The Healer: First Touch by Amy Clapp

spat in his face. Not just a little, but as much as I could gather in my mouth.
    Gasps of horror and shock swept through the crowd that gathered around us as the spittle ran down his face. If Kent was angered by my assault on him and his beer, this sent him into a blind, unbridled rage the likes of which I had never seen before. Kent shoved me so hard that I landed on the ground with a thud. Thankfully, the soft sand helped break my fall so I wasn't hurt.
    "I'm going to kill you!" Kent screamed at me his face red with anger. Little beads of sweat formed on his face. As he lunged for me, a blurred figure had plowed into his side, tackling him to the sand at my feet.
    There were groans and muffled sounds as if someone was hitting a large piece of meat. I finally made out the mass of arms and legs rolling around in the sand. Jamie had tackled Kent to save me. And the two of them were fighting.
    More punches and more groans. Jamie's friends lined up across from Kent's, poised to attack. The guys were all snarling and eager to fight, like two packs of wild dogs. I watched Kent and Jamie wrestling and fighting. I grimaced when I heard Jamie groan after Kent landed a punch. Kent's friends forgot me as I sat at their feet. They were too busy waiting for Jamie's friends to make a move to justify an all-out brawl.
    I felt someone tugging on my arm, trying to drag me to my feet.
    "Come on!" Emma desperately pleaded. "Let's get out of here!" She pulled harder and this time I responded by scrambling to my feet. As we ducked through the crowds and ran towards my car, I looked back to see Kent and Jamie still fighting.
    "What about Jamie?" I asked, slowing.
    "He's a big boy. Let's go!" Emma yelled, pulling my arm again and urging me towards the car.
    We pulled away from the Dark Pier parking lot and I stole another glance toward the fight. You could no longer see the boys fighting because the crowd around them had grown pretty large. I groaned, sinking deep in my seat.
    "What the hell were you thinking?" Emma nearly shrieked at me in her panicked state. Why did you do that?"
    "I don't know," I groaned again, covering my face with my hands. I felt so bad for Jamie coming to my rescue yet again.
    As Emma sped down the curving streets towards town, two police cars raced past us, lights flashing and sirens blaring.
    "Oh, god!" I groaned again, and I sank even deeper into my seat.
    We later discovered that Jamie had broken Kent's jaw during the fight. Jamie had received a black eye. Both had involvement with the courts. Nobody really forgot this incident I caused last spring. And as Jamie and I sat on the sand tonight, laughing hysterically, I knew everyone was thinking back to the scene I had made a year ago. Through the embarrassing silence, we looked at them and they stared at us.
    Jamie broke the stillness. "It's okay everyone. Jacey just wants a beer and I don't have one to give her."
    "Jamie!" I yelled at him, punching him in the shoulder again. Everyone stared back at us. Jamie started laughing again.
    "Real funny, McMann," someone yelled sarcastically.
    "You are such a weirdo, Jacey," someone else said.
    I started laughing again with Jamie. Eventually, all the others went back to their conversations, ignoring us. Even the football game started back up again.
    Our laughter died down to quiet chuckles and I settled back into Jamie's arms and chest. "You are so funny Jamie," I murmured. "You always take care of me."
    Jamie wrapped his big arms around me tightly and kissed the top of my head. "Always," he responded. "Always."
    And I knew he would. I was so comfortable in Jamie's arms, I almost completely forgot about him. Almost, but not quite.

-Six-
    I watched the sunrise from my bedroom window. The morning sun turned the horizon soft hues of pink and orange as the night sky faded back toward the west. I watched as it peeked out from the horizon and slowly made its ascent into the sky. I sat up in bed, my blankets pooled around me, hugging