” The strong soothing hands felt wonderful on her body and, when Sergio squirted warm oil into the small of her back, she sighed happily. He worked...in silence for the next ten minutes, the room quiet except for the soothing jazz coming out of his portable CD player. His hands worked on the area just above her waistline and he asked softly, “Is this where you’re stiff?” She murmured her assent. As his fingers pressed firmly into her lower spine, she flinched a little as a small stab of pain. " I know. You already said that," I said testily. "It's crappy training. You hurt me."She left the room. I didn't see her for the rest of the night.The next day passed uneventfully. I mean, I watched some soap operas on TV, I chatted with a few of the old, wrinkled nurses, you know? A big day.Late in the afternoon Carole Anne peeked her head around the door. "Hi," she said."Oh hi," I responded. "It's the torture monster." I wasn't happy to see her.She stayed outside the room, her head twisted. I made the biggest mistake of all time. He's going to run away, back down to Phoenix, and never come back.'" No, no." I stopped her and reached across the seat to grab her arm. "Please. I don't hate you. I like you." I had to look down. "More than I should admit." Lily sighed."Try admitting something. Anything. It's better than the solace of utter fucking silence. Even if you told me you never wanted to see me again... it'd be better than nothing."Sixteen. Hormones running high. Hadn't spoken. I opened my eyes, blinking away the moisture that had formed there. I fixed my gaze on Dawn's adoring eyes, her crystal clear blue irises focused entirely on me. And I smiled. While she sat there caressing my face, it felt so completely natural to lean forward and start puckering my lips. Dawn smiled as well, instinctively extending her face towards mine. And then..."Ben!" a female voice exclaimed as a hand landed on my shoulder and turned me around in my seat.I was a bit wild-eyed from the.