in pain, half in surprise. His hands worked every inch of her foot and the pain slowly transformed into relaxation.

The hours of walking uphill on rough terrain had taken a toll on her, and the thought of going back was painful. But this made everything definitely worth it. She caught herself smiling, but tried to hide it when he looked up at her.

"What?" he said.

"Nothing."

"Come on, spit it out."

She rolled her eyes, "I was just wondering where did you learn to do that."

He took a small, blue can from the bag and sprayed her feet, instantly cooling them.

"I used to rub my mom's feet. She was a nurse and always came home tired."

"Oh," she replied without really knowing what to say, "did she retire?"

"She passed away when I was fifteen, actually," his hands kept on working her feet as if nothing had happened, but he stopped for half a second when she asked.

Damn. I just ruined the moment, didn't I?

"I'm sorry, I didn't—"

"It's fine, don't worry, it's been a while."

The silence was deafening, she didn't know what else to say.

"Go on, ask me," Enzo said, her feet feeling so much better now.

"Ask you what?"

"You know what," he said with a soft smile.

She sighed, "what happened to her?"

"She was mugged, tried to resist and got stabbed. Didn't even make it to the hospital."

Audrey felt a lump in her throat.

"Everyone always asks, don't worry," Enzo said, "I wouldn't want you finding that out and avoiding the subject altogether."

"I wouldn't do that."

Enzo looked at her.

"I wouldn't go asking things about you behind your back."

He nodded, he understood.

"You're right," he said, his voice changed, it seemed bright and happy again, "my bad, yo'"

"Did they ever find the guy?"

"Yeah, it was a junkie, high on heroin. He didn't even remember doing it, cried as he saw the store video."

"Shit, I'm sorry. I don't know what I'd do if that happened to me."

"Well," he said, "you'd go mad at first, picking up fights with anyone you could, get in a lot of trouble. Bully other kids and that kind of garbage."

"Really? You?"

He shrugged, "I'm making up for it now, right?"

The smile on his face said everything.

"Helping kids out when they need it the most," he finalized, taking her hands off her, "how do you feel?"

"Gosh," she said, "much better, you're the best, thank you."

"But wait, there's more..."

"What—?"

He looked around, to see if everyone was looking.

He reached out and grabbed her by the ankles, leaned forward to them as if trying to kiss them. Then, gooseflesh filled her skin.

His warm breath engulfed her heels, then her soles... but it wasn't only that, somehow, she felt as if submerging her feet in hot water.

The pain left her but she was still swollen from the hike.

Every nerve ending flared up in pleasure. It was like coming from a long, horrible day at work and finally being able to take off your shoes, times a hundred.

She gasped, tried to pull back but the strange, delicious sensation reached up to her legs. Enzo looked up at her with his bad boy grin, then the heat turned into cold... he was doing something she couldn't describe.

She gasped again and a sudden relaxation washed over her from her toes up.

"I know the hike was hard," Enzo said calmly, "this will make you feel better."

It took her a while to come down from that magnificent, peaceful feeling. The she saw: her feet weren't swollen anymore. They didn't hurt at all, they felt fresh and ready for another long hike in the woods.

She didn't understand and it didn't matter. It was real.

She took a long breath, the hairs on her skin bristled.

"Done," he just said.

She couldn't stop looking at him, at her feet, at his eyes, at her previously hurting toes now completely healed.

"What did you do?" she asked.

He seemed different. A flash of wildness ran through his eyes. He let growled, slowly looking down to the ground, averting her gaze.

"Enzo?" she said leaning forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The muscles in his back hardened and grew with each of his breaths. She heard the growl escape him again and grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her.

His eyes began to turn completely black.

He tried to avert his eyes, but she wouldn't let him.

"Enzo, listen to me," she whispered, "Listen to my voice. You did it. I feel much better. Relax. Listen to me."

He fixed his eyes on her. The growls began to recede, all of his contained fury left his body little by little, breath by breath, until his eyes returned to normal.

He smiled.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Sometimes the bear wants to come out... it takes me a little while to recover."

"But why? Isn't it dangerous?"

He chuckled, "no, not dangerous. I would never harm anyone."

"You shouldn't have done this."

"Sorry darling," he said, "I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to give you a foot massage."

She wasn't witty enough to find an answer to that before he stood up and jogged back to the lake, joining Mr. Dunley and some students on a game of catch.

Oh my God, I hate him.

She didn't want to fall in love. She didn't have the time.

You don't have the guts, that's what you mean. She thought, trying to stop looking at the hot, incredible man laughing and playing with his peers.

I can't do this. I can't fall for him. I have a job to do.

She tried to think of something, or someone else. Some pending task, anything, but failed miserably.

And I don't feel the least bit guilty about it.