"Keep up, slow poke," Baz tosses over his shoulder as I fall a little behind.
"I'm right here with you," I promise as I pull my backpack to the front of my chest.
Baz whistles the melody of the Audioslave song like he doesn't have a care in the world-completely unassuming-as the sound of running water becomes increasingly louder.
The beat of my heart is literally as resounding as a gong as I reach inside my bag and grab for the gun. The cold metal grazes against my heated skin as I slip my fingers around the grip.
Just do it. Just do it. Just do it. I chant to myself like an annoying Nike commercial. I take a deep breath, and just as I go to pull the gun, Baz turns his head. "C'mon, you gotta see this." The happy, boyish expression on his handsome face utterly destroys me. I release the gun as he raises an eyebrow questioningly. Caught red handed, I swiftly pull out a water bottle from the bag. His suspicions disappear as I unscrew the cap and take a hefty sip.
Waiting until I finish hydrating, Baz takes it upon himself to grab my hand and keep me next to him. "No more falling behind." We walk at the same brisk pace as the sound of the running water becomes deafening. Taking a hard left, Baz leads me deeper into the forest, and before long, we come to a magnificent waterfall thundering off a sky-high cliff across a ravine.
Baz inhales the cleansing scent of nature wafting through the air, and a serene aura seems to encapsulate us. "This is what it's all about. The simplicity of life." He exhales as he watches the falls with appreciation.
I wish I could relate to what he's feeling. My life is anything but simple. I wish I could look at something as simplistic as a waterfall and feel as free as him. What would that liberation be like? To be able to make my own decisions? To not be dictated to, or have expectations laid upon my shoulders like shackles?
I step closer to the edge, peering down into the blue pool below. At the base of the waterfall, rainbows play hide and seek as the cloud cover shields the light of the sun.
"I love this part of the hike." He peeks over my shoulder.
"It's just another check on the 'experience natures beauty' list," I muse.
"The main attraction is still to come. Ready?" Baz's excitement is palpable. His presence like gravity. I've never enjoyed simply standing next to another human being the way I love standing next to him.
"So ready."
"Then let's go." He stalks around me.
"Should we race?" I challenge him.
"Do you have any idea where you're going?" He folds his arms haughtily.
Good point. I bat my eyelashes playfully. "No."
"How 'bout we just hold hands, then?" he offers an alternative. I look down at Baz's extended palm, and a funny feeling tingles in my stomach. A ridiculous, giddy sensation.
God, I'm such a damn girl. When did that happen?
Just as I go to take his hand, the earth gives out from under his feet, and he stumbles back.
"Baz!" The alarm in my own voice startles me as I snatch his backpack straps and yank him back on solid ground.
With hammering hearts and short breaths, we both stand perfectly still, processing what almost happened.
"Holy shit, I almost just bit it." Baz looks down with his arms locked around my chest. "You saved me, Stevie." The stupid idiot actually has the audacity to laugh, while I'm rendered speechless. I did just fucking save you, didn't I?
What. The. Fuck? Who am I right now? Who the hell is this person Benjamin Sabatino makes me?
"I think we should go." I can hear the slight shakiness in my words.
"Good idea." Baz hesitates an extra few beats before releasing me. Static snaps between us as we back away from the ledge and Baz entwines his fingers with mine. My pulse accelerates in a way I'm unfamiliar with. With a quiet excitement. An adolescent enthusiasm. I'm all over the fucking place.
We walk hand in hand through the woodsy terrain, stealing heated glances here and there until we come to the boulders Baz spoke about.
"The spring is right over the rocks," he explains as he helps me maneuver through the cracks. He makes every effort to touch me as we climb the rocky hill, and my dumb ass loves every second of it. You're supposed to kill him, not want to fuck him.
But the thought of hurting Baz just isn't an option at the moment.
"Okay, wait, wait." He forces me to stop just before we climb over the last rock.
"What?"
"Close your eyes."
"What? Why?" Suspicion and resistance are present in both my questions.
"C'mon, just trust me." Baz persuades me with his glittery green snake eyes.
I swear they're fucking hypnotic.
Trust him? What an ironic twist.
I do as he asks, lowering my lids until the world disappears.