The Place of Love

Not made of Iron

Shocked and worried gasps filled the area around me. I already started to like the comfortable place I was lying on. I would have chosen to sleep here any day. But the worried gasps around me made me realize today wasn't the day. I began to open my eyes at a slow pace, not wanting to loose my comfort too soon.

As soon as I opened them, I was met with the same deep grey eyes that bore into mine. However, this time, unlike always, his eyes were softer. He looked.. worried? His hold on me did not loosen even a bit.

"Cali! Are you okay! Shit what is happening around here?" Amy's voice filled my ears. She brought me back to my senses. I realized there were people around and a few of them were in the same position that I was. Others, stood on the ground, confused looks on their faces.

I realized I couldn't lay here gazing into those beautiful eyes. I moved my hand from on his hard chest to his sides and helped myself up. I saw the same realization struck him as he shifted from under me. We managed to push ourselves up but only to be shocked at what was happening around us.

"Cali are you okay!?" Amy asked again sounding even more worried. I pretended to dust my clothes even though there wasn't any dirt on me probably to save myself from embarrassment. I was over a clean safe chest. Push your thoughts back for a while Cali!

I looked up at Amy and smiled at her "Hey yeah I'm fine" she gave me a smile in return looking relieved but she still looked around confused. I saw the Master and Mistress appearing from their tents coming towards our direction. I took the time to look around at what had happened.

The 'unusual poles' that I had noticed had fallen from their original positions on the ground. I couldn't find anyone who looked hurt or injured though. I realized that if not for Steve, I would have been crushed under the pole that was right behind me.

Shane came to my mind all too soon. I was talking to him before this happened. Why hadn't he saved me? I saw him behind a few people and after he caught me looking at him he came ahead "Hey are you okay?" I didn't answer him. I just couldn't. All the trust I had on him was shattered.

The Masters Blake and Sarah came up to the confused crowd with smiles on their faces which wasn't matching the situation. "Hey lovers!" the Mistress greeted. "We're sorry for this mess. It was just part of another session" she said leaving even more confused chatters around. "These pillars are not iron pillars that would have hurt any of you. They are made of Polystyrene and wouldn't hurt even a bit." The Master said shrugging.

"He's right. We did this as an experiment to test a few of you. I know this might have made you sad but this is what you needed to realize before it was too late. The plan was to see who saved you from the pole and who saved themselves. Love is about giving and that's what we showed you today. How willing your partner is to give anything for your protection."

The Mistress concluded and everyone's faces changed.

I realized all to well what was happening. Steve saved me and Shane hadn't. I didn't know what he was doing but he hadn't come for me

The crowd started becoming less as people started getting back into their tents. Shane came up to me and before he said anything I knew what my reply to whatever he said would be. I was prepared for it. "Hey I'm so glad your fi-"

"Not now Shane" I managed continuing "I need rest. And I'm still going to Amy's tent. Please?"

I couldn't argue more with him. I didn't want to bring up the topic of him asking me to spend the night with him. Not now. I just wanted to be away from him. Just him. Not Steve. I turned to look at the place he stood. All I got was his fragrance lingering in the air. He was gone.

After Shane gave up and returned to his tent, it was just me and Amy there. She hadn't left. She knew I would want her now the most. "You got your solution Cali" she said looking happy. "What solution?" though I knew what she was talking about, I wanted her to be clear.

"Stop acting Cali! You know! That Shane.. I saw it all Cali. He was right there when the pole fell. In fact he closer to you than Steve was. He even saw the pole falling but stepped back and vanished completely forgetting about you."

I knew exactly what she said. I'd seen him stepping back and that's when I turned to see what was behind before falling on a comfy bed. Get back on track Cali!

I told Amy what Shane had been telling me before the fall. She turned red and lectured me on why I should have given him an answer right there. We spoke for a while and she always made me feel better. But now, I needed to make someone else feel better.

"So you coming to my tent tonight right?" she asked tying her hair up as if done for the day. I thought for a while before answering. "Umm.. I think I'm okay now. I err.." I tried finding words. "I totally get it Cali!" she said laughing. "I know which tent you'll feel even better now" I couldn't help but blush.

"I don't know, Amy. I'm prepared to be cut off by him. I asked him to get out of my tent. I might just get back to my tent and force myself to sleep" "Hey if anything goes wrong.. you can come to my tent. Don't go back to yours okay?" she insisted and I agreed.

She went off to her tent not before dropping in at her munchkins tent. I was really happy for her. The guy was really cute and totally suited her.

I tried looking out for Steve. I wrapped my arms around myself as the temperature outside was dropping. I began to wonder what I would speak to Steve about. I didn't have to apologize about telling him to leave my room. That was a really bad scene happening in my tent and that was the only way to control it.

But I wanted to thank him. If not for him, I would be declared dead by now except that it wasn't a real pole. But he was also right about Shane. Maybe I had to apologize for that. I started repeating in my head everything that I had to say to him looking out for him at the same time.

Standing at a distance, I noticed a group of men sitting near a bonfire. They were probably helpers around here. I walked towards them to take a closer look. A little further away from them, sitting on a log Steve Dawson stared at the bonfire, his left shoulder facing me.

He didn't look pale but definitely tensed. The features of his face shined brightly in the light of the fire. I always wondered why he was alone around here and why he hadn't made any friends. Maybe it was this aura he possessed. I already planned that I would introduce Amy and Matt to him still considering the idea of Austin meeting him.

I walked towards him taking slow steps. When I was close enough I noticed his body stiffen. I could see the effect my presence had on him. I reached the log but he didn't turn an inch. Instead, he shifted from his place making place for me. A true gentleman I thought.

I walked ahead of the log and sat beside him close enough that his skin brushed against mine. I quivered under the spark of his touch but made sure not to show it. We sat there in silence for some time but which felt like eternity.

I looked at the side of his face which was facing me and said something I definitely hadn't planned to say "I'm sorry"

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So finally Cali's getting her head clear. She's approaching Steve and let's see how it goes!

Also, you might want to wait before hating Shane so much!
And now you know why the cover of this book has Cali and Steve sitting before a bonfire! ;)

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Love!