Sweetest Pain || Hawk Moskowitz

51 Trails

Hawk smiled to himself as he watched KT walk ahead of him, her arms outstretched to touch the tree branches as she passed them. He was glad she wasn't opposed to a small hike on a Saturday, especially since she'd been running practically all week. It had started off as a walk through the park after a little picnic, but the place was always crowded on the weekends - not that it had bothered her but they wanted to be alone. So they veered away from the common walking path and made their way through a wooded area that most people had forgotten about.

When he said "walk in the park," she'd decidedly wore her track shoes, seemingly aware that their simple walk would become more of an exploration. He loved it.

Just like he loved the wide smile on her face when she turned to him, pausing on the overgrown dirt trail.

"This is amazing," she giggled. Her eyes wandered, taking in their surroundings. The signs of spring's upcoming arrival weren't subtle and the air was growing warmer, which she found to be magnificent. "It's so pretty out here."

He was too busy looking at her to pay attention to nature. All he really knew was that it was the cause of the radiant smile on her face as she welcomed the world with open arms, and he loved that. She looked beautiful at all times, no matter if she was all dressed up or in lounge wear, but in that moment she looked absolutely breathtaking. If his current view was a painting, she was the focal point and everything else was just there to elevate her beauty.

He wished they could do this everyday.

It was relaxing, just being able to take a step away from the busy schedules their lives had cultivated. As if school hadn't been hard enough, karate and track were far more demanding, but the extracurriculars had been their choice. While he'd been aware that karate was going to require a lot of focus and skill building, he'd had no idea what all he was in for when he signed up, but he wouldn't change it whatsoever. As soon as he had gotten a taste of the thrill and the way it made him feel, he knew he couldn't walk away from it.

I now understand what KT means when she says she loves to run. It's like her life. She needs track like she needs air to breathe. Though they were standing in the middle of the woods, he could see her on the field; running faster than everyone else there, already on her third lap while the prospective freshmen were still on their first. She'll run the mile twice just to show them she could do it, showing off. There was a competitive flame burning in her chest and it shined in her eyes when she talked about her upcoming meets.

Hawk could feel the same fire already sparked in his own chest, filling it with heat that fueled him through his lessons at the dojo. It wasn't just the idea of competition, though. It was the exhilaration, the fun, the courage it gave him. Everything about karate had breathed new life into him. I get it now. Karate is to me what track is to KT. I mean, where would I be right now without it?

He walked up and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close as she looked at him. She looped her arms around his neck, smiling up at him. He dipped his head to kiss her, but just before they met, he whispered, "Not as pretty as you."

She giggled, but it was cut off by his lips. Her own twitched in a quick smile before melting into the kiss and she pulled him closer. He loved the feeling of her hands bringing him into her, holding him close, as if she were never going to let go. She always made him feel wanted, desired, loved, but now he could give it all right back to her without a care about what the world or other people would think.

He grabbed her waist, pulling her against him. A small moan vibrated in her throat and he slipped his tongue past her lips. Her hand gripped the back of his neck while the other wandered down his body, feeling the hardened muscle he'd gained over the last couple of months. She moved it lower until she could slide it up his shirt and feel his warm skin on her finger tips.