now or never

14

"What was that?" Sloane asked me. I shrugged my shoulders and didn't respond. But my brother had other plans. "Seriously now. You've been avoiding each other for weeks and when you talk I feel like something has happened that I both want to know and don't want to know. Would you mind explaining that to me?" "There's nothing to explain!" I hissed at him. I hadn't told either of them about the kiss or anything before or after. I was uncomfortable. Why? No idea.

Minutes passed until it was finally my turn. Unlike my brother, Sloane didn't make it to the top and had to climb down on a rope. Cam managed to do it but almost fell victim to it. "Get into your position, Elena" Professor Emetterio ordered.

I ran as fast as I could. I climbed the five meters over the tree trunk without any problems and then continued over the ascending columns. Then I went through a small opening on the rotating wheel. It was fun and I imagined myself working my way up here with Garrick. I heard cheers from my squad members as I sprinted towards the row of huge hanging balls. I grab hold of the first one before jumping onto the next one, and I do this with all of them until I reach the end. The third stage is ahead of me. First I had to shimmy from one metal pole to the next and then jump over a series of wobbly pillars. I was almost there. 

The rotating tree trunks were a little tricky but doable. In front of me now lay the gigantic, twenty meter high rock chimney. I sprinted and threw myself into the crevice with momentum. Using my arms and legs, I worked my way up little by little and climbed out at the end. Now came my only challenge, the huge ramp. If I can't do that, I might as well give up on becoming a rider, I thought to myself, but I quickly shook the thought away. I sprinted off. The force needed to do this was enormous, but I had almost made it to the top when I threw my arms open and grabbed the edge. My muscles were burning, but I pulled myself up and was met by Cam. "Show-off," he said simply and pulled me into a hug.

Not many made it to the top and Trysten, a boy in my troop with whom I had never exchanged a word, didn't make it. "You two made it look so easy. You have to help me." It wasn't a question from Sloane, but a request that neither Cam nor I could refuse.

Suddenly an arm was around my shoulder and I tensed, ready to strike. "Relax, it's just me, Imogen." She laughed. I didn't find it funny. "You two Greycastles are really good. What can't you do?" "Sing." Cam said. We laughed. "And you, Elena?" Now everyone looked at me excitedly. Bodhi had joined them and now bowed his head. "I'm flawless." I replied and the others laughed even harder. "Clearly." Bodhi remarked.

"I'll be honest, you could really say that my sister is flawless, everything she does she can do and the things she doesn't do, well, she doesn't do them." Cam smiled proudly and I grinned.

"So if Alic said he couldn't sing, can you?" Sloane became curious. I nodded. "I sing, play piano, violin and guitar. Cam only knows violin." I also had to praise my brother because he was a really good violinist. "You definitely have to sing and play something for us. Both of you." Imogen was thrilled and the others nodded eagerly. Only Bodhi looked at me.

God, when he looks at me like that I get goosebumps and I want to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him until I couldn't take it anymore. There was a tension between us today, more than usual and I knew he had noticed it too because he kept looking at my lips.

"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go clean my hands." I apologized and left. My hands were actually covered in blood and dirt and I didn't like the feeling. I was walking down the hallway, not a soul around, when I heard footsteps behind me and then hands wrapped around my waist and turned me around before I was pushed against the wall in an alcove.

Lips pressed against mine and I leaned into them. I wrapped my hands around his neck, as I had imagined, and lightly touched his lower lip. Bodhi moaned slightly and pressed himself even closer to me, deepening our kiss.

I slowly pulled away from him and looked into his eyes. He looked between my eyes and lips and leaned in again. I put my index finger on his lips. He looked at me puzzled. "I thought that was a mistake." "Well, maybe I like making mistakes, at least when it comes to you." His answer was enough for me because he was right and I kissed him again. Sometimes you just have to make a mistake to know it's a mistake.