Shattered Rose

6. ZIP LINE

"Lord, I pray You reveal Your glory to her in mighty ways. I pray she sees Your hand in all that nature offers, and she knows that same God has every hair on her head numbered..."

The next morning Issy was on a tirade, swearing she was going to call the University first thing Monday morning and get our locks changed. I was pretty sure she said the phrases, "How dare he?"and "Who does he think he is?"at least fifty times. Pete, in the meantime, was excessively texting and calling her. She ignored him, rolling her eyes each time the phone made a noise. I guess that infatuation was a one-night event. I wished I could be so lucky. I couldn't get Jake out of my mind. There was so much I didn't understand. Who was he with last night, and why was he kissing me when he had just been on a date with someone else? It took all of my willpower not to ask Issy those questions. But the last thing I wanted was for her to know the depth of my feelings, and she was incredibly perceptive. Issy fell on the lip love seat and looked at her phone. "Ugh! Stop calling me!""Why did you go out with him in the first place?""I don't know. I was mad at Jake, and I knew it would bug him.""Why were you mad at him? I thought you two were bonded by some supernatural force."I was hoping the teasing in my voice would mask my curiosity. "It's a long story. Let's just say that he and I don't always agree on the 'family'issues, and the older he gets, the more he tries to intervene. It has reached new levels since my Aunt Kathy died."My heart skidded to a screeching halt. His mom had died. I looked up at Issy. "When?""This summer. She had an inoperable brain tumor that slowly took her. Her death was really hard on him and my mom. That's part of why we fight so much. He idolizes my mom because she took care of them. It's like he has this need to pay her back, and that means dote over her and protect me at all costs. And the cost right now is our friendship. Things just haven't been the same since."My heart was heavy as I tried to imagine his pain. No wonder he was tired. No wonder he was guarded. My compassion for him overwhelmed me. I looked at Issy with a serious stare. "Maybe you should cut him a break.""Oh, not you too! Ugh, is there no safe place from him? I told you to stay away from him. You didn't listen."She threw her hands up in surrender. "Do you want to know why Betsy left? She was in love with Jake, and she couldn't take being around him every day when he acted like she didn't exist. He charmed her just like he's doing to you and broke her heart.""Issy, I don't have to be in love with him to feel bad for him. I just think if you would put yourself in his shoes every once in a while, your relationship might not be so heated."Issy wasn't hearing it. She got up and left the room. The tension in the apartment was more than I could stand with my already heightened emotions, so I grabbed my books and headed to the library. I was thankful to see my study group in their usual corner and joined them. Unfortunately, it soon became obvious that I was days behind. I excused myself, not wanting to hold them back. A corner table was available in the back of the room, and I set my books out, ready to tackle the impossible. I worked through five of the twenty practice problems, only having to re-work one of them to get the right answer. I was so engrossed in my studying that I failed to notice my study group was gone, and a guy had joined me at my small table. He was leaning back in the chair with a book and highlighter. He had on a baseball cap and his face was turned to the side so I could only see his profile. I leaned in, feeling that I knew him from somewhere. That's when the scent hit me. I settled back in my chair, not knowing if I should say anything or not. I had encountered two different sides of Jake, one I adored-the other I slightly feared. "You go to a whole different world when you're studying, don't you?"His green eyes made contact with mine. I breathed a sigh of relief. He looked relaxed, even amused. "How long have you been here?"I asked, my concentration evaporating into thin air. "At least ten minutes. I was starting to take bets with myself as to whether you were really that zoned or if you were intentionally freezing me out."I smiled, mostly at the idea that I could ever play it cool when it came to Jake. "What are you reading?""It's a riveting book on international finance. What about you?"I had almost forgotten Jake was still in college. I had yet to see Issy crack a book and was beginning to think I was the only one who had to study. "Oh, I have you beat. My pleasure reading for the afternoon is statics, the study of physical systems in equilibrium."Jake lifted his hands up as if to say I had won, his eyes dancing for the first time since he caught me singing in my room. He eyed my thick textbook. "How much more do you have?""Why, have you come to rescue me from my calculator?"He appeared to be considering it and nodded. "Yeah, let's get out of here. I have someplace I want to take you."There was no saying "no"to that, even if it meant I pulled an all-nighter to study for my quiz. "Let's go."He didn't say much on the drive but kept his hand on my thigh the entire way. By the time we pulled into Pisgah National Forest, my mind was muffled and body enflamed. He opened my door and I stood in awe. The trees were amazing this time of year, the colors a vibrant red, orange and yellow. The sheer beauty and expanse of the forest made the campus trees look like bushes. "This is breathtaking,"I exclaimed. "Yeah, I love it. Spent most of the summer up here, just letting nature do its thing."I wondered if helping him cope with grief was the "thing"that nature did, but I didn't say anything. We entered the main building, and the guys behind the counter immediately recognized Jake. My mind started registering the harnesses, gloves and helmets on the walls. I turned my focus onto Jake and caught the last of his conversation. "I'm going to take her on a few lines, if that's okay?"The guys waved their hands. "Of course, you know you're welcome to them any time."My palms started to sweat, panic rising up in my throat. "Um, Jake, may I talk to you for a minute outside?"He seemed to sense my panic. After guiding me out the door, he put both of his hands on my shoulders. "You