The day was long, walks in the busy streets of tennessee, under the summer glow and enjoying each other's needed company. We ambled from one exotic place to another, the museum, aquarium, park and it was then that I discovered the beauty of spending a blissful day with someone your heart warms for.

Enos kept his arm round my shoulder, occasionally sneaking a kiss on my cheek and ruffling my hair. I was never good at telling jokes but I tried to put a smile on his face whenever I saw something interesting to innocently make fun off.

And then he'd grace me with a humorous laugh, cheeks turning red as he added flesh to my broken humour. Perhaps we were being more playful than usual. You wouldn't expect with our age, swinging on parks or running around with ice cream on our hands like middle schoolers. But I loved every minute of it.

And when we got exhausted, with bags of the stuff we bought from the mall, we'd lay flat on the drying park grass, watching as fallen leaves get swept away, leaving room for the growth of new life when autumn and spring arrives. And my head was on his broad shoulder, his arms caging me in his gentle embrace. He smelled great and I could help but bury my face in his chest.

"Are you planning on finishing that?" he pointed at my lollipop. I shook my head with a satirical sign, my eyes never left him. "Do you wanna share it?" I offered, smiling wide.

Enos took it from my hand and into his mouth. Swirling his tongue around it and I compelled my mind to stray far from shameful thoughts. "Sweet," he grinned at me.

I lifted my upper half to position myself face to face with him, looking down at his features. He didn't move an inch, and let me stare at him for longer than ten second. His arm found it's way to my waist, drawing me closer. And then he tucked the hair that fell on my face behind my ear.

"You have nice eyes." I muttered, then used my thumbs to lay smooth his thick eyebrows. "With long lashes, and great brows."

He smiled and then proceeded to say, "Too bad you can't have them." The smirk on his face.

I lightly punched his shoulder, "You're mean."

He laughed again, "Because yours are better......You never let me finish."

It was my turn to smirk, "Really?" I flattered my lashes cutely.

"Yeah." He said, pulling the lollipop out his mouth.

"I like yours more though," I digressed, "So much thicker and framed and perfect." I touched his face, mapping his sharp features with my index fingers.

Enos narrowed his amused eyes, "Just say I'm handsome already. Stop beating round the bush."

I showed my teeth, biting down on my lip, "You're gorgeous." I said instead in the favor of amusing the man more than those enormous white dolphins at the Nashville aquarium.

Enos chuckled again, shaking his head in owe."It's a good thing you know this fact. I never thought you realised."

"I might be oblivious at times but never blind." I stared at his crimson lips curiosity, "Kiss me, pretty please." I chose to pout.

He paused, those eyes falling on my lips and I licked those pink regions unconsciously. And Enos held the side of my face, using his fingers to caress the back of my neck, pulling me towards him. But he didn't connect our ready mouths, he hovered his lips above mine, taking in my breath as I did the same.

I felt his tongue on my lip, swiping in a slow pace and I almost whimpered. And then he kissed me and my breath caught. Enos swept his tongue on mine in an unweaving attempt to make this worth the stolen minute. Holding me steady with his large hand on my slender waist, and another on my neck. I felt the tingles..

Uh God! I felt my heart skip a beat.

So I kissed him deeper, and I willed him to let me take control, and the force of my eagerness to show him how I felt made Enos turn over the keys. I pondered all my decisiveness into that kiss, hoping my heart would take the hint.

"Whoa!!!" That's what he said when we parted to catch a breath. I smiled, not giving him a chance to speak and kissed him once again.

At some point, we got lost in each other's arms, tasting and searching for all the parts we could reach. I felt the shivers on my skin, goosebumps everywhere as he grabbed me strongly.

Time wasn't in our sphere right then.

It's like the world stopped.

And my heart pounded so hard as though I couldn't breathe. That made me dive into his lips harder. Hoping that whatever was on the back of my soul would be inductly known.

"Elisabeth," He breathed into my mouth.

"Mmmmh."

"Do you wanna go to the beach?"

I lifted my head, disconnected our swollen red lips. "When??? Where?!"

