Room On Fire

Room On Fire Chapter 10

Eden

   One perfect example, I thought to myself, was Christofer.

   I remember the day perfectly; like it was only yesterday. Meeting him was exactly like one of those scenes in a Nicholas Sparks movie. It was only months ago, back when I was fourteen.

   It was below freezing, but I insisted on taking a walk, against my father’s wishes. Abby was caught sneaking in her window again this morning so they were both throwing fits.

   Once I reached the end of my driveway, the realization on how cold it actually was hit me. My baggy sweatpants and tight long sleeves tee shirt didn’t stand a chance against the icy chill nipping at my ears and face.

   I knew someone would come after me eventually, so I didn’t follow the iced over roads. Instead, I let myself in my neighbors’ yard and jumped their back fence into a thick patch of trees. The bark on each felt frozen solid as I brushed my cold fingers against them.

   “Fuck, its cold” I hissed, rubbing my arms. I told myself I would not go home until the fighting and tension died down: or until Abby was in the bath and my dad was drinking. This meant I would have to survive the cold for at least another half hour.

   Moving around was supposed to keep you warmer, so I started walking in circles around a group of trees. The sun was still making its way into the sky in various shades of pink, red and yellow. I sat beneath a large oak tree, with a hollow at the base that looked big enough to encircle me.

   I rubbed my hands against my legs and eventually stuck them inside the waistband of my sweatpants to keep warm.

   “A little cold to be sitting outside, don’t you think?” A voice said form behind me. I turned so I could see around the trunk of the tree and sure enough someone was standing on the other side. He had light blue eyes that would match the exact shade of the snow if we got any. His jaw-line was fierce, but his face soft and friendly.

   “I suppose so” I murmured, getting to my feet. The boy was a good six or seven inches taller than me. He smiled and offered his hand; an even warmer smile grew on his lips.

   “I’m Christofer. With an F” I took his hand in mine and shook it delicately. They were soft despite the nipping cold that had dried out mine earlier.

   “Hello Christofer with an F. I’m Eden.” I smiled too, because he was cute and very kind and willing to help a girl out in the cold. His hair was a dirty blonde, almost brown that was neatly cut at eyebrow length in distinct layers.

   “Pleasure to meet you, Eden” He said, linking his fingers in mine. “Would you like to come inside for some hot chocolate? I live right here. My parents aren’t home now; both at work. Oh yeah, I’m sixteen.” He chuckled and led me to his back door. I didn’t hesitate.

   The motel bed seemed much warmer at the fond memories flooding through my head. Every day after that one seemed to get better and better. I used to go to his house almost every day for a warm drink, then when spring and summer came, for cokes and lemonade.

   No one ever asked where I was all the time, and when they did I just said I was going to neighbors for a drink: which I was. I left out the part about the neighbor being my new boyfriend.

   That was a big mistake.

Duncan 

 “Sir, are you finished?” A familiar voice asked me. I snapped back into the present and turned towards the source: the waitress from earlier stood smiling, braces and all.