Don't Catch Me!

Chapter 22 - Precarious Positioning

Chapter 22 - Precarious Positioning

To say that Joel was furious would be an understatement.  He was livid.  I held his hand and occasionally glanced at his scowling face but I didn’t press him.  I waited.  I would speak to him about this when he was a little more rational and when we had some privacy.

Gavin trailed behind us.  Not silent and sulking like Joel.  His quips were relentless and with each Joel flinched just slightly.  Gavin seemed to be enjoying taunting Joel.  I could hear the smile on his face but I wasn’t about to turn and confirm my suspicion.

Actually there was very little I could do.  After I insisted on taking Gavin, Joel had fallen quiet.  I knew that he was angry with me, but really what could I do?  I couldn’t leave Gavin there.  I couldn’t abandon him after causing this situation.  I would have to find a solution and fast, before Joel solved the problem permanently.

And now, well I could hardly turn around and tell Gavin off.  That would just make the situation worse.  Gavin was already insinuating that Joel was lacking in spine.  And to make matters worse he insisted on calling him Buffy. 

“How can you tell which direction to walk in?” I asked quietly as the dense forest surrounding us seemed to have no break.

“Are you lost, Buffy?” again the smirk in his tone.

Joel didn’t answer and didn’t turn to me. 

“Aww, is whittle, bitty, buffy all cranky?”

Maybe this was one comment too many.  I gripped Joel’s hand tightly and stopped suddenly turning to Gavin.  Joel must have been distracted because that action caused him to turn too in surprise.

“Gavin, in my dimension ‘Buff’ is used to complement a guy’s fabulous body.  You know the whole washboard abs and bulging biceps,” I ran my fingers down Joel’s chest as he stood there still in surprise.  “So when you call Joel ‘Buffy’ what you are really saying is that you are hot for him, right?  Well too bad, because he is mine.  And I don’t share.  Got that!”

Joel’s face broke out into a triumphant grin and he wrapped his arm around me.  I looked up and with my hands brought his face to mine kissing him gently.  Not in a showing off overt manner but just a soft real kiss.

“I am yours and you are mine,” I whispered to him.  “They probably have candles in this dimension.  Maybe even black lace.  Will you forgive me Joel?”

He smiled at me, “There is nothing to forgive.  I love you because you are caring and generous.  Occasionally the outcome of this might not be to my liking but I wouldn’t change you.”  He kissed me and held me to his chest.  I could feel him relaxing as he did.

“Get some procreation points people!  You two have no restraint!  I can’t believe you still have skin on your backs.”

“This is an old forest. “ Joel ignored Gavin total and spoke softly to me, “The canopy is very high up and the soil is rich with compost and deep.  We don’t have any forests like this left in my dimension.  There is something else too.  It is cold, too cold for this time of year.  The Gate controller is giving off some strange readings too.” He checked my watch and compared the numbers that appeared.  “There is hardly any pollution and yet it is picking up trace amounts of radiation.  Not enough to make a difference but just more than expected.”

He shrugged, “We are heading North in the hope of stumbling across something.   I would be interested to know how they have kept their pollution levels so low.”  He took my hand again and we continued to walk.