I knew my eyes where glistering. I love the beach. I just hadn't found the time back in florida and I'd really love to see it.

"Someone's excited." He playfully pinched my nose, grinning.

"Can't you tell." I placed my chin on his chest and my hands on his face. "Tell me where?"

"On our way to Georgia."

I stared at him, confused.

"What?" I could hear my own shocked voice. "We're going to Georgia? Why wasn't I invited on the meeting of discussion when deciding this very long long long trip?"

I wasn't sure on whether to be more excited or anything but,

Enos looked at me with an indecisive expression.

He actually signed.

"I'm not mad." I thought that was the reason he seemed distort. "It's just kinda confusing? What's there in Georgia? Is that what you guys talked about when I went to get the door last night?"

Enos prompted us to sit up straight and I followed his lead. He pulled me on his lap and I wrapped my arms around his neck. And then waited for him to speak. "There's something you need to know." He said.

I just looked at him.

"There's a reason I didn't come back to bed with you last night." His eyes never flopped from mine for a second. I kept quiet, remembering he left me there in the cold, wondering on whether he was mad at me or not. It was a restless night. "I left the house to go talk to someone."

There was a seriousness to his demeanor. And a hint of something else I couldn't wrap my hands on. But it wasn't good. I could see it in his eyes that it wasn't anything good.

"Who was it?" I gave him my wide- eyed curious and unsure gaze. In the middle of the night, what person would Enos have wanted to leave the house to see instead of sleeping soundly in my side?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"James."

I felt my face pale instantly as my soul sunk, blood draining from my skin.

"We just talked." He strongly asserted, his voice was heavy, as through something settled on his throat. I noticed the sudden shift of air and how an unshakable tension grew between us.

I forced my mouth to open and say anything, "Talked?"

He exhaled as if to calm his nerves and then held my hand, "James dropped by again. Hours later after everyone went to sleep."

I don't see how any of that ended well. I can't even try to anticipate it. Because Enos sounded beyond upset as he talked, even when holding my hand.

"Did you two fight?"

That's where Enos averted his gaze, facing away from me. "I wouldn't call it fighting if I was the only one landing the punches." He didn't deny anything.

My jaw and calm dropped. "That's not just talking." I exclaimed. What if he got harmed in the process? What if James did something to him?

"He could've hurt you." I doubled back, my voice slightly raising.

"Well he didn't. And I wasn't letting him get away with already hurting one of us." Enos looked back at me. "And he had it coming for having the nerve to show up at my house twice after trying to take you away the first time he tried. And after hearing everything that he did to you from your own mouth. I didn't think the history was that bad until I witnessed your voice cracking as you cried."

My whole body froze. "You said you didn't hear nor see anything." My voice was shaken.

"That was the first time I ever lied to you and I won't do it again." He foretold, "But I'm not sorry for doing it either."

I stayed silent, completely speechless.

"James deserved what I did to him. Infact you should be thrilled instead of giving me that face."

I've always known Enos to be quite the athlete, good with his fists, but no violence unless provoked. And James, well he never holds back on his anger. The fact that Enos was the only one landing the punches makes me wonder on whether James just let himself get beat up.

Why?

"What did you do?"

"He's still alive if that's what you are worried about." Enos sounded angrier right then and I don't think he was trying to be sarcastic. As if cursing himself for not doing worse. His gentle eyes completely flipped over to something entirely different.

I could see it, that specific type of look on his face has always been engrave on the back of my head. I've seen it many times before. Whenever Enos showed up to defend me against anyone, he always had that look of danger on his face. As though he only saw red.

It scared me sometimes.

"As for what we had talked about, James came back to give you an address." Enos informed. "And to supposedly say his final goodbyes. He actually believed I'd let him see you."

"An address! To where? Georgia?" I exclaimed.

"Calm down." He cupped my cheeks. "Please calm down, you are shaking."

I really didn't notice I was visibly shaking. "Why didn't you call me out? Wake me?"

"What for? So you could get more hurt by that son of a bitch. Why are you getting so worked up?"

