They had been hiking with their class on a ‘field trip’ to the local middle-of-nowhere, and Ana had gotten a blister on her heel. Slowly, the brunette had dropped behind her friends.

 Kenan had noticed. Of course he had. He always seemed to be there, laughing, joking, flirting. The boy had slowed his pace to match the girl’s, and they walked down the trail in almost complete silence, broken only by the birds, crickets, and the occasional cow’s complaint. 

 Eventually, Kenan had run in front of the girl and waved his arms. 

 “Did you know I write music?” 

 A familiar grin spread across his face as Ana scowled lightheartedly. “No.” 

 “Yeah, I wrote a song about las tortillas de mi madre.” The boy slipped into his first language, and Ana nodded. 

 When Kenan didn’t follow up his statement, Ana sighed and nudged his arm. “Ok, so what’s the en-“

 “Well, I guess it was more of a wrap.” The boy inturrupted. 

 Ana looked away, trying not to smile. He kept pulling stupid jokes out of nowhere, and she found it harder and harder not to laugh as he grinned at her. 

 Kenan’s eyes widened with his grin as the girl’s shoulders started to shake. 

 “Are you laughing?” He danced around her, but she dodged, hiding her face. “Come on, I finally made you laugh and you’re going to hide your pretty face?”  

 Ana squeaked as Kenan twirled her around. The joyful look on his face sent her into another round of giggles. 

 She stumbled off of the path, and Kenan barked out a laugh. At that point, Ana had given up and was laughing to the point of tears, not at the joke, but the whole situation. 

 The air was full of laughter until Kenan froze. Ana started to get up, but he held out his hand. “Stop!” 

 “Why?” 

 “Take my hand!” 

 “No way!” 

 “I’m not asking you to marry me, I’m trying to save your life!” 

 “Yeah, right.” She crossed her arms stubbornly. 

 “Please, Ana.” His near-black eyes were bright, not from laughter like they usually were, but with fear. “This isn’t the time to argue.” 

 Ana shot a glance around, confused. She looked back at Kenan, and the panic written into his face resolved her doubts. 

 When the girl reached out, the boy pulled her gently back onto the trail. As soon as Ana was back on her feet, Kenan shoved her behind him. 

 “Walk. Slowly. Don’t run.” He breathed, calmer now that she was out of danger. 

 Ana followed his quiet words, walking far enough down the path to be out of range of whatever Kenan had seen. When she turned around, he met her gaze before carefully backing up the path. 

 As he reached her side, Kenan grabbed her hand and started sprinting down the trail. After they had run about a hundred feet, Ana pulled away from his grip. 

 “What was it, Kenan?”

 The boy turned to her and replied by opening his arms. In any other situation, Ana would have refused, but she saw something in his eyes that she had never seen before. For all his calm exterior, the boy in front of her was terrified. 

 She enfolded him a tight hug. He took the girl in his arms, heaving a sigh of relief as he accepted the comfort she offered. 

 “What?” Ana gently removed herself from the boy, keeping her hands on his shoulders to steady him. 

 Kenan repeated what he had mumbled a moment before, “Rattlesnake. It was behind you.”

 Ana’s eyes grew wide. “I- there- actually?” Her voice was shaky. 

 Kenan nodded. 

 The girl took a deep breath before smiling. “Thanks.” She stood on tiptoes for a moment, leaning forward as she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. 

 Kenan felt a shock running through him, originating from his face. From her lips. He stood stock still as Ana started down the path. 

 She turned around, tilting her head. “You just gonna stand there til the snake catches up?” 

 Kenan shook his head and rushed to catch up with the girl. 

 Silence fell, but it was more comfortable than before. 

 “Ana-“ 

 He paused as she glanced at him. Meeting her gaze, he asked, “Take my hand?” 

 Ana chuckled, and Kenan shot a grin back at her as he felt their fingers interlace.