What Are You Hiding, Roman Hart?

Sweetheart

"Hey, do you want to go down to the store and get some ice cream?", Roman asked while nudging my shoulder.

He had been sitting at my desk that was beside my bed trying to find something to do for a long time. I could tell that he had been bored for a while from how long he had been staring at me.

I looked up from the book that I was reading and stared out the window. I could see the heat waves radiating off of the pavement and the sight instantly filled me with dread.

"No. I would much rather stay inside where it's nice and cool.", I said while looking back down at my book.

Roman climbed onto my bed and sprawled himself across my lap knocking the book out of my hands in the process.

"Hey! You made me lose my page.", I said while trying to push him off of me."

He ignored what I said and wrapped his arms around my waist while burying his head into my stomach. His started to rub his head against me. It reminded me of a dog begging to be pet.

"Pleaseeeeeeee, I really need some. You don't understand how badly I'm craving it right now.", he begged.

I sighed and rested my hand on his head and began to gently run my fingers through his dark hair. It was starting to get a little long, but I thought it suited him. It looked cute.

"Alright we can go, but if I die from the heat, you better cry and put on a show at my funeral."

He laughed and said, "Come on, I would never let you die. I love you too much."

"Yeah yeah. Save that for your future girlfriend.", I said while getting up from the bed.

Roman got up as well and grabbed me from behind wrapping his hands around my stomach once more. He buried his face into the side of my neck and stayed there for a while before saying anything.

"I love you."

I smiled to myself, "I love you too."

I really do have a great friend.

"Ok get off. It's hot.", I said while pushing him off.

He unwrapped his arms from around me but quickly grabbed my hand as a replacement. He pulled me out the bedroom door and towards the unbelievably scorching temperatures of the outdoors. Before we could make it outside, my mom appeared in front of us.

"Where are you guys going?", she asked.

"Oh, we're going to get ice cream because it's so hot.", I told her.

"Can you bring me some back?", she asked.

"Sure!", I replied.

My mom walked with Roman and I to the front door and stopped in front of it. When she turned around, her eyes were glazed over with a certain emotion that I couldn't place.

"Roman can go alone.", she said in a harsh tone.

"Why? I can go with him.", I said.

She smiled at me, but her eyes still held that strange look. "No, it's best if he goes alone."

She turned and opened the front door showing us what was behind it. Flames filled the streets and burned through the nearby houses. The heat emitting from them was extremely intense as the temperature around us skyrocketed.

My mom grabbed Roman's arm and pushed him out the front door. He was immediately engulfed in the flames and disappeared before my eyes even had time to process what was happening.

"W-what did you do!", I yelled.

"Oh Oliver, it's time to wake up.", she said.

"W-what?", I asked confused.