Chapter 5

I was ready to throw a lightning bolt at Lance at a moments notice when I heard Maren shout, "Stop it. Stop it you two."

She stopped between me and Lance and touched my arm. In doing so she absorbed quite a lot of my electric energy and drained my power. I glared at her, but she faced Lance first and exclaimed, "Don't you dare shout a sonic blast or I'll blind you for a long time."

She turned back around to face me, "You're not my boyfriend yet, so why don't you please go over there with my friends. I'll talk to you soon."

I stared at her for a moment, then cast my eyes down and gave in. Quietly I picked up the container and plodded along through the sand to where her friends were sitting. I saw the hybrid horse girl holding Cyn and since Maren already told me a little about her hybrid sister, I knew who she was. I put the container down near them and said, "Hi, I'm Gabe Kramer. I drove Maren here from the classes that she shares with me." I faced Isabel first. "I know that you must be Isabel. Maren told me about her horse hybrid sister."

Isabel just stared at me before finally coming to her senses. "Oh ... yeah, sure. I'm Isabel, and this is Cyn. But you probably know that already."

The other girls saved her from embarrassment, "Hi Gabe, I'm Mandy, and this is Denise."

The black girl shook my hand, "They also call me the Match, since I'm a fire elemental. So what are you? I saw that you had an aura or something around you when you faced Lance."

I smiled at them, "I'm an Electrical Elemental. I can generate lightning and other electrical power at will."

The girls all looked at me with big staring eyes, like I was the new messiah or something. "Hey, it's nothing special. I'm sure that there are lots more who are similar as me."

Denise came out of her awe first. "So do you have a nickname like me and Synergy?"

I smiled and thought back to Darren who'd given me a nickname. "Yeah, a friend of mine called me Blitz."

Now Isabel was ready to comment again as well. "Nice name ... Blitz. Well I'm certainly glad to finally meet my sister's boyfriend. So tell me, how good is she at kissing?"

Now I felt embarrassed. 'Did Maren tell her that we kissed? Or is she just guessing and baiting me? Besides Maren just told me that I'm not her boyfriend, so maybe I should keep everything that I did with Maren a secret. I'm sure that she'd want that.' Then I saw that Isabel was glancing behind me, and guessed that Maren was on her way back to us.

I was right, she saved me by saying, "Hi guys, I see you've met Gabe already. He's taking the extra lessons with me and since he has a drivers license he offered to drive us here."

I turned around towards Maren and saw she was holding Lance's arm. I scowled at that sight. I don't even know why, Maren had told me that I wasn't her boyfriend, but I guess I really wanted to be just that. Then she pushed Lance forward, "Lance has something to say to you, Gabe."

Lance hesitantly started, "Um Gabe. I'm sorry I tried to start a fight with you. I had no reason to do that, but I guess I still had some hope of being Maren's boyfriend. But she's made it absolutely clear to me now that I'll never be that." He looked alternately at me, and Maren, "So friends again?"

My mood cleared, 'So Maren isn't sweet on Lance? I hope I can persuade her to go out with me sometime.' Still, I was a bit upset and wanted to give Lance a warning. I smiled at them, "Sure Lance. No hard feelings." I extended my hand to him and he shook it. Then he let go with a yelp as I gave him a little zap as a warning of my power.

Maren gave me a stern glare, as if she was about to scold me for doing that. I started laughing and said, "Just a little joke, Lance. I just couldn't resist." Lance joined in, and soon we were all laughing at it.

Isabel said to Maren, "Nice boyfriend you have there, Sis, and good looking too. Where did you find him? I want one like him."

Then I got it, Isabel was teasing Maren about boyfriends. I was lucky that I hadn't answered her question about kissing. I was pretty sure that Maren wouldn't like to admit that we kissed already.

Maren changed the subject, turning her attention to me, "Gabe? I'm hungry since I didn't have lunch. So what have you got in there," as she pointed at the ice chest.

