My Love on the Ice

•Shine a little brighter•

He's sure. And he's also so sure of everything.

I expect him to pull away, wipe his mouth and glare at me with disgust but he surprises me. Harley seems to continually do so.

Harley tilts his head slightly to meet me in my spur of the moment kiss. It feels so god damn right to have him this close to me and in such an intimate way. The puffs of hot air out his nose, the little hum that slips out, his hand coming up to frame my cheek. Everything.

My eyes slowly crack open as we separate and he smiles, wide and cheerful, I can't stop myself from returning it.

"You're okay." I sign more as a statement then a question as he settles into the chair my Aunt was just in.

He doesn't answer and instead rests his chin into his hand. His eyes droop as his eyes map paths over my face. His gaze is hot, burning hot. My ears tingle from a shiver that rocks down my spine. God damnit. My stomach also seems to flip back and forth as he stares. I swallow not able to watch as he looks at me that way. Has he ever done this before?

Luckily my Aunt steps back into the room, her gaze flickering between the both of us, sly smile on her lips. "I just finished talking to the nurses, they want to monitor you a little more. But you should be able to go home soon." She rounds the bed, sitting at my feet and taking one of my hands. The smile from before vanishes, now it's replaced with a poisonous stare. "I want you to live with me."

My breathing hitches. I've had way too many emotions in the past few minutes I think I'm going into shock. She couldn't have just suggested that right? "Home? With you?"

Her lips draw into a line. "Yes. I don't want you going back to your father. Apparently they called him first and he didn't pick up." She sighs, dropping her head, the room grows tense. "He's been a dick for a long time. I guess I was just scared.." When she picks up her head to look back at me. Her dark eyes are blood shot, tears starting to collect. "You need somewhere better to live. You deserve that. So, I want you to come live with me."

With no hesitation I nod. "Yes.. yes please." I sound even a little too desperate to myself. But she does seem to care, after laughing wetly to embrace me once again. I've missed hugs. I've missed them way too much.

Surprisingly I don't cry and once we separate Harley is leaning against the other side of the hospital bed, box of tissues out to my Aunt. She in turn chuckles and grabs a tissue, blotting at her eyes. "Thank you."

Harley understands, smile growing on his face. Making my stomach do the silly fluttery thing again. Fuck.. am I ever going to get used to that?

"Well." Aunt Bong clears her throat. "I heard you have a trip for hockey, correct?" She waits for me to nod, then continues. "When we go to get your stuff, your father won't be home. You have fun on your trip and when you come back home you'll be coming home with me. You won't ever be returning to that hell hole again." She sounds so sure making me feel confident in this arrangement. Maybe it's finally time for me to be able to sleep soundly.

Afterwards I stay in the hospital for only about an hour more and then get discharged. I can't go back home right now without the order for my father to leave, that takes a few days to implement. I don't have any clothes or toiletries, nothing. My palms sweat, head starting to spine with what I should do.

Harley seems to see this, as my fists ball walking across the parking lot to my aunts car, he taps my shoulder. "I can pack extra for you since you can't go home." He signs to me, making my eyes widen.

I shake my head at this. "You don't need to do that. I'll stop by a store or something real fast. It's already late and we leave first thing in the morning."

I get a sour look. I get it's supposed to be angry and show his displeasure but I can't help but warm at his nose crinkle and squinting eyes.

"We are about the same size. I'm doing it. I don't care." He hums and spins walking away from me.

"Harley!" He doesn't respond. "Damn it." Of course he doesn't, he can't hear me. Instead of rushing across the parking lot I just shake my head and go to Aunt Bong that waits for me with the window down.

"He's a cutie." She comments as I climb into the passenger seat.

I laugh helplessly watching him climb into his mother's car. "That's not even the half of it."

She hoots at my response and throws the car into drive. As we make it to her house I watch the stars outside that seem to shine a little brighter with all the light pollution. My eyes seem to catch on a particular at star.

A flickering ball of reddish-orange that I can't seem to pull my gaze from, it blinks around almost teasingly as I watch it, wrenching my head back to keep it within my sight. It doesn't falter for a second and seems to shine the most. I've never taken the time to watch the stars, but now it seems like I can't live without tracing splattered balls of fire that are always there but shine the brightest when everything turns dark and scary. Especially, that little red one.