will be fine.""No, you don't understand. I'm not like you or Issy. I don't take risks, even calculated ones. I can't do this."My heart pounded faster and faster each time I looked toward the building that held my fate. Jake stared me right in the eyes. I was captivated. "You will be fine. You trust me, don't you?"I simply nodded and followed him inside-back in the same trance I felt the first night at the club. Numbness consumed me as I let the shop guys lock the harnesses all around me, hand me a helmet and give me gloves to wear. It was a mile hike to the first platform, and the majesty of the area almost made me forget where we were going...almost. I nervously watched my feet as the gravel trail crunched underneath me and wondered how many girls Jake had brought here. As if sensing my fear, he laced his fingers through mine and squeezed. My apprehension dissipated until we reached the first platform. I looked over the side and registered how high we were. Knowing I was going to be one hundred feet above the ground and staring at it are two very different things. "Jake, I can't do this."My voice was barely louder than the wind. "Yes, you can. I will be right here with you. You can trust me."I nodded, trying to bury my fear. He strapped my harness to the line and positioned his body right behind me. "Now sit in your harness seat and put your legs straight out in front of you. Grab the top line with your left hand and the bottom line with your right one. Use your right hand to slow yourself down."I hung on every word. "Now, Avery, step off."I closed my eyes and took the leap. My stomach plummeted, but the feeling was spectacular. I had always felt running was like flying when the high took over, but nothing prepared me for this. The trees were surrounding me with their beauty and, for the briefest moment, I felt the freedom I was constantly searching for. I soared through the air, metal on metal squealing. The wind whipped across my face like the very breath of God. My feet hit the next platform and immediately strong hands were waiting to pull me in. I did it! Jake was seconds behind me. He got his footing and then looked at me, smiling. "What did you think?"My inhibitions were gone. I threw my arms around him and boldly kissed him right in front of the world. "It was amazing!"He pulled me close, looking at me with such intensity that I thought I would catch fire right there. Then he tickled me. "Just wait until you do the next one."We did all ten of them, each one exceeding the next in height, speed and beauty. The Blue Ridge Mountains could be seen in the distance, and the overall effect was magnificent. As we watched the sun set from the last platform, I was struck with the significance. I had exceeded my own expectations, and the joy and pride I felt changed how I could view the rest of my life. Jake had given me that moment. He stood behind me with his arms wrapped around my waist. "Thank you,"I whispered. He nuzzled my neck, somehow knowing what he had done for me. "You're welcome."It was as if the trees had bonded Jake and me together. We spent the next two weeks texting incessantly and sneaking off to be together. Jake and Issy were still not talking, and she wasn't saying much to me either. Issy was a lot of things, but stupid was not one of them. I was sure she figured out that Jake and I were dating. The euphoria of new love consumed me. I couldn't eat, could hardly sleep, and my stomach was in a perpetual state of nervous excitement. My schoolwork was also not fairing so well. I had somehow managed to keep a B in Statics, but in Thermodynamics, I was barely hanging on to a C. If I fell below a 3.5 GPA, I would be put on probation. I knew I should care, but I just didn't. In fact, there wasn't much in my life I did care about right now, except for Jake. I hadn't run in over a week and got a stern talking to from my advisor about my lack of work-study hours. Even Cara was driving me crazy. It was like they were all bees flying around my head, nagging me to give up the one thing in my life I cherished. I wasn't going to do it! Jake brought out something in me I couldn't explain. When I was around him, I felt like I took on his qualities. I was more outgoing, funny, and even flirtatious beyond my normal comfort zone. He made me adventurous and fearless, things I had never been in my life. Cara, as usual, was my incessant buzz kill. "I just don't understand why it has to be 'this you'or the 'old you.'Why can't you be both? You worked hard for that scholarship and this opportunity. All summer long you talked about how much you loved it. I don't understand how it could suddenly mean so little.""It still matters to me, Cara. It's just not the only thing that matters to me any more. I have Jake now, and he makes me happy.""Really? You have Jake? When's the last time he's taken you on a real date, or anywhere in public for that matter? Avery, making out in the laundry room at your apartment complex does not make him a boyfriend."I blushed at the memory that stirred. Me, sitting on the table reading, Jake sneaking up behind me, kissing my neck and pulling me into his arms. He made me feel sexy and beautiful. I felt like he wanted me, and the feeling was invigorating. "Cara, you just don't understand,"I said, sighing. "I guess not,"she responded with equal resignation. After a long, dramatic pause, Cara asked, "So, how is the eating?"I was taken back by her question, almost forgetting I had shared my deepest secret. "It's great. I've never felt this good about myself.""Avery, trading one obsession for another is not healing...it's transference, and it's dangerous."Anger boiled in my gut. "I didn't ask you to be my psychologist, nor did I confide in you so you could hound me every chance you got. I'm fine, so leave it alone!"I couldn't remember the last time there was this much tension in our relationship. "I'm sorry,"I finally said after an awkward period of silence. "Let's just talk later, okay?"We said our goodbyes and hung up the phone, but my heart was heavy. I felt like I was losing my best friend. It seemed so unfair that I could find such happiness in one area of my life, while all the others seemed to be unraveling. Cara's words bothered me, but I pushed them aside. Jake cared about me, and I wasn't going to let her question that simple truth!