pg+9

=everything. But Joshua was not losing to a girl. Or at least he wasn’t giving up till he was seriously hurt. He charged me again, this time he was braced for a blow to chest. So this time I spun when he was two feet away from me, and hit his right side with a hard blow from my heel, which sent him sprawling again. It didn’t keep him down long, so when he charged me again, I flipped him onto his back and pinned him. He was panting hard and gasping for air, but this was a daily warm up for me. =  “Are you done yet?” I asked him not bothering to conceal the smugness in my voice. “……How?” He asked after a few pants. “A lot of training. And being a fifth degree black belt helps too.” “You’re better than Jasper.” He said still gasping for air. Then strong hands were around my waist. I automatically knew it was Shane. I’d started to recognize whose hands were picking me up. “You’ve got some temper haven’t you?” He said, a look of awe on his face. “MOLLY!!!!!!!!!!” My family yelled unison. “Just a little one,” I said while enjoying the look of awe on his face. Jasper went and picked up his brother and said “Why would you pick a fight with someone with backup that you knew was stronger than you, Joshua?” And grinned over at Shane, who laughed back. “Stalker.” He said back and started laughing. “It’s an inside joke.” Jasper said to me. So we started heading back down to the fire, Shane still carrying me. “Wasn’t that enough proof that I can walk now for you to let me walk on my own?” I asked getting really annoyed. “Yes, but I enjoy carrying you.” Shane said unashamed. I couldn’t really say much to that or he might make me put the brace back on, so I just let him carry me back to the fire. Once we got back to the fire, it was about sunset. Shane let me walk, and after about five steps, I tripped over a root and fell into a giant mud puddle. He started laughing, and scooped me up out of it when after the third try to get out of it failed after me slipping, again. My teeth were chattering, again, so I couldn’t really complain, because, again, he was really warm. By this time we had all already eaten and it was twilight. Violet and Jasper were talking food and cooking, and having a great time doing so. Jeff and Rose were getting better acquainted. I was half asleep, my head on Shane’s shoulder again. My mom put the picnic blanket around us, and we were warmer, and even more comfortable. Soon I started nodding off and the next time I woke up, I was still at the park, it was morning, and somebody’s watch was going off. Shane’s arms were still around me, and apparently he had just woken up too. “Huh?” I said still half asleep and not completely coherent. Jeff started laughing, and said “Nobody really wanted wake either of you, so Rose ran home got a couple tents, and we had a bit of a camp out. But you two apparently didn’t want to join us in the tents.” He said and started laughing even harder. I heard Shane curse under his breath. “Did my mom call you?” He asked while getting up, almost tripping over the extra weight that I added in his drowsiness. “Yeah. Told her you were on a date.” Jeff said while dodging a rock that Shane kicked at him. “I’ll get you back for this, Jeff.” Shane said looking really annoyed. “For what? You seemed pretty content where you were, so I didn’t bother you.” “Yeah, but how are we supposed to shower and get ready for school?” I asked rolling out of Shane’s arms. “You’re clean enough after your swim yesterday,” Rose said pg 10