"See for yourself! I've got your favorite sandwiches, and all kinds of treats." I opened the container and gave her several items as well as a bottle to drink. Immediately the others also wanted a look, and I just let them take their pick. Soon we were all either eating or drinking or both. My sandwiches and snacks were a great hit, as I had intended. The only thing was that I hadn't counted on was that there were vegetarians in the group. Isabel felt a bit left out I think, as I'd only made a few vegetable sandwiches.

I sat down next to Maren and feeling a bit sleepy, I lay down and relaxed. I didn't sleep however, from under my eyelashes I kept looking at Maren. 'She's so beautiful, I hope I can take her out later.' I saw Maren shake her head at someone, probably her sister. 'Is she teasing Maren again? Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to ask her to come here for a swimming lesson.'

Suddenly I noticed Snake and Leo walking towards us. I quickly got up and asked, "Hi Snake, Leo. Where did you come from?"

Snake smiled, "Hi Gabe. I see you found Maren on your own. I was going to introduce you two, you know."

Maren joined us and smiled at him, "Yes, we met while having catch up lessons together. But you didn't answer his question. Where did you two come from?"

Leo purred, "There is a cove there with an inlet from the bay, where the water is calmer and not so deep. I am not that comfortable in the water, so Snake helped me get over my fear of water."

Maren laughed, "You don't have to make up something like that. Why don't you don't you just admit you were making out?"

Snake looked around terrified, like he feared being found out. He whispered, "Shush, please keep it down."

Maren laughed again, "What are you afraid of? There isn't anyone around to hear us. Besides we all already know that the two of you are seeing each other. Now you said that the water there was calm? I still haven't learned how to swim, so maybe I should try it there. If it's secluded enough I can learn to swim without a lot of people looking."

"Let's go there now. Maren," I told her. "Snake and Leo can cover our for us and we should do right now, while Isabel and Denise are running to the water." I pointed at the girls racing to the waterline.

We quickly walked over to where Snake had pointed to the cove. He was right. There was quite a nice calm inlet and Maren ran straight into the water. I felt something churning inside from my past, a feeling of hunting, and followed closely behind. I didn't want her to get in too far at first, so I grabbed her waist, "Hold on, not so fast!"

She giggled and turned to me. I wasn't quite sure what she thought I had in mind, so I explained that she should get used to the water first, by walking in the deep parts and getting used to being in the water and underwater. Patiently, I talked her through the lesson, and before long Maren was paddling along using a breast stroke. After about an hour, I decided that it was enough for today. "Don't stay in the water too long. It may feel fine, but it really is still quite cold. Water drains heat from the body much more quickly than air, so we should go join the others and take in some sunshine."

We headed back to where the others would be sunbathing or swimming and enjoying themselves. As we rounded a corner that had shielded us from them, I saw the others were playing with a ball in the water. Suddenly, Maren started running, yelling back, "Last one there is a rotten egg."

I felt the thrill of the chase and the hunt inside me. I hadn't felt it in a long time, except for a brief burst earlier. I think it was something left over from my full canine days. As I chased after her, a feral growl escaped my mouth. I was quickly gaining on her, when she looked back and I saw a spot of fear in her eyes. She started going faster, but was still catching up to her as she reached the water. She was wading into knee deep water when I caught up. I threw myself forward and grabbed her, so we crashed into the water together. For a moment I feared that she would be angry with me that over that, but then she turned her face to me and started kissing me.

I kissed her back and we got to our feet, still kissing very passionately. I had never kissed a girl like that before and it felt like I was in Heaven. My animal side, however minute it was, even felt an attraction to her that I can't explain. We were lip locked for a long time, until I heard someone cry out, "Isabel? What are you doing? You're supposed to catch, not bounce it with your head ... oops." Then there was a silence, and nobody said anything. I pulled away from Maren and looked behind her at the others. Isabel was staring at us with her mouth wide open. Some of the others were smiling, while others just looked in wonder or scowled at us.