"No, because I never wanted you two to confront each other. I never wanted to give you a reason to doubt this relationship and much less because of someone from my past. And James stood as one for you. And right now, we're doing this instead of enjoying our day. He ruins everything."

Damn it.

For the love of god, I really did not want Enos and James to ever be in the same room.

"Not anymore." Enos affirmed. "And I never doubted you. Even when you didn't tell him you love me."

How much did he see?

I felt myself shrinking under his stare.

"Enos...."

He placed a finger on my lips to silence me.

"I don't mind that you haven't loved me yet, I waited for four years and I can wait longer. What I couldn't stand was the way he talked to you, as though you were his property. And he already knew he made you miserable. He took advantage of your love for him and stepped over you like you deserved it. That fucker used you and was trying to do it again. He doesn't even love you."

The way Enos talked, the expression of pain on his voice.

I felt ashamed.

I truly felt ashamed for letting James into my life. Because now, In the end of the day, I allowed myself to be used.

I gazed my lap.

Looking down and feeling down.

Enos grasped my chin softly, "Look at me."

"I can't."

"Elisabeth." He pressed.

I shake my head, lips quivering. I covered my face with my broken hands, weeping from the inside.

Enos used his arms to pull me closer, hugging my lifeless frame. "It's not your fault."

"I let him."

"Still not your fault. You fell for him, and I, more than anyone shouldn't blame you for falling in love in the past. We don't choose who we fall for. We just fall." His didn't stutter, nor pause, rather held me closer. "And I don't regret, and won't ever regret, falling for you."

God.

My heart did it again.

It's skipped another mile.

"Did you hear me?" He kissed my hair. "I loved you, and I still do, and will keep on doing it to the moon and beyond."

I couldn't hold it back anymore.

I removed my hands from my face and looked up at him and he did the same, staring down at my teary gaze and kissing my temple.

"Enos..."

"Talk to me."

I took a breath.

"I don't love him. Not anymore, I don't. Nothing of me, no part of me loves that man." I meant every word.

I was uncertain last night. The nostalgia of seeing him again, the shock and the memories almost clouded my judgement but I know for sure now, I no longer love James.

Enos' eyes flickered. "You don't."

"No," I shake my head. "I do not."

He smiled down at me, caressing my cheek with his fingers, satisfied with the words I was saying. The dense atmosphere that had settled among us faded away as he adored my face. And I felt shy.... embarrassed to say the least. But I was serious about what I said. It's taken me long enough but I know now that whatever I and James shared is now in the grave.

We had a few months, and they were enough to leave a dark stain in my life so worthy of forgetting they ever existed. And although I know forgetting is impossible, and when those memories cross my mind not so often it's like I'm in a new hell, but I'm done with feeling anything for James.

All that's left is a strange indifference. It hurts, but it's not as worse at it was before.

"Do you believe me?" I asked Enos.

"Should I? You could tell me anything and I'd believe it."

I placed my hand above his that cupped my cheek. "You should, because everything I'm saying to you right this moment is true."

"Then that would mean I'll be winning your entire heart this time around, right?" He was grinning like a devil.

I laughed, "Don't look at me like that."

He raised his brows, jubilantly "Like what?"

"That..." I pointed at his eyes.

"Like what?!!!!!" Enos bent me over unexpectedly that my back lay on the ground again while he tickled my neck with nose. I giggled from the tingly feeling and asked him to stop.

"No no no....wait! I can't breathe." I was laughing hard with my hands around his shoulders.

"Not unless you allow me look at you however I want." He was teasing me, and I found it really hard to say anything because he was using his free hand to tickle my belly. "Say yes...."

"O_okay..." I stammered between laughs.

He stopped and lifted me back to his chest.

"Can you not....be so obvious?"

"Why?? Am I being too goofy for your taste?" He kissed my cheek.

I smiled, "As if that's true."

I laid my head on his neck and relaxed there. We stayed silent for a while, looking at people walking and playing around in the park.

"Enos...."

"Yes."

"What is there in Georgia?" I inquired, remembering that James should up again last night to give me that address.

I heard Enos sigh and I grew concerned, perhaps it's nothing good.

"It's where your brothers and father are staying."

My soul froze.

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