Bring Me Back To Life || Gavin Lux

nineteen

Ella's POV- December 2019

"I know, I know. You're hungry" I told my meowing hungry cat as we both walked down the stairs.

"Morning"

I smiled at my dad who was seated in the living room, with his laptop on his lap.

"Morning" I greeted before making my way into the kitchen.

Mom and Theo were in the kitchen eating breakfast.

"You look sporty"

"Gavin wants to go hiking" I replied.

"Does Claudia know you're going on a hike?"

"Claudia is in Colorado, right now" I answered.

She smiled.

"Have fun"

I turned around and filled up my water bottle.

"Are you two getting breakfast after?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Theo made smoothies"

"Cool," I responded.

"I can put it in a travel tumbler"

"Sure," I said.

Mom smiled and stood up to do just that.

"Is Gavin coming inside to say hello?"

I nodded as I sealed my water bottle close.

"That must be him" I stated as the doorbell rang.

"I got it!"

Dad went to answer the door as mom scurried out of the room leaving me alone with Theo who just stared at me. I grabbed two granola bars and set them next to the smoothie before reaching for the bag of dry mangos.

"Need help?"

"No, it's okay," I told Theo.

It was too high up, so I just grabbed a handful of pretzels and placed them into a reusable sandwich baggy.

"Hey, lover"

That was how dad greeted Gavin. As expected, Gavin laughed.

"Good morning"

I placed the reusable sandwich baggy into my backpack along with the granola bars and then went to feed Chip.

"What you got there?"

To which Gavin replied,

"Just some gifts"

It was why he had come inside instead of just picking me up.

"I'll put them under the tree"

Gavin stepped into the kitchen just as I finishing pouring Chip his food.

"Hey"

"Hi" I greeted.

I made my way over to him and accepted his bear hug. He kissed my forehead and cheek before letting me go.

"Ready to go?"

"Not yet, can you hand me the dried mangos?" I asked.

He nodded and reached for the bag with no effort.

"Here you go"

"Thank you" I replied.

I poured some into a baggie and as I handed the bag back to him to return to the place it was, Gavin greeted Theo.

"Morning"

To which Theo grumbled out a,

"Morning"

Gavin turned to me.

"Let's go" I said.

I slipped on my backpack and grabbed both the smoothie and waterbottle.

"And where are you two going this early?"

I turned to my dad and pursed my lips.

"Gavin wants to go hiking" I responded.

Dad smiled.

"Does Claudia know?"

"No, and I'd like to keep it that way" I replied.

Claudia was a firm believer in staying away from National Parks and avoiding hiking trails, but...she wasn't home and she didn't have to know...yet.

"Just in case, your GPS stays on"

I rolled my eyes.

"Bye," I called out as I grabbed Gavin's hand.

Once we were inside Gavin's car, he looked at me.

"Why can't Claudia know we're going hiking?"

"She's got a fear of wooded areas" I answered as he leaned in for a kiss.

"That's a thing?"

I nodded as he pecked my lips.

"Yeah, it's called Xylophobia" I responded.

"Will I get in trouble for taking you on a hike?"

Nah.

"If you bring me back in one piece you should be fine," I said.

My phone chimed.

"That's probably Enzo" I stated as I pulled my phone from my backpack.

Gavin glanced at me as he began to pull the car out of its parking spot.

"How is he?"

He met Enzo last night when we got together to eat Italian food.

"Sore" I replied as I read the text.

"I didn't ask last night, but what did your coach think of him?"

I looked at him and scrunched up my nose.

"He was not too thrilled to meet Enzo" I admitted.

"Why's that?"

"Some coaches had reached out to him in hopes to get a try" I answered.

"Oh, wow"

Yup.

"Lorenzo looked exhausted yesterday"

"Coach was tough on him" I responded.

I had not been cleared for lifts and jumps, just skating and some working out, but I still showed up.

"What'd he think of Lorenzo?"

"He thinks that there's lots of room for improvement" I replied.

Those were his exact words.

"But he's not opposed" I stated.

"So what exactly happens next?"

"Coach has to fill in some paperwork. Since both our past partners are retired from the sport, there is no period of reconciliation" I said.

It would be a while before Enzo and I skated together though. We both had school, but coach wanted him to gain some weight/muscle and I could not strain my right arm.

"Oh, nice"

I guess time would tell on that.