Exposing ELE (ELE Series #3) (11 page)

Tony comes to stand next to me. “That's my parents.” He reaches out and gently grazes the sketch with his fingertips.

“They must have been very much in love.” I'm not sure if this subject is too painful or if I should move us on to another sketch or not.

“They were. You know, I've had some time to think about it. I think that might have been part of the reason they turned into Reapers. I think they thought it would give them the best advantage to stay alive and together longer. We didn't know how long or how hot the temperatures would get during that time. When the first set of people started turning with that red shot, they tried to convince others that it was the best thing for everyone. They spoke about feeling more powerful than ever and some even thought that the change would make them immortal. When my parents made the decision, it was before everyone realized how bad Reapers really were. Some people were already dying around the shelter and coming up brain dead, but they didn't know it was because of a Reaper. I think the sudden deaths were a catalyst to my parents' choice as well as many others. I honestly believe that my mom and dad were trying to find a way to make sure they both survived together, along with me. I don't think they were looking for power. It's kind of ironic that little did they know that the change would kill the very love they were working so hard to protect.” He turns away from the sketch.

What a tragic love story, I think to myself. I look up and notice his eyes are watering. I pull him into a hug. We stand there in each other's embrace for several seconds, neither of us wanting to let go. Tony leans back to where we are still in each other's arms but he can now look into my eyes.

I get caught up in that look and it nearly takes my breath away. So much can be said without words. I glance down at his lips and without my even thinking of it, I start leaning forward.

Tony clears his throat and takes a step back. “Why don't we go get some air?”

An ounce of hurt flashes inside me but I remind myself that Tony and I are just friends. I know he liked me like that once, but I made it known I wasn't into him in that way. He has no reason to be still into me. Plus, enough is going on right now. I don't need to be thinking about Tony in that way; especially when I just broke up with my first love not even two days ago. “Air sounds good,” I say.

I follow Tony out of his room, down the stairs and out the front door. I find myself in stunned awe at the view outside. When we arrived last night I was not only pretty out of it, but it was also pitch black so I couldn't see anything. I step down from the porch and start walking towards the most magical lake I've ever seen. The sun causes the calm water to glisten. Mountains stand up in the background at the far end of the lake. Their image is cast onto the gentle water perfectly and the wisps of white clouds and blue sky above them give the reflection even more depth. I walk all the way to the water’s edge, mesmerized by the setting. “I could live out here.”

“I could see you living out here too. This is my favorite place on Earth.” Tony puts his hand on the small of my back.

“I can see why,” I tell him.

We take a seat on the soft grass and watch the clouds float over the water as if it's the best show in the world.

An hour must pass at least, with how long we sit in silence until Tony speaks. “Can I ask you a question, Willow?”

“Shoot.” I turn to him.

He looks at me as if gauging how he should ask this. That can't be a good sign. “Why did Alec and you break up?”

Not a question I was expecting, but I'm sure it was a question that's been on his mind. “Um... I wasn't really the best girlfriend, you know.”

Tony lets out a light huff. “I doubt that.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Seriously, I wasn't. I did some stuff behind his back and I should have trusted him by letting him know what I was doing. I'm not sure why I didn't tell him that I was going to go after my parents or why I didn't just let him come, but I can't really go back in time and fix it. I made the decision and I doubt even if I could go back in time that I would have brought him into that mess.”

“Why didn't you just apologize?” he asks as if it were that simple.

“There was more to it. I kept stuff like that from him before in the shelter too. Also, he felt like I was keeping something else from him. I think that was the main reason we broke up.” I bite my lip knowing his next question.

“What else were you keeping from him?”

“He thinks I have feelings for someone else,” I say.

Tony's eyes widen as the truth sets in. “Do you?” he asks a little breathlessly.

“I think maybe so.” I look away shyly. The truth can be so awkward.

“Oh,” Tony whispers.

My eyes dart back to his and I instinctively bite my lip. I wonder what 'oh' means. Good, bad? I quickly say, “Anyhow, I'm not ready to really dive into that right now. I have enough on my plate.” I expect to see some relief in his eyes but instead he looks a little disappointed. That actually makes me feel better, knowing that he likes the fact that I might be feeling something for him.

Tony stands to his feet and helps me to mine.
“Well, if we're going to have anything good to eat tonight we’d better get to work.”

I give him a smirk.
“I don’t really mind having Ramen again,” I playfully suggest.

Tony gives a small chuckle.
“Ramen doesn’t exactly give your body what it needs to function. Come on, I’ll show you how to get a real dinner.”

I follow Tony through the woods quietly while he sets snares and traps made from string, rocks, and twigs.
I watch as he sets them up, one by one. His muscles strain against his shirt, which makes the shirt look like it’s about to lose the battle and rip. Tony catches me staring at his arms and I quickly look away, clearing my throat.

I follow him as he wanders through the woods that he knows like the back of his hand.
He takes me past a few Pine trees to where his favorite blackberry bush is. I taste one and it's perfectly ripe and sweet. We decide to take some back to the cabin with us. My hands get full trying to carry them all, so Tony takes his shirt off and makes a sort of satchel to carry the berries in. When he tries to hand it to me, I don’t notice; I’m too busy trying to figure out if he has a six-pack or a twelve pack. Catching me in a semi-stalkerish moment, he clears his throat. I snap out of it, blushing from head to toe. Embarrassing! I take his shirt and focus on filling it to the brim with blackberries.

After we’ve picked the bush almost clean, leaving some for the animals, we head over to another clearing where he teaches me about wild greens and what you can and can’t eat.
We find Stinging Nettle, Chickweed, Dandelion and Monkey Flowers. I’ve never eaten any of them before so I’m looking forward to this culinary adventure.

