I wake up to a huge cramp in my back, and complete and utter sore limbs. I slowly raise up to sit up but my body is screaming at me again, I shimmy my aching body to the couch and lean against it for support. I lean my head back on top of the couch, next to Alexia’s torso. I let out a deep soft sigh, “I knew that was going to be a bad idea, given the condition of my body” I speak softly trying to work out my sore body. “What’s the matter?” I hear Alexia whisper next to me. (Oh, she’s awake) I reach over for the bottle of water that I had placed below the couch for her. “Just sore from everything. Here drink this” I wince while handing her the bottle. She sits up and takes the bottle from me, I can’t really see her though since it’s still rather dark out. “Um… I could maybe massage your muscles a little… If you don’t mind though” she shyly said. (A massage. I haven’t had one of those in per say forever) “It would help a bit, but first could you lean your head close to me?” I ask her. She stays to still pondering on what I just said, then she shifts around and I feel her brush up against me. “Is this good enough?” I hear her next to my ear now. I raise my hand up to her forehead, she shrinks back for a second startled at the sudden touch. Her head is cool to the touch (well at least that rules out a fever) I wanted to make sure the fatigue didn’t turn into something much worse. “Your hand’s really warm” I move my hand away, a concerned look crops up on my face. “If you don’t mind, could you check my forehead?” “Am I checking for a fever?” She asks me, I’m pretty sure I don’t have one but I still need to make sure. “Yeah, I just don’t want any surprises” she then proceeded to grab the sides of my head with both hands and then places her forehead against mine, I feel her hair fall onto my face. That had surprised me, “What are you doing?” I puff out air to move some of her hair. She raises her head just a few inches to look into my eyes, I can barely see the deep blue “What do you mean, I’m checking your temperature. This is how my mom always did it for me” “Okay. I’ve just never done that before and never really saw any merit in the method” I reply. “Anyway, you feel warm but I don’t think you have a fever” “Well that’s good” I grin up at her. “Now lean forward so I can rub your shoulders” she demands of me, so I comply. It really hurts at first but then starts to loosen up. It’s so relaxing that I start to drift back into sleep and I feel her begin to get softer and eventually stop.

“What are you two doing” I hear Helen off in the distance, “Huh?” I mumble. I slowly open my eyes to Helen standing over me with a disappointed look on her face, (What did I do this time?). I shift a little and notice my butt had gone numb, also that Alexia’s arm was draped over my shoulder. She must have fallen back asleep while trying to run my shoulder, I tilt my head to look at her. To my surprise, her face was snuggled against my head with her face in my hair. (Ah, this is what’s warranting the scolding) “So. What’s the meaning of all of this?” Helen asks me. “Well, I’m not sure for the most part. But she offered to massage my shoulders and I must have fallen asleep in the middle of it.” I reach my hand up and rub her head “Yo sleepy head, it’s dawn”. She moans and moves a little, she then jumps back into the couch. I assume from seeing what position she was caught in, “I must have fallen asleep in the middle of the massage” “Yeah” I smirk. I grab the bottle and toss it to her, “Make sure you drink all of this up. Also everyone needs to drink a whole bottle before we leave, we can fill them back up before we go” I speak up and get up to grab the blanket and sleeping bag. “We best eat breakfast and get going so we can make use of all the daylight we have” Doug strolls up next to Helen. He looks at her, “What’s the matter with you?” “Nothing” she shakes her head and walks off. Doug looks at me with a questioned face and I just shrug.

We grab our hiking packs and go to the doors to the outside. I step through the threshold and take a nice deep breath of cold morning, I catch a whiff of a sweet fragrance. “Someone smells nice this morning” I look back at the group, “How can we? There was no showers last night and we don’t have perfume” Alexia says looking a little angry at me, (she may think I was teasing her). I look at her with a sympathetic look “I’m not joking here, someone does smell quite nice… to me at least” Alexia sniffs down at herself and gives a disgusted look to herself, “Can’t be me. I smell all sweaty”. “You know, people with opposite immune systems usually smell sweet to one another. Making a great immune system in their offspring” I smirk “I just hope I’m not smelling Doug” I laugh as I walk down the steps. “Awe. Why not? I think we’d make a great couple” I hear Doug from behind me, “Ouch! Stop that would you” He said to his wife. We stop at the bottom of the steps, “So which way is the road?” Doug pulls out a map. “This way” he looks up and faces the direction we need to go “let’s get this show on the road shall we” he starts walking in that direction with Helen behind him. I notice Alexia doesn’t start to move, she also looks a little distant. I reach my hand out to the couple ahead of us, “Lady’s first, ma belle” she focus on me and notices that the group is moving forward. She walks past me and I take another sniff, this time much faster. “Yep, it’s definitely you” I say out loud, she quickens her pace as I start to chuckle.