Page 35 of Class Clown

“I thought you knew karate.”

“Do you think karate will work on a porcupine? I’d lose a finger or a toe trying to hit him. Come on, I need spy techniques, moving in untraceable ways. What did they teach you about losing a tail?”

“Are you actually scared of it? You’re five times his size and can outdistance him at any time.”

It was hard to see his expression in the dark, so I gripped both of his arms, turning us in unison so that he was facing the brighter lights coming from the Bearadise Lodge.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I want to see your face right now.”

“Why?”

“I’m trying to decide if you’re teasing me in a friendly way, or mocking me. How we go from here depends on the answer.”

His mouth shifted and I watched with interest as his cheeks raised, his eyes became squinted and his mouth expanded until he was fully smiling at me again. Then, he laughed. Well, it was probably more of a chuckle because it wasn’t going to be drawing any attention, but the point is he was amused.

“Friendly teasing,” he responded.

I pinched both of his arms. He didn’t even flinch.

“You should know better than to judge an opponent by its size,” I responded. “We can’t know anything about the danger I’m in from that porcupine. They can climb trees.”

He did his best to tamp down on it, but his amusement was still obvious, his smile still shining in the lodge lights. And I was very confused by this entirely new person standing with me in the rain.

“Then, I apologize,” he said. “I wasn’t aware tree warfare was involved.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded. “Should we keep going? Or would you prefer to stand here in the darkness, giving Quinn the perfect opportunity to attack?”

I took an involuntary step closer to him and looked around in case Quinn had sneaked up on us. I wouldn’t put it past him, diabolical rat. When it seemed the coast was clear I glanced back up at Nico who was now standing completely still looking down at me. His smile was gone, replaced by a searching look that took in my features one-by-one. It was only after several silent moments that I realized I continued to hold tightly to his arms, and that we were so close that our feet were touching. I stumbled backwards, letting go of him, and shaking my head.

Needing to get back on equal footing with him, I resumed walking and said the only thing that popped in to my head. “I sent my friends that picture I took of you.”

“Oh?”

“They think you’re pretty.” His only response was a deep sigh. I pressed back to our earlier topic. “Anyhow, I need you to dust off your military skills and give me some pointers.”

“Porcupine warfare strategy is classified.”

I glanced at him, thrown completely off-center by this entire interaction. He kept looking forward, walking along in the rain like it was a balmy afternoon and he had nowhere to be. I huffed.

“Don’t Marine’s have a sworn duty to protect?” I asked.

“I’m retired.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You want my advice, Ruby?” he asked, and I recognized instantly that his tone had shifted from playful to serious. “Avoid warfare, and battle strategy, and engaging with your enemy. It’s not worth it. Let the porcupine live his life, and ignore him. Peace is the only goal you should be focused on.”

Nothing more was said as his words bounced around in my head. Hard won words that he clearly meant. Conversation dropped, and I didn’t press. The rest of the walk back to the Funky Bunks cabin was done in silence. By the time we climbed up the steps to the cabin, his vibes had returned to relaxed and I thanked him again for his thoughtfulness in bringing me a poncho.

Thoughtful was an attribute I was really beginning to appreciate.

Chapter 10

Ruby’s Truth: A little sweat can heal what ails you.

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