We double back to where Tony set the traps and find a rabbit caught in one of the snares.
Tony picks it up by the ears. He must see the look on my face because he says, “Think of it as food, Willow. Not a cute, furry pet.”

I nod my head but my face still says eeekkk.
I stand on the other side of Tony, as far away from little bunny foo foo as I can. It creeps me out knowing what's about to come next.

Tony sends me with a pail to collect water and directions to the well so I can clean the things we gathered. He tells me that the water line from the well is clogged so I will have to get water the old-fashioned way.

Tony stays behind to 'prepare' the rabbit. I guess prepare is the nice people word for butcher. My stomach churns a little with the thought. Don't think about it, Willow, I tell myself.

I locate the well easily. Pushing back the cover, I attach the bucket to the hook at the top and slowly lower it down. It's interesting because I've never had to use a well before for water. I guess this cabin is too far out to be connected to the city water. Retrieving the water turned out to be pretty easy. I squat down next to the well and begin cleaning all of the greens and blackberries we’re having for dinner.

I keep hearing Tony, up near the house, chopping on a stump. Images in my head of a furry bunny staring back at me from my dinner plate play across my mind.
Gross.

After I’m through cleaning, I gather up everything, along with a clean bucket of water for Tony to clean up his…er…mess.
He sees the bucket and smiles, “I wondered when you were coming back. I started worrying you may have fallen into the well.”

I roll my eyes and hand him the bucket.
“I didn’t want to see bunny foo foo chopped to bits, okay?”

He gives me a sideways grin.
“Bunny foo foo?” he asks. It sounds funny coming from him. “You named our dinner?”

I finally give in and laugh.
It does sound pretty ridiculous.

I head into the house as Tony washes up the blood bath.
I find two large bowls, one to put the salad greens in and one to but the blackberries in. I steal a couple berries and put them in my mouth. The sweet, savory juice slides down my throat. Mmm, so good!

Tony comes through the door with a skewered, butchered rabbit on a long stick.
He places the stick in the fireplace on these two ‘legs’ that connect with a crank. He adds a few more logs to the fire and gets a good, strong flame going. “We’ll want to crank that every few minutes or so to keep it from burning.”

I nod while admiring how self-sufficient Tony is… and his biceps.
Shaking my head, I clear the cobwebs and finish the task at hand. I grab a blackberry from the bowl and squat down next to Tony. “Open your mouth and close your eyes,” I say to him. I swallow the knot that’s formed in my throat. My mother used to say that to me when I was little.

Tony turns towards me and gives me an impish grin.
He abides and opens his mouth, keeping his eyes tightly shut. I place the blackberry in his mouth but all I see are his lips. They’re hypnotizing. I move my fingers from his mouth and watch as he bites into the blackberry. His mouth turns up at the corners, “It’s sweet.”

I break out of my trance when he opens his eyes and I nod my head in agreement.
He turns the crank a few more times till the browned side is pointing upwards. Tony is illuminated by the firelight casting beautiful shadows across his face. The glow makes each of his features more prominent and that much more attractive to look at. He turns towards me and I watch his yellow eyes gain depth and meaning. He reaches out and touches the side of my cheek. My eyes instantly close and I revel in his touch. He places a piece of my hair back behind my ears and lets his fingers trace the line of my cheekbone all the way down to my chin.

I open my eyes at the absence of his touch.

“You’re so beautiful, Willow.”

I bite my lower lip.

He says this in all seriousness and I believe him.
Breaking the moment, he stands and holds his hand out to me. I take it and he helps me up. “The salad dressing isn’t going to make itself,” he says aloud.

“I wish it would,” I say to myself.

“What?” Tony says, immediately turning around to face me.

My eyes go round with shock… he just heard that.
“Nothing,” I squeak.

He holds my gaze for a few moments longer. His eyes filled with a silent humor. Then he turns back around to assemble the salad.

I take a long deep breath and run my hands over my face.
I’ve got to remember we can do that.

Tony grabs some oil and vinegar and begins concocting a salad dressing.
He puts a pinch of salt and pepper in it and mashes up some blackberry to make a vinaigrette. I guess I’ll add: cook, to the thousand-item list of things Tony can do. I can’t help but wonder if there is anything he can’t do.

He reaches back under the cabinet and pulls out a jar of sugar.
He breaks the seal and sprinkles some on the blackberries. I sit down on the sofa to watch the master at work. If anything, I’m in the way of this one-man show. Tony alternates between cranking the handle on the fireplace, making the salad, and setting the table. I ask him if I can help but he insists that I take it easy. He wants to make dinner for me.

I must have dozed off for a bit because Tony wakes me by gently shaking my arm.
The fire has died down some and it makes me wonder how long I was out. As if knowing what I’m thinking he answers me, “You were only out about half an hour.”

I nod my head and sit up. Wiping my eyes, I let out a yawn.
“It smells good…”

“Well it should, I made it,” Tony says with confidence.

I follow him into the dining area where he’s set up two plates… and a candle in the middle.
The butterflies flutter in my stomach when it reminds me of that candlelight dinner we shared a while back. Only this time is different. This time not only am I single, but we’re also alone. That ups the ante a bit.

I go to take a seat and Tony comes up from behind me, pulling out my chair.
I sit down and he gracefully helps me scoot forward. He takes a seat and serves both of us our portions. I grab my fork and knife and try out the rabbit first. It’s good; not at all gamey like I thought it would be. The salad is divine and it goes perfectly with it. A girl could sure get used to this kind of cooking! Tony mentions in between bites to save room for dessert.