Amazed

2

"And I said, deez nuts!" Ethan said, and we all burst out laughing. It was night time, and Mom had already said I can stay later. We we're currently wrapped in towels, and sitting by their fire pit. It was nice though, a nice country feeling.

"You guys are weird," I said, shaking my head with a huge smile on my face. They laughed.

"So how are you liking the city life, Rocky?" Ethan asked, sitting forward in his seat.

"So far, it's pretty good thanks to you guys."

"We should give her a tour tomorrow!" Gray said, and Ethan's eyes widened.

"Yes!" He agreed and I giggled. How blessed was I to have great friends like these guys?

"So you never told us what it was like to grow up in such a small town," Gray said to me.

"Well, the town only had a little over two-hundred people in it, and everyone knew everyone. I got along with people, but I never really had friends. Bear has always been my best friend. Heck, Bear has saved my life plenty of times," I said. I smiled at the memories of that remarkable dog saving me from dying in my sleep.

"Whoa what do you mean he's saved your life?" Gray asked, leaning forward as well. He was intrigued.

"Bear sleeps with his head on my chest, and apparently my lung had collapsed while I slept. Bear noticed I wasn't breathing, and began to panic and bark. I woke up in the hospital and Ma told me all of this. Also I broke my leg falling out of a tree, and he was the one to get help. Heck, when I needed to pee I'd just climb on his back and he'd walk me to the bathroom," I explained.

"No way!" Ethan exclaimed, and I laughed at his expression and nodded. "Too bad Gray's allergic to dogs."

"What? You're allergic?" I asked him. Crap! I didn't want to agitate his allergies if Bear's fur was on me still!

"Yeah, but I'm fine. My nose just runs a bit and I get a bit itchy. Nothing to worry about."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," he said, smiling. My heart skipped a beat at that dimpled smile. This kid could kill me.

"So what's your dad like? He seems pretty cool," Ethan asked.

"My dad's the best! He's an old fashioned man though, and he doesn't really like city folk," I said.

"What do you mean by 'old fashioned'?"

"If you wanted to date me, you'd have to ask him for permission. Same with marriage," I said.

"Wow, that's different."

"Yeah, but he only wants the best for me."

"What do you mean he doesn't like 'city folk'?" Gray asked.

"Well, you guys pretty much. It's just about something that happened in the past when he was a kid. City folk took everything he's ever known, and he's never trusted them again," I explained. Part of me understood his reasoning, and another part of me knew that that was on the past. He needed to move on.

"Well dang. Will he like us?" Gray asked, worry creasing his face. I gave him a smile.

"If you guys come around enough, and you don't insult country people, then he may grow to like y'all."

"Sweet," they said in unison and I chuckled.

A particularly chilly breeze blew through the backyard, and I shivered.

"Are you cold, Rocky? Here, let me help," Gray said, getting up and walking over to me. I tensed a bit as he put his arms under my legs and arms and carried me bridal style back to his seat. We sat down and he wrapped a towel around me. I just sat there, tense and a bit scared. What was I supposed to do? Was this what friends normally did?

Suddenly he leaned back in his chair, and my body followed him. My head ended up in the crook of his neck, and he wrapped his arms around me.

"Comfortable?" He asked, smirking. I quickly nodded and tried my hardest to relax. His warmth enveloped me, and his heart beat soothed my nerves. I smiled and felt my muscles relax and sleep was surely on the way.

"Aw, you guys are so cute!" I heard Ethan say, and I giggled.

"Shut up, Ethan," Gray said and I heard him throw something, causing Ethan to laugh.

My eye lids were becoming heavy, and my mind was sluggish. I was so toasty warm and comfy, that I couldn't help but let Gray's very presence lull me to sleep. The last thing I saw before I slipped into unconsciousness was the dancing flames of the fire.