as he started in on her cuts with the gauze and some hot water.
Helen was having a hard time seeing straight. Everything was out
of focus, and her eyes couldn?t seem to get a hold of Lucas. It was
strange. Her vision kept sliding off his shape, as if it was too slippery
for her gaze. She tried to watch Lucas?s expression as he
doctored her cuts, but it was almost impossible to see him. As the
minutes ticked by and Helen healed on her own, Lucas became visible
again and Helen could see that the grooves of worry dug into
his forehead loosened and went away. He dabbed at the leftover
blood and sighed.
?Why didn?t you get out of Hector?s way, Helen?? he asked softly,
breaking the long silence. ?Why didn?t you block with your hands??
?He?s faster than me,? she replied, but they both knew that wasn?t
the whole truth, and as she took in his skeptical look she continued.
?I knew if I started blocking him he?d just get angrier, and
then I would eventually have no choice but to hit him so hard he
wouldn?t be able to hit me back.?
?That?s sort of the point of fighting, you know,? Lucas said with a
touch of a smile.
?Then I don?t want any part of it,? Helen said seriously. ?I don?t
want to hurt people, Lucas. Can?t you teach me something else??
?Like what?? he asked, at a loss.
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?Like what you did in the hallway at school that first time we saw
each other. How you spun me around and stood between my legs
so I couldn?t get at you? That didn?t hurt me at all, but you still had
me beat. Or what you did on your lawn that night. Remember? I
was on top of you and then you did that thing with your hips?? she
said with building optimism. He nodded and looked away.
?It?s called jujitsu. It?s for hand-to-hand fighting and I?d rather