Maren half turned to see what I was looking at. Then she quickly ran away from the water towards were we'd left our clothes. I yelled after her, "Maren, wait! Please wait! Don't run away!"

Isabel was suddenly beside me and said softly,, "Let me go to her. I'm her sister and an empath. She's boiling over with emotions right now, embarrassment being a big one of them."

Isabel quickly jumped with her powerful pony legs through the surf and towards Maren. While I just looked on. Snake came up to my right, "I hope you know what you're doing, Gabe. Maren is one of my best friends. I don't want her to get hurt."

I turned to him, "I have no intention of hurting her. She's special, and I really like her."

Lance came up to us next. "You'd better treat her right or I'll come after you myself. But you should know that she told me that she likes you a lot."

Now I had something to think about. 'Maren likes me? Of course she likes me, that kiss said it all. I hope I didn't ruin it with such a public performance.' I looked at both of them, "Like I said, I really like her. Besides, she can take care of herself well enough." They looked at me, then nodded in agreement.

I walked towards where our clothes were and saw Isabel walk off with Maren. They were talking animatedly, so I just went over to Leo, who was playing with Cyn. When I grabbed a soda can from my cooler, Cyn decided to jump into my arms. I played with her till I saw Isabel running back towards us, with Maren hot on her heels. I put Cyn down near Leo and got up to meet her. She stopped just short of me and I looked at her with hesitation and guilt, "I'm so sorry Maren. I shouldn't have..."

She interrupted me, "Gabe. It's not your fault. I just wish we had done it a bit more privately."

Mandy looked at Maren, "But then we would have missed it. I would've died if I'd missed that. It looked sensational." She hugged Maren tightly.

Maren was obviously embarrassed again and asked, "Um ... guys? Can we just forget about it? I don't want to be reminded, so let's just drop it for now."

They all grumbled and muttered something, but then sat down without talking about the kiss. I did notice some glances at Maren and me, but that was it. I sat down quite far from Maren. I didn't want to crowd her now and just give her some space, though I would've rather sit next to her.

Soon we all were having a good time and with more drinks I produced from the big cooler, until Lance suddenly jumped to his feet and looked at his watch. "Shit, I need to get home."

Now everyone started looking at their watches, and we decided to shower and pack up to go home. I quickly showered in the guys changing building, then had to wait with the guys for the girls to come out. It always takes them longer. But then again, they do have nice long hair that doesn't dry as fast as our short hair. I kept myself busy packing all the things in the car though.

At long last the girls were ready and Maren sauntered over and asked, "Um, Gabe, can Isabel and Denise ride with us? It'll save them from hitching a ride with someone else, since Lance already left."

I smiled and said, "Sure, no problem." Then I whispered in her ear, so only she could hear it, "But that means no goodbye kiss."

She blushed quite prettily and smiled back at me demurely. We had just put the last of the girls things in the car when Cyn suddenly escaped. She ran out onto the sand and Maren went after her in a hurry. Snake followed her in a heartbeat, while I was busy on the other side of the car and couldn't follow.

It didn't take Snake and Maren long to catch Cyn again. They were talking to each other as they returned, and I saw Maren whack Snake's behind with her tail. I gave her a questioning look, but she ignored it. Maren wanted to ride shotgun, but chatted a lot with Isabel and Denise, while I just concentrated on driving home safely.

The girls told me which way to go and before long we dropped off Denise at her house. Then Isabel and Maren both started to give me directions to their place, until I cut them off, "One at a time please."

Isabel whinnied, and I thought, 'Man that will take some time to get used to.' Then she said, "Sorry. You go ahead, Maren."

Maren told me that it wasn't far, and guided me quickly to a nice big house. I parked on the driveway and Isabel jumped out, saying, "I'll go ahead so you two can do what ever you have to do."

I frowned at what she said, but Maren looked at me and laughed at the face I was making. "Isabel promised not to tease me too much about the kiss. She's an empath, and felt our emotions during our kiss. She said that you're hard to read, but that she likes you from what she got from you."