Life's Lessons on Stress

by Nona Mae King

  ~*~

  Knock-knock-knock

  I stood on tip-toes, slightly bouncing with excitement.

  "Yeah. Hold on," came a muffled voice.

  My eyes crinkled at the corners as I restrained a giggle. The door opened to reveal Zell rubbing the back of his neck, blonde hair messed and spiked all over, cheeks marked with pillow creases, and shirtless--dressed only in dark blue boxers. He blinked and sleepily smiled. "Hey, Meg. Whatcha doin’ here at three in the morning?"

  My smile widened, and this time the giggle broke free. "It’s a surprise, sweetie. Hurry and get dressed. Please?"

  He yawned and nodded, giving the back of his neck and his scalp a rub. "Sure." He stepped back and motioned for me to come in. "Give me a sec."

  "I’ll wait out here." I bounced several little hops, never really leaving the ground, and snuggled my hands into the pockets of my jacket. "Hurry."

  Zell chuckled. "Okay, okay. Hold on." He closed the door.

  Ruffling, drawers opening and closing, rustling--Zell opened the door not very many minutes later dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and black sweats. He looked the best in dark colors.

  I hopped some more as he stepped forward, and I grabbed hold of his hand almost before he had a chance to lock the door of his room. "Come on."

  "Say, what’s the rush?" he chuckled.

  "It’s a surprise," I told him in a hushed voice. I hadn’t ever had to do something like this. I hadn’t even dreamed.

  "Dude. This rocks. I’ve never had a surprise before. Well, except for when you told me you liked me." Pause. "And then when you told me you loved me."

  My eyes twinkled as my hand slightly tightened on his. I turned into the hallway leading to the Training Center.

  "Cool. Maybe you’re going to ask me to do the ‘Booya’ on ya?"

  I giggled and passed through the main lobby of the Training Center to the circular area where the couples always went on party nights to be alone. Some even went on non-party nights. The view of Garden was awesome, especially at night with all the lights glowing and the stars twinkling--it was one of the most romantic spots.

  I led him to the far wall of the place and guided him to lean up against it. I could have sworn my face had completely frozen in a smile.

  Zell grinned down at me. "What?"

  I snuggled my hands into the pockets of my jacket again. "This is the first place I saw you. Right here. This early in the morning."

  His smile vanished, and he blinked. "What? Really?"

  I nodded. "Five years ago. You were staring at Garden. Really hard. Like you tried to find out what you were supposed to do. I think you’d flunked your first field exam or something. I didn’t ask. I was still new here and too shy to talk to anyone, me being only barely fifteen. I had come here to be by myself." I swallowed the tears as I continued to smile at him. "But you were here for a long time. You didn’t talk to yourself or anything, but everything you were thinking kind of, I don’t know, I could read it on your face."

  "You were here the whole time?"

  I nodded again. "I couldn’t leave. I didn’t want you to be by yourself. I didn’t know why. I still don’t. I mean, you didn’t know I was there, so what good did I do? But I just couldn’t go." I cleared my throat and finally pulled my hands out of my pockets. I opened my palm and guided the ring to my fingertips. "I couldn’t stop watching your face, and your tattoo, and how you rubbed it at just the times you looked really troubled." I looked up, his expression seemed a little surprised, and presented the ring of silver. "I had this made for you. Well, actually I had it made for us."

  Zell looked down at the ring and blinked. "It looks like--"

  "Uh-huh. Your tattoo," I said softly. "And look." I pulled the ring apart. "See. This one’s for me."

  He reached out and took the larger ring to stare down at it.

  "Now, when you’re worried about something or think you’re by yourself, you can rub this and know I’ve got the other part." I looked up at him. "I’ll always be around."

  He held the ring between his fingers, lightly rubbing it as he continued to stare. Finally, he released a deep breath and said, "Sally, this is--" He pulled me close. "Damn, girl. It’s awesome."

  I sighed.

  Then Zell pulled back and slipped the ring onto his finger. He stared down at it a long moment before reaching out and slipping mine on my own finger. He caressed the skin around it. "How come?" he asked softly.

  I watched his expression as I lightly stroked his tattoo, drawing his attention. I could feel tears glimmering, and I knew my throat wouldn't let my voice out normally, but I didn't care. "Because we're friends and more. Because you understand me." My tears pinched off my voice. I smiled a weepy/sappy smile at him as I tried to speak past it. "Because I've never been in love with someone as much as I've been in love with you these three years, Zell. I wanted you to know it."

  Zell caressed my several times before drawing me close. "I love you, shy girl."

  I closed my eyes with a sighed "Booya," as I snuggled against him.