Here we go! Chapter 5 coming at you! Yes! Last we left Rick was having a hard time keeping his anger in check as Avery seemed to be suffering from another bout of fever. When you're done reading I would love to here from you.

        Enjoy!

 "You got this. You can do this. Come on... Ugh!"

I hit the granite countertop with a resounding smack. The mirror on the wall above the sink shook and rattled as the toothbrush holder, a glass mason jar, wobbled off the side and went smashing against the across the tiled floor. I growled in annoyance as I stooped down to pick up the glass pieces.

The floor of the bathroom was laid down with tiles but there were two small carpet pads, one in front of the vanity and one next to the toilet. Half of the glass pieces were on the tile and half were in the soft brown rug making the job to pick them up even more difficult.

 "God damn glass. Flipping stupid rug. What the fu... Ow!" I was so busy muttering in agitation that I clenched my hand around a rather sharp piece of glass that then lodged itself into my left palm.

It stung terribly and started to pulse with blood as I quickly stood up and started running cold water over it. The water soon turned a pinkish color as it ran down the drain and I made a face. The sound of running water was followed by more curses as I rifled through my medicine cabinet with my still uninjured hand looking for bandages and disinfectant. I dropped quite a few odds and ends on the floor in my rather desperate search and when I finally found all I needed I turned back to my pulsing hand and ever so carefully took a large tweezers and carefully pulled the shard of glass out of my hand.

The gash went pretty deep and was long, it traveled the length from the knuckle of my pinky down to the bottom of my thumb where it connected to my wrist. It burned furiously as I dabbed disinfectant along the corners of the cut. I hissed under my breath, trying to concentrate and not make the injury worse.

I finally got it cleaned and proceeded to bandage it with a gauze pad then a bandage wrap. By the end of my self-doctoring my left hand looked mummified and silently pulsed in aching pain.

I carefully walked to the living area and tiredly sank into my couch letting out a long and tired sigh. That's what I get for unleashing my frustration on breakable objects. As I thought about my crappy mood my mind wandered to the reason behind my crappy mood.

 Rick Kodiak.

It had been a week since he had shown up at the school, causing Evie to freak out, causing me to be stressed, and everything to swirl hectically down the gutter. This led to my fever coming back with a vengeance causing me to faint from heat exhaustion. I don't remember much after hearing Evie call for me in the hallway but I certainly remember waking up.

***

It was like I was floating in cool water. It engulfed me in its cooling essence and I simply floated there in relaxation and peace. I felt like I could sleep forever just like this. But my body had other ideas. My ears started to pick up voices and I tried to ignore them but they wouldn't go away. They slowly got louder and louder. Like a growing headache they pounded on my head demanding entrance. I tried to hide in the watery depths from all the noise but they soon became a violent staccato.

  "... Who the HELL do you think you ARE!?"

My body jerked as my eyes opened wide trying to figure out where I was and what was happening. I knew I was laying down, but where? My mind was covered in a thick fog as my eyes traveled all around the area my vantage point allowed until my eyes met the heated gaze of two eyes the color of warm honey.

I let out a half squeak half growl as I pushed violently to a sitting position and pushed away the hand that had been placed upon my forehead. I quickly squirmed away only to come in contact with air underneath me as my sporadic movements brought me to the end of the couch. I fell to the ground with a loud 'thump' and groaned as I felt a hand on my shoulder and Evie asking me if I was okay.

This was accompanied by a rumbling growl from someone to my right. I looked up to find Rick Kodiak standing up from where he had been kneeling in front of the couch looking as if he would kill someone as he glared at Evie's hand. I felt a need to defend Evie and growled back. My growl was less vicious but still carried my point across. Rick's head turned to me and a look of confusion and hurt crossed his eyes but he quickly hid it behind an air of indifference.

I slowly stood up with Evie's help as she steered me to a chair, notably far away from the couch at which Rick sat himself down in my place on.

As I sat down I finally got a good look at where I was and who was here with me. I was in Blake Rider's office in the school. It was a large room with a couch in one corner and four large comfy leather chairs formed into a crescent. There was a large mahogany desk in the middle of the room with a large chair sitting behind it with the Alpha himself sitting watching the series of events play out.

As my eyes kept moving I saw a large figure standing close to Rick whom now I could clearly see was Jeffery Cromwell. He had his hands in his pockets but his eyes barely ever left Rick as his body lay tense under his button up shirt as if waiting for something to happen.

As I got a better picture of the room entirely it seemed as if the room's inhabitants were divided. Blake, Evie and I on one side as Jeffery and Rick were on the other. There was a silent tension between the two groups as if on a stand-off as I silently watched on.

Finally I looked up to Evie who was keeping a wary eye on Rick and asked softly hoping no one else would hear, "What happened?"

Evie looked down at me with a mixture of worry and hesitation. She seemed at a loss for words which is truly a first as I heard Mr. Rider clear his throat to our right.

"You seemed to be suffering from a very high fever and collapsed out in the hallway. Evie called for help and Mr. Kodiak here helped carry you to the office where we laid you down on the couch. And soon after you woke up and now here we are."

