Page 81 of Survival

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Did he ever teach you anything?”

“I’m no rookie when it comes to anengine,if that’s what youmean.”

“Why did your dad take so much interest inyou doing things that are clearly meant for boys?”

“Well, that’s awfully sexist of you,” Isaid, not surprised at all. “He taughtmybrothers and methe same things, and he wanted me to be asresourceful as I possibly could, and I was eager for the knowledge.I would never say no if he wanted to teach me something. Besides,you already knew I was not a girly girl. I preferred trucks todolls. There’s nothing wrong with a girl learning the same thingsas boys.”

“Says you.”

“Does it bother you that I enjoy and know somuch about interests and skills that are typically dominated bymen?”

“I honestly don’t know how I feel about it.I’m used to the innocence and frailty of women, which is why I’mprobably so drawn to you. You’re so wildly different from that, andit amuses me.”

“Yes, I am not your average girl, which iswhy you shouldn’t be so surprised by my lack frailty or femininity.I enjoy a more exhilarating lifestyle than most girls do, but thatdoesn’t make me less of a woman because of it.”

“It just seems too dangerous. I worry aboutyou getting hurt.”

“Boys get hurt just as much as girlsdo.”

“Yes, but girls are much more fragile.”

“That’s because you grew up without anysisters to prove to you otherwise. Do I really seem fragile toyou?”

“You may not come off as fragile, but youare.”

“I’m not the delicate little flower you makeme out to be. I think I’ve proved that more than once. Besides, youcertainly don’t treat me like a delicate little flower.”

He chuckled then.“I suppose that’s true.”

“I’m unlike any girl you’ll ever meet, Darren. I really am oneof a kind. If you’d loosen the reins, you may just get to see itone day.”

“We’ll see.”

We were silent forabit,and I wasgrateful that Darren let the topic slide for now, but I knew itwould probably come back againin the nearfuture. And just wheneverything seemed to calm down, Darren reached for my right wristand laid it down on his chest. I kept my fingers clenched into atight fist hoping he wouldn't notice.

“Jaden, open your hand,” he saiddarkly.

I groaned, knowingI was in for it now. Slowly, I opened my hand and revealed thefiled down nail that I had tried so desperately tohide.

“Goddamn it, girl.” He sighed, setting his head back on thehammock and exhaling heavily.

“It was an accident!”

Jesus, I soundedlike a fucking child.

“And do you know why it happened? Because you disobeyed meagain and trained instead of just working out. Don’t think I wasn’twatching you in there.”

“Goddamn it, Darren, I can’t help it! I have a skill set thatI have worked hard to achieve, and I don't want to forget it. Whycan’t you just understand that?”

“Because I don’t have to understand shit if I don’t want to.That's the beauty of my position overyou.”

I released anannoyed sigh athimbut keptmy mouth shut.

“And it’s not the fact that you train,Jaden.It’swhy.”

I let out a longslow breath and forced the words out.