Frozen Heart

Chapter 5 ~ "Back Off"

Grace

I felt like I was on top of the world today. Today was Sunday and I knew Nik was coming over tonight. I wasn't too sure, but it seemed like we might have made some progress on Thursday. He drove me home, ate dinner with me, and texted me first.

I also noticed the little things, he turned on my seat heater for me, held the door for me on the way in and out of the restaurant, and waited to make sure I was inside safe before driving away. I knew I was right about him, I knew he wasn't some monster like everyone else seemed to believe he was.

I lace up my running shoes and head out to run on the trails behind my house for a while. They were pretty open, houses backed onto either side of it so I wasn't worried about being in the woods or anything like that. Plus it was bright out this morning, a perfect day to go for a run.

I step out and jog to the trail before really starting my run at full speed. I knew there wouldn't be much more of this, as soon as ice and snow started falling I knew I'd have to take my running inside. That just wasn't as nice, but I didn't have much experience running during the winter.

I run for a long time, I was up past my five-mile so I turn on the trail up ahead and come out between two houses, heading back down the street to my own house.

It was always nice to start my day this way, I found it really cleared my head and helped me focus. I get home and take a shower, wondering how I'll spend my day today. Back home I had loads of friends and things to do on the weekend. But it was a slow process of finding a really good set of friends. I didn't trust a soul to tell them about how I was starting to feel about Nik.

And I really was starting to feel something, I liked him a lot and I knew if he'd just open up a bit and trust me things would be easier. But I knew that for some reason, that was the last thing he'd ever do. 

It broke my heart a bit on Thursday when he looked dead at me and told me it wasn't a date. I knew that of course but......he just seemed so final about it. Not that this wasn't, but that nothing in the future would be either.

I get out of the shower and dry off, hearing my phone ring. I pick it up and answer it, walking over to my sink to wash my face.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Hi Grace!" I hear and I know it's Josie's voice over the other end. "What are you up to?" She asks and I shrug.

"Nothing really, what's up?" I ask.

"Me and a few girls are going to the mall today, do you want to come?" She asks and I feel relieved, at least I had something to do now.

"Sure that sounds great." I tell her. "I'll get ready, just text me when you're here."

"Cool, see you in a bit!" She says cheerfully. We exchange a quick goodbye and I wrap up my morning routine and get dressed. I pull on some clothes, trying to keep the chilly weather in mind. But I did want to look like I was trying to be put together. I get ready and wait in the living room for her to show up. 

I hadn't really had much of a social life since moving here. I didn't have anyone calling to make plans with me other than Josie, so it meant lots of time at home.

She pulls up a few minutes later and I hurry outside, hopping into the passenger seat. "Hey girl, how was your weekend?" She asks and I shrug.

"Kind of boring." I admit and she laughs. 

"I thought you might want to get out for a bit." She says and I smile. I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket and I pull it out and smile seeing who it is.