Well that explains part of it but not all of it. Why was Jeffery here? What was Blake doing here? Why were we in Rider's office and not my room where there were med kits?

My confusion was completely laid out on my face as I looked to Blake who didn't exactly seem like he would be sharing anymore. I turned back to Evie who was back to staring daggers at Rick. Rick was staring at me with a guarded expression as his hands clenched on his lap.

All I could think was, 'What exactly happened while I was out?'

There was another awkward silence as we all went into a silent stare off with other participants in the room. Jeffery stared at Rick, Rick stared at me, I stared at the carpet, Evie stared at Blake, and Blake just seemed to look off in deep thought out the large window near his desk.

The silence was only broken when there was a knock on the door.

Mr. Rider turned his steady gaze to the door and nonchalantly answered, "Come in." as if there wasn't a room full of other people inside with him.

There was a moment of the person on the other side fiddling with the door handle until a pleasantly plump secretary peaked her head around the corner and quickly took in the room of large carnivores. She seemed to take a soft breath of fortification as she held her gaze on Mr. Rider and said steadily, "There's a call for you from your wife."

Mr. Rider nodded and started to move from behind his desk, "I'll take it out there Amy."

Jeffery gave a slight cough, "Well I suppose I'll head back. Rick."

He gave Rick a long look and as if they had had a silent conversation Jeffery gave a firm nod and moved towards the door with Mr. Rider.

As Mr. Rider made it to the door he turned back, "Mrs. Summers, are you coming?"

It wasn't a question.

I could see Evie's shoulders tense ever so slightly as she glanced down at me with a worried look, but when she looked back up to Blake it seemed to set her in motion. I watched in helpless silence as my last wall of fortification left the room and shut the door silently with only one last glance of reassurance back.

Another round of awkward silence ensued and I thought it would go on forever because I sure as hell wouldn't break it.

But then, "Are you all right?"

The voice was soft with the same rumble of thunder as it had been when he first spoke to me. I looked up to see Rick looking at me. His gaze was intense but with an undertone of gentleness that sent a spark of warmth through my chest at thinking he cared. I lowered my gaze to look at his knees in slight embarrassment.

He was the one who carried me... Was I heavy?

"I feel better... thank you... I'm sorry for the trouble."

This seemed to comfort him in some small way as he let out a tense breath and his shoulders released their pent up tension. He gave me a small smile as he scooted forward on his seat, brushing off my apology with a soft wave of his hand.

"It seems we weren't properly introduced before. My name's Rick Kodiak."

 Rick pulled out his right hand and offered it for a handshake. It seemed like it should be awkward to do introductions NOW after everything that has been happening but when he did it felt so natural. I leaned forward and took his outstretched hand, "Avery Nanuk."

We both gave a firm shake and his fingers lingered on my wrist before slowly pulling back. Taking the shivers that hand induced with him. He came forward a little more, if that was possible, on the couch and his eyes seemed to be stuck on me. His gaze was unwavering as if memorizing every feature on my face. As he stared I took in more of him as well.

He was handsome. Hell, he was perfect. He had the look of a rugged mountain man with muscles that were thick but not bulging. He was large in the sense that a Clydesdale is large compared to a normal horse but to me it wasn't as overbearing as it might have been to others. After all I was rather large as well. As I looked closer I could see a small scar on the left side of his chin, it was slim and almost unnoticeable but I could see it hiding against his coppery beard.

But yet beyond the initial caveman look he had an underlying layer of warmth and gentleness that I understood to be something natural for him. He may have been large and intimidating but so far in our limited meeting he had shown nothing but interest and gentleness to me.

That earned him points.

My interest was further sparked by the simple fact that he was a bear. I had never interacted with another of my kind for very long before...

Maybe we could be friends.

He stood suddenly and out of instinct I moved farther back into my seat keeping a steady gaze on him. He looked confused at my reaction, his eyes squinting slightly and his head tilting to the side.

"Do you remember me?"

 That's an odd question. We've never met before that's why we did introductions right?

"No?"

His eyes squinted further as he stared intently at me. He was in deep thought until finally his shoulders slumped slightly.

"You don't?"

I looked at him silently showing my confusion at his question. He took a deep breath and suddenly started to walk determidly over to me as I crept farther into my seat. He knelt down and gently grasped my hand in his much larger one. This small touch sent a wave of shivers through feeling as if my fur was going to sprout causing my heart to short circuited slightly and skip several beats.

He slowly ran his thumb over the back of my hand as he seemed mesmerized by it. His eyes didn't leave my hand as he asked softly, "Do you feel it?"

I felt warmth bubbling through my veins but I didn't want him to know that. His eyes moved up to meet mine with an intensity, it wasn't an angry intensity but more of an emotional intensity.

I panicked.

I shook my head, it was barely a movement, a slight jostle of my head. But even at this answer I could tell he didn't believe me. And with that intense look I felt my cheeks start to burn. But it wasn't the fever.

He stood suddenly and leaned forward still holding onto my hand. His lips brushed my ear ever so slightly that caused a quick intake of breath as a new shock traveled straight to my groin where it boiled.

Shit.

