The Elementals: Chapter 7 training

The next day I walk Peggy up the hill and I have to go the long way around because a whole section is cornered off for filming something. Peggy keeps barking at the cones and tape until we are some distance away. I wonder what set him off and I try to peek over to see what they are filming, but there isn’t anyone there, just the odd person with a clipboard walking around. Seems like a waste to have all that space sectioned off when they are not even using it yet, but I follow everyone else around the detour. Then an idea and I get out my phone to make some arrangements. I give Peggy a good scratch to thank him for the inspiration.
By the next day I have everything organised and arranged and I text Sky to meet me on a hill in the outskirts of town. After a few attempts to leave me hanging, he gives in and tells me he is on his way.
I check everything once more before he arrives and I get in position as I watch Sky blindly follow the diversion I made and walk straight past me.
“Over here!” I call to him. He walks up to the tape but doesn’t cross it.
“What are you doing, we aren’t allowed there, you will get caught.” Sky warns.
“Actually we wont, I set all this up so we could practice in private” I explain. I watch him look around in awe and then a smile spreads across his face.
“How did you do all this so quickly” He asks still taking in everything.
“Next day delivery. Most of it is preassembled so I just had to bring it here and set up. The tape was the most fiddly bit, really its a 2 person job, but the props are all cardboard, even the camera is just plastic.” I explain feeling proud of myself.
“But what if anyone questions it?” Sky says.
“You didn’t, you walked straight past. This spot is well hidden by the trees and so most people won’t come this way anyway. Plus if anyone sees us using our powers, they will assume we are actors using some special effects.” I say.
“Its genius! Wow, you have known about this for like 3 days and you are already thinking of things I haven’t in the past 2 years.” Sky says and I smile brightly.
“Well I’d have wasted a lot of time in denial or freaking out if you hadn’t been there to explain it to me” I admit.
“I’m glad I could help. So what’s the plan now?” He asks turning to me fully.
“Well I thought.. Wait, what happened to your face?” I ask surprised by how red and raw it looks.
“Oh, well I tried to break up with Ember, but she didn’t take it well. She threw a plant pot at me which knocked me out, when I woke up I had dicks drawn all over my face and this was on her instagram” He shows me a photo of Ember wrapped around a random guy with her tongue down his throat.
“Oh jees, I’m sorry to hear that, you don’t deserve to be treated like that. How is your head?” I ask as I reach up instinctively to touch his hair and feel for lumps. I feel no lumps or cuts, but his golden curls feel so silky soft that I’m going to have to steal his shampoo.
“I’m fine, physically anyway. I’m just hurt that she would move on so fast. I broke up with her because I didn’t think we were meant to be, but I wouldn’t just jump on the next person that came along” He says sadly.
“it might not hurt to try…” Shit said I that out loud, how do I cover it up “to try.. to.. express your feelings in practice. And maybe moisturise your face, you obviously rubbed it raw getting rid of her art work.” I rush to cover up my words and scan his reaction for signs he bought it.
“you are right, I could use the distraction. Let’s train.” Sky says perking up as I silently sigh in relief.
Sky shows me what he can do and it is amazing to watch, he can basically fly, but only up to a certain height for short distances. He can push air gently or forcefully, easily knocking me over and even lifting me up so that I hover just above the ground.
“wow, that’s amazing, you are amazing!” I say excitedly.
“well you are very light despite all the pizza and cake and its nice to be able to show someone finally. Now let's see what you can do” He gestures for me to try and I suddenly feel very inept in comparison. I concentrate hard on his feet and the grass around them and I watch as they sink into the ground.
“I did it!” I shout.
“Ok, now let's test it, see what else you can do.” Sky says
“Like what?” I ask
“Well, can you make these holes wider and deeper?” he asks removing his feet to show the small holes I made.
I concentrate and imagine shifting the soil around and watch as a pile of soil forms beside the hole which is now deep enough for a person to stand in.
“Good! Now throw that pile of dirt at me” Sky commands
“What? No, I don’t want to hurt you!” I say
Sky grins “You couldn’t hurt me if you tried”
Oh it is on, the challenge in his tone is enough to rile me up and make me forget about being a nice person. All I want to do is win. I focus intently on the mount of soil and make it into little balls which I then hurl towards him. Sky easily deflects them and sends the back towards me in a gust of wind. I dodge and lock skys feet in place before throwing the extra ball I hid which catches him squarely in the chest causing him to fall backwards. The look on his face is priceless.
“Well aren’t you the fast learner. Still didn’t hurt though” Sky huffs.
“I’d say from the look on your face, it definitely hurt your pride.” I joke and he laughs.
“Ok you got me there. Now close your eyes” Sky instructs.
“What why?” there is something about having closed eyes that makes me feel too vulnerable for my liking.
“Trust me. When I do it I feel more connected to the air around me, like I can feel it, you try.” Sky explains, he is one of the few people that I do trust so I close my eyes and try to feel what he feels.
“Its not working” I complain.
“Just relax, try to clear your mind off other things.” He says as I feel him come close behind me, sit me on the ground and start to rub my shoulders. Him touching me does the opposite of relax me, but eventually I give into his soothing touch and start to relax and then focus on the earth.
I gasp “wow, everything is so connected, its like I can see all of the rocks and roots and everything living in the earth.”
“Its cool right, like a 6th sense. Hmm you said you could feel the roots, I wonder if your power works on plants too?” Sky says.
I focus on a daisy bud and watch it unfurl and bloom. “I guess that’s a yes.” I say and then yawn.
“Oh ye, using your power might take it out of you a bit while you first get used to it, we should probably go easy and head home.” Sky explains.
“I guess I do feel pretty tired actually, but this is all so exciting, I don’t want to stop.” I say.
“Come on, I will help you pack up and carry this home, but I promise we can practise more tomorrow.” Sky says offering me his hand to get up.
I take it and stand up too quickly, crashing into his body. The feel of his solid chest pressed against me gets me all hot and bothered and I don’t step away when I should. I stare up into his shining blue eyes and try to regain my senses.
“Sorry, I guess I really am tired, maybe you should carry me.” I joke expecting Sky to push me away.
“As you wish” He says as he sweeps me up over his shoulder with ease and I scream.
“I was joking! Put me down before you break something” I demand
“Really you are very light, surprisingly so for someone with your curves” Sky says laughing.
“I’m going to take that as a compliment” I say as he puts me down.
“You should” He winks at me and goes to collect the props. I swear my heart stopped at the wink, he likes my curves and he winked at me a flutter of hope that my feelings are not just one sided fills me before I race after him to help pack up.