Don't Be The Hero

Twenty Seven

Nina pov

I woke up snuggled next to Jack in the bed. I guess he dragged me there. But there were no dreams. Through the window, it wasn't even dawn yet. I got up and kissed him, while unstrapping my gloves. He smiled in his sleep. It's cute, when your boyfriend is smiling in his sleep. It made Jack look adorable, and vulnerable at the same time. When I was successfully ready for the day of work, dressed, made breakfast, a sad attempt on my part. When Jack woke up at six thirty, he was surprised to see that I had his clothes all laid out for him, and a peanut butter bagel in my hand. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at me. "Are you feeling ok?"
I nod. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?"
He took he bagel and felt my head with his hand. "Nope, no fever. I guess it could just be that your hair is down?"
I was confused. "Why would that make a difference?"
"What I'm trying to say is that your very hot. In complicated words."
Oh. Ok.
"C'mon gotta get to work."
I walked out into the kitchen and sat there. I don't understand why my hair would make a difference. I'm wearing the same clothes I wear everyday. My hair does look pretty when it's down... Annie always told me that, along with Jean, Storm, Mom and Dad, but I choose not to listen to them. Thats why I keep it up. I glance at my reflection in the window. I guess my hair does looks good, with my black tank top tucked into my jeans, and my new pair of work boots. My hair was past my shoulders now, equal with the middle of my shoulder blades, kinda hiding the edges of scars.
Jack came out, wearing the grey T-shirt and jeans with his boots that I laid out for him earlier.
"Come on, your taking forever! I want to be there early!" I said taking Jack's hand and pulling him to the front door.
"Ok, ok, I'm coming." He gets in and I start up the van.
"So what are we going to do there?"
"I don't think it was BYOA..." I mumbled to myself.
"Wait, there's going to be alcohol?"
I hope not. "No silly, Bring Your Own Ax. But I think they have extras."
I concentrated on the road. We were almost there. "You brought your ax? How?"
I smile and laugh a little. "There's a compartment instead of seats that are folded down."
"Why would you bring it?"
I looked at him. "I knew I would need it at some point."
He just smiled. I speed of down the road.

I turned on the dirt road and dove down it for five minutes. We came up to a small area, where you park. I took a spot close to the road, and we both piled out. I retrieved my ax from its hidden spot and waited. It was seven fifteen when Cory arrived. He pulled over and greeted us. "Your here early. And I see you brought your own ax." He said the two other men would be here in an hour, and said that one was out sick.
We piled into the back of Cory's truck, and drove down the rest of the road to the site. There were two heavy machines, one abandoned near the entrance. He assigned Jack to cutting off limbs of fallen trees. I gave him my ax. He took me over to a few trees that were still standing. "Has your dad ever let you use a chainsaw before?"
I smile. "Nope, but I don't really have a reason to. Which way do you want it to fall?" I ask. "What?"
"Which way do you want the tree to fall?"
He backs up. "This way, preferably." He backed up a bit more. I unsheathed a claw and sliced through the thick tree, a downward diagonal cut. I could hear him gasp as the tree fell exactly where he wanted it to. "Faster right?" He nodded.
When the two other men came they were shocked to see a girl cutting trees. Until they figured out it was me. They were both tall, strong men, and looked very intimidating, but behind their cold stares I could see smiles in their eyes.
As I cut down another tree one of them said, "Nina, there is no doubt that you are your fathers girl. They laughed a bit and I shrugged. What can I say. One of them drove the big machine that rolled the logs, and the other drove the one that loaded them on the truck. After I cut down at least seven trees, Cory told me to help Jack. He was doing fine by himself, but he appreciated my help on the thicker limbs.

We worked well past lunch time, until Cory told us that we had done at least tree days work in a few hours, thanked us and sent us home.

Johnny had lunch bought for us when we got back. I refused. "I'm going to go check on Victor." And I walked right back out he door. I jumped back in the car and backed out. Driving five miles over the limit, I turned into a forest road, and a few minutes in I stopped. I pulled out my phone.