1: Whispering Smoke - Evan Peters

Kayaks

I woke up next to Evan, with the sun shining brightly through the gap in the curtains. He looked so peaceful, even with his mouth slightly open and drool dripping down his cheek. I got up out of bed, removing the covers from my body slowly, not to disturb Evan, and went down the stairs. I knew it was early, maybe 7 o'clock, and I didn't want to wake him yet. Evan had brought groceries in a cooler, so we had creamer for our coffee. I brewed some black coffee in the coffee pot and watched it as it heated.

I grabbed my cup of coffee and exited the cabin, going around the side of the house to sit in the large swing chair on the back porch. I could see the whole lake from seat on the porch, and nothing had ever looked so calm to me. I leaned back and closed my eyes, my hands clutching at my mug tightly to retain the heat of the coffee.

It wasn't long until I heard the floorboards of the deck creeping, and footsteps. Evan appeared around the corner, shirtless even in this cold weather,  rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He sat down next to me and with a big yawn, rested his head on my shoulder.

"Morning Alex," Evan had his eyes closed, in his hand was a pack of cigarettes and his white lighter.

"Sorry Evan, I didn't want to wake you," I explained, as he lifted his head from off my shoulder and opened one eye at me tiredly.

"I know, I felt you get up and leave I wanted to know where you went," Evan leaned back against the swing and took out a cigarette.

I looked back out at the lake and took a sip of my coffee. The smell of wood fire, and now cigarette smoke, filled my nose.

"I actually found some kayaks in the back room last night, we could go out on the lake?" Evan suggested and I laughed.

"I haven't been kayaking before, I've never even seen a lake big enough to kayak in, I'm gonna suck at that," I said.

"It's okay I'll teach you," Evan leaned over and gave me a single kiss on the cheek.

-

I put on my swimsuit, covered my torso with a running jacket and put on bike shorts. I knew that if I fell into the lake for whatever reason, I wouldn't be stuck in soaking underwear trying to swim. I could see Evan had brought the kayaks to the edge of the lake by the window in the loft of the cabin, and he was on the phone to someone. He looked frustrated with the person on the line and it made me wonder if Emma had called him again. I put on my sneakers and practically ran down the stairs and out of the cabin to get to Evan. By then he'd hung up the phone, and slid it into his pocket. He looked distressed, but he hid it with a smile.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, going over to him and wrapping my arms around him in a hug.

"I dont know, don't really wanna talk about it," I stepped back from him and nodded my head softly.

"Are you okay though?" I asked this time.

"Yeah of course, I'm about to go kayaking with you!" A big smile lit up his face. I laughed at his enthusiasm and took a look at the big orange one-person kayaks moving with the water of the lake.

"I don't have good upper body strength you know," I laughed nervously and put my sunglasses on.

"It's alright, go slow, no one is here to watch you," Evan held out his hand to assist me getting into the kayak. I moved towards it, and stepped in with one foot, wobbly as the kayak slid backwards slightly.

"Go slowly Lex," Evan laughed and I let go of his hand to reach down and grab ahold of the sides of the kayak. I sat down, hesitantly, and Evan passed me a two-sided oar.

"Alright, I'm gonna push you out slightly," Evan leaned over the back of the kayak and with both hands he pushed, sending me into the lake. I bit down on my lip nervously as it continued to float away from shore.