Chapter Three

    I gulped and followed Elder Jacobs toward the front of the room, where two other men sat.
“Shayda, this is Elder Matthews and Elder Johnson.” Elder Jacobs nodded toward the other two men. I smiled at them politely and stood there, nervously clasping my hands.
Elder Jacobs offered me a smile and began speaking.
“ I know आप just got here, but there this much to discuss.”
I nodded.
“ आप see, every साल our students spilt into groups and we go into the forest. We call it,” He trailed off again, glancing at the other two men who looked very solemn. One frowned and gave a barely discernable shake of his head.
Elder Jacobs frowned and started over.
“ Here in our town we want to connect with nature. To live in peace with it. So every year, we take treks deep within the forest.
It teaches students how to survive in the wilderness and how to be comfortable in their surroundings.”
I grimaced. That might be a problem. I didn’t know anyone here well enough to feel comfortable going away from civilization into the secluded forest with.
Elder Jacobs must have saw my face.
“ We’ll be training you, Shayda, so आप will be ready to go out with the others. We already have your schedule worked out. That will be all.”
I blinked. Wow. That guy knew how to dismiss people.
I slowly took the piece of paper offered to me and turned, दिखा रहा है myself to the door. As I walked back into the hall, I read my schedule.
“ What?” I exclaimed. Wrestling? Hand to hand combat? Outdoor Survival 101? Were they freaking kidding me?
Someone cleared their throat.
I twitched and looked up. Rafe unfolded his long frame from the दीवार and walked over. My mouth went dry. He was just so fine.
“How did it go?”
I glanced down at my schedule. “ I didn’t even know wrestling and hand to hand combat were classes आप could take.”
Rafe grinned and started walking. I fell into step beside him.
“Well most of us took those classes in elementary and middle school. They’re just trying to get आप caught up.”
I snorted. “ They shouldn’t bother. We wont be staying here very long.”
Rafe looked down at me quickly, frowning.
“ Not that I don’t want to,” I added quickly. “ We हटाइए around a lot is all.”
He nodded silently.
I lapsed into silence, following Rafe meekly.
He led the way until we entered a large room. A felt a fear slink up into my stomach. The room was filled with weight lifting equipment and wrestling mats.
“Um, what are we doing here?” I asked softly.
Rafe grinned over his shoulder at me. “Why not start your classes today?”
I glanced around at all the teenagers who looked to be about my age, working out. There weren’t any adults in sight.
“Where’s the teacher?” I looked around again to make sure I wasn’t in sight.
“We’re और a educate yourself class.”
“You don’t have a teacher?” I asked in amazement, still looking around.
“ Nope. Like I said, we all help each other.”
“Humph.” I turned and started to step toward him. That’s when I noticed he had taken his कमीज, शर्ट off. One foot caught the back of my other and I pitched forward. I could feel my face flush even as I was falling.
A hand encircled my arm, pulling me back up on my face.
“ आप ok?” A strange voice asked.
I heaved in a huge breath and looked up. And just about fell over again.
“ Shayda, meet Parker.” Rafe’s voice sounded a little gruff.
I swallowed and looked back at the guy.
“ Its nice to meet you.”
A grin stretched across his lips.
“Nice to meet आप too.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I just looked at him. Blonde hair covered his head and his sleepy blue eyes twinkled at me. Moisture beaded over his tanned skin. I focused on one drop as it dropped off his chin and landed on his chiseled chest, running lower over his sculpted abs and lower…I jerked my head up. Now that I thought about it, all the guys in here were as fit as Rafe. It was like a girls dream come true.
I was acutely aware of Rafe moving to stand beside me.
“ Come on and meet the gang.” Rafe gently gripped my arm and guided me away from Parker. I focused on the group we were heading toward. Three girls and four guys lounged on a wrestling mat, laughing as two of the guys were messing with each other.
“Hey guys, meet Shayda. She’s new.” Rafe called.
It was like someone had flipped a switch. Everyone fell into silence as all attention turned to me. I felt like beating Rafe into a pulp. If there was one thing I couldn’t stand, it was all attention on me.
Packer stepped up beside us, running a towel over his head.
“Shayda, meet everyone. That’s Logan, my brother.” He nodded towards the other blonde guy. I smiled shyly.
“ That’s Bristol.” He continued. Bristol waved at me, grey eyes shining.
“Cole, Hunter, Jess, Natasha, and Emma.” Packer rushed through the others and I struggled to take them all in. One thing was certain, all the guys were way buff. Except one, he looked a little younger than the rest, but they were all a good looking lot.
“ Its so nice to meet you!” Jess, the girl who I had first talked to chirped.
“Thanks. Its nice to meet आप guys too.” I replied, smiling. Gradually, noise started to build up in the room. I fingered my hair consciously.
I wasn’t scared to admit I had always been a little materialistic. I couldn’t help it if scene hair was the ‘in’ thing at my old school. No, I wasn’t ईमो या gothic, but I loved my hair. But these girls all had natural looking hair. Jess and Emma both had long, dark curly hair, while Natasha possessed blonde hair, but they were all going for the ‘natural’ look. I could tell they only wore a little makeup, unlike my carefully applied multilayered design.
A small sigh escaped my lips.
“ आप ready?”
I turned toward Rafe, who was still looking oh so good without a shirt. He had pulled off his jeans to reveal baggy shorts beneath them. I tried to concentrate on his words and not his amazing body.
“Ready for what?”
His eyes darkened until they were a forest green.
“ Your first lesson.”
Parker slung an arm over my shoulder. His warmth seared through my shirt.
“ So you’re gonna learn how to fight huh?”
I gulped. What?!