Cherry Wine // Wednesday X Xavier

Let it Snow

The night was blistering cold. The wind slapped on the side of the house, shutters fluttering and keeping Wednesday up. Usually the howls of the night lulled her into a peaceful sleep but she couldn't stop thinking about that retching feeling twisting behind her ribs. Enid stirred in her sleep, a large snore startling her. She turned over and continued to sleep spread out on the bed. Wednesday rolled out of bed, going over to the window a figure below catching her eye.

Xavier was sitting on the stoop off the side of the house, he had his hat pulled down to cover most of his face as he tried lighting a cigarette, the winter wind blowing the flame out over and over. Tiny hands came up to cup around the end of the butt of the stick hanging from his mouth. He looked up, caught in his dirty habit. Wednesday stared down at him, disapproving eyes. He lit the cigarette in shame and took a long draw from it, the smoke blowing from his nose.

"That's a nasty habit." Wednesday said, sitting down beside Xavier. The wind was blowing hard but they were shielded by the side of the house. The cold was still bone-chilling but somehow it was comfortable for both Xavier and Wednesday. Sometimes the house was a bit too warm for their liking.

Xavier puffed a few more times, the orange light reflecting on his skin. "I don't do it often." He offered the stick to her. She wasn't sure what compelled her to take it but Wednesday accepted, placing her lips where he had been and drew in a breath. She felt her lungs fill with burning and it satisfied something in her. The taste was bitter but the smoke felt like filling an empty void inside. She let out, coughing as it escaped her. Xavier laughed at her, taking another drag.

"Why do you do it?" Wednesday asked, tucking her knees into her chest. Ever since Enid had suggested getting closer to Xavier, Wednesday was feeling weird. She felt timid, like she had to hide herself. Curling up into a ball was her best option.

Xavier looked down at her, her eyes barely visible under her bangs and behind her knees. She looked so little and fragile like this, it pulled at Xavier's heart. His lungs filled with smoke and he let it out again. "Sometimes," he thought for a moment, "sometimes I just need a release."

Wednesday understood that, that was the main reason why she had her novel. Sometimes her thoughts became too much that she had to redirect them into something else. "What about your art?" She asked him.

"Well, I can't always be drawing and painting." He took one last draw, the cigarette burning out. "Plus nicotine is addicting." He dug a hole in the snow, burying the butt down below. Rising to his feet he tucked his hands into his coat pockets, rocking on his feet as the wind blew him around. It had started to pick up every which way, hitting both of them hard. "We should go inside." He reached out his hand pulling Wednesday to her feet, the wind carrying her into his arms. Only thumping could be heard between them as Xavier held her steady against him. It was only for a moment but it felt like an eternity.

They both turned back into the house, knocking the snow from their shoes. Xavier's cheeks were a bright red, the tip of his nose nipped with frost. Even Wednesday, who was naturally cold blooded, had a flush to her pale skin. The heat came rushing back into their bodies as they snuck deeper into the house, finding themselves back in the library.

It was dark, only the shadows of moonlight coming through the windows lit the room. Wednesday walked Xavier all the way back to his room, the door ajar from when he had left Ajax earlier in the night. He turned back toward her to give her a nod but she had other thoughts. When he turned she went in, wrapping her arms around his midsection. She didn't hug but if she wasn't going to kiss him she had to do something to see how she felt about Xavier.

He was warm and his heart was racing, she could hear it through his chest. She lingered for a second, Xavier completely disoriented from the action. Without a word Wednesday released him and turned toward her room leaving him empty once again. This time he needed her arms around him to feel whole.

Embarrassed, Wednesday rushed back to her room but she had gotten her answer. She closed the bedroom door behind her, crawling into bed next to Enid. She got really close to her friend, whispering into her ear, even if she was asleep and would never hear her confession, "Enid, I think I have feelings for Xavier Thorpe."