Control yourself Avery Nanuk you are a full grown bear for Gods sake!

"You may not realize it now but in time you will. I know you will, and until that time comes I just want to let you know that I can be a patient man..."

With that his mouth moved and captured mine in a hungry kiss that set my body to boiling. At first it was hard and sensual he demanded nothing that I didn't find myself already offering. Then it softened and slowed to something that conveyed deep emotion beyond just the lust. He pulled back as we both softly panted.

"But please... Don't make me wait too long."

This last was said as if it were a silent prayer as he stood straight and without a look back went to the door and left. Leaving me burning inside and more confused than I have ever been in my entire life.

***

I let out a tense sigh as I sunk deeper into the couch cushions. I started to get irritated just thinking about that day and every day since. That stupid Rick Kodiak has practically made my life a living hell as every single day he finds some way to worm his way into my life and I can never do anything about it.

Whether it's coming in and eating with Evie and I, even though he doesn't even work there. Or waiting out in the parking lot after school to 'just' ask me about my day. Every single chance he gets he touches me sending unwanted shivers throughout my nervous system.

And to add onto the daily dosage of bear testosterone Tom has been feeling challenged with another male after me and has cracked down on my every move inside school. There have been one too many times that I have had to fight off an attack in a secluded hallway or closet. Everytime I look around either I have the humping horn dog Tom following a few steps behind or the strong, persistent, and silent presence of Rick practically stalking me.

 Okay, it's not that I don't like Rick or appreciate him being polite and kind whenever we do talk. In all honesty I do like talking to Rick. But come on. After spending years by myself and never once really being any more than a friend to someone it feels a little suffocating to be bombarded by one guy everyday and practically everywhere I turn.

I've been worn down to the last nerve. I even snapped at a student the other day for coming into my office with a cut knee. I'm angry and confused all at the same time. I feel lost. Why can't they just leave me alone? What is it about me that drives all the people around me crazy? I just thank the gods that neither of them know where I live. THAT would be the death of me.

 I looked up at the clock on the mantle and saw that I needed to get going or I would be late. I let out a rumble of annoyance as I slowly hefted myself up off of the comfy couch. I was wary of my injured hand as I moved around collecting my jacket, keys, and any other items I might need.

Like an ax. For example?

The ride over to the school was torturous in a way that made my hands sweat and my knees shake. By the time I finally made it to the school I was just trying to focus on breathing. I was stressed out to the max. But, thankfully, the first step out of my Jeep was met by silence. I let out a thankful sigh as I turned and started walking to the front entrance.

But of course I should have known it wasn't going to be that easy.

"ow!..." I cupped my forehead as I stepped back from the wall of muscle I had just bumped foreheads with. I tried to keep my gaze down for I was positive I knew exactly who I just ran into and my worst fears were realized when a deep rumbling chuckle followed my confused squeak.

"Are you alright?" his voice was filled with mirth as he tried to hide his chuckling. I quickly glared at him and then realized my mistake. I was looking right into those warm honey eyes. They were much warmer and almost swirled like creamy caramel with the hint of laughter in the squinted corners.

After an embarrassing moment of just staring I took another hasty retreat back making the gap between us about three feet. He smiled wickedly as he took one step forward squashing any distance that once existed between us.

"I'm fine." My remark was clipped as I tried to pass by him only to be thwarted by his large from moving into my path.

He took a hold of my shoulder and turned me back towards the parking lot with the same wicked smile, "Oh well that's great! Then you can join me."

My eyes widened at this as I tried to stop our progress but he simply pulled me along with ease.

"I have work?!"

The statement came out as more of a question when his hand crept down to my waist and cupped my back gently running his thumb along my spine. I squeaked and pushed away from him trying to play off the squeak with an annoyed growl. For some reason he chuckled at my growl and the look on his face told plainly, 'How cute'. My growl turned more vicious at feeling my strength being disregarded. At the sound of the rumble from deep inside my chest his face changed into one of slight apology as he gave me an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry. But just so you know I got the day off for you."

My eyes widened at this as he started to go back on his path towards a rather large black truck. I was so dumbfounded that I stayed still. He did what?!

He turned back when he made it to the passenger side and opened the door invitingly, "Come on, it will be fun. I promise."

His smile was so bright and promised so much that I found myself huffing in defeat and walking towards the obnoxiously sized car. He offered a hand but I scoffed at it and hefted myself up into the cab of the truck. He chuckled softly as he moved to the other side and got in.

To me, I thought this would be the perfect time to lay down some ground rules. Giving him what's for. Maybe I could finally get it through his thick head to back off a little and let me breathe. Or at least build up some walls he would know not to cross. But in the back of my mind, in a place I was trying really hard to ignore, there was a small spark of excitement. I tried to ignore it but as he drove out of the parking lot it just grew larger and more excited.

"So what exactly are we doing?"

He smiled as he looked over at me from the corner of his eye, "Have you ever gone on a picnic before?"

"If you go out to the woods today,
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out to the woods today,
You'd better go in disguise.
For ev'ry bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic"

20 browny points to the first person who can correctly tell me which movie this song comes from.  ;)