S5 ⭒ Episode Four

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*Instrumental*
♪ Reverie, CD 76 • Claude Debussy.

THE MOST PRECARIOUS LADDER

Halen and I set my bedroom on fire, and now I'm living in a soap opera

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Halen and I set my bedroom on fire, and now I'm living in a soap opera.

"Hot chocolate, anyone?"

Fox, Halen, and the contractors and handymen standing around my freezing bedroom all turn an eye when I walk in holding a silver tray of rich cocoa homemade by Blue.

We burned a hole through the ceiling, and a hole in our weekday plans. A hole through us.

Now, all that's left is embracing daggers shot across the room and brief hellos in the hallways.

The fierce forbidden-ness of us has returned.

"Ooo, thank you."

"I could use a break."

"Are there marshmallows in there?"

The workers all put down their hammers and pliers, rushing down from the roof and ushering across the room to gather in a single file line in front of me like well-mannered kindergartners.

Halen's emerald eyes get lost between their broad shoulders and bright hard hats, and the spark I feel in my chest between us is dimmed.

I miss him so much.

It's Wednesday afternoon now.

We shot our scene Monday evening and since then we've had all of three conversations in person.

The only physical feeling of him I've had is in memories and dreams, and film that I had played on a loop at a desperate hour in the middle of the night.

"Thank you so much."

"You're welcome." I smile as the men disperse and tear my eyes away from the last eagerly, setting my eyes on Halen talking with the contractor.

He stands firm, hands on his hips, staring up at the hole in the ceiling with a vaguely puzzled expression. He wears a yummy silk sage button up that shows just enough of his chest to leave me hot and reminiscing, but his glasses precariously on top of his head and his nerdy 'science rules' socks pocking out from his brown slacks ground me. They only make me want to smile.

I breathe in deeply and step onto the plastic sheeted ground, making my way toward them.

"Caramel cocoa?"

The older gentleman speaking closely with Fox takes one with a nodded thank you, but quickly walks away with him, muttering something about the price of insulation.

"Understood." The contractor next to Halen nods at his words. He walks away toward the balcony and begins to the climb that latter to the roof.

I clear my throat and move next to Halen, gazing up.

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