A November Meeting (One Shot)

Snow

The cold November air burned my throat and my nostrils when I got out of my warm, heated car. A slight snow lightly covered everything, except for the footprints melted on the sidewalk and in the grass made by little children still at play, even in sub zero temperatures. It was an overcast Sunday, the snow falling softly in the silence of the park. Despite the fresh footprints, no one was at the park. Except for a single person. The person I came here to meet.
He sat on the swing set, and moved himself gently with his feet, and the chains on the swing creaked and groaned in protest of the movement, despite his small frame, and the cold. He was wrapped in a small jacket, a windbreaker, but not as collapsed, the classic windbreaker look; and a light gray beanie that covered most of his blonde hair, with some of his hair sticking out the bottom of the cap. I couldn't tell from where I stood, but the cap had writing on it...
In the freezing weather, his breath looked clear as day, like a dragon. Personally I always liked that your breath would fog up in the cold. Winter is the only season you can pretend to be a dragon properly.

Of course, he had noticed that I had pulled up in my small Honda, and was looking at me. Big blue blonde eyes watching, expectantly. I obeyed their command and crunched through the snow towards him. Once I reached the swing, he smiled at me. A small smile, but it warmed something inside of me, deep in my belly.
"Hey," he said, still with that small smile on his lips.
I didn't return the greeting. Instead I asked, "Why do you only have a windbreaker on? It's November."
His smile widened a little, and he zipped open his jacket to reveal a gray sweater underneath. "I'm not immune to the cold," He laughs a little, "why don't you sit down?"
He gestured a gloved hand to the swing next to him, and, after brushing the newly fallen snow off the seat, sit down.
For a few minutes we just sat there. I swung a little, and he rocked back and forth in the swing by his feet. Finally, I ask. "Do you have the notes?"
He nodded, and slung his backpack around onto his lap, and opens it the reveal a thin sheaf of paper. The math notes I needed.
I missed Friday's math notes, that we can use on the quiz coming up. I was sick that day. I sighed in relief, "Thank you, Armin."
He hands me the sheaf with another smile and a nod. I take it, and carefully fold the papers into fourths then stuffs them into my pocket.
Again, we sit in silence. Watching the snow fall around us on this Sunday afternoon. Until Armin spoke up and asked me, now, "why'd you wanna meet me here? I could've given you the notes Monday."
Good question. I don't even know the answer is to that. I give an awkward shrug, "I dunno. So I can look them over more thoroughly before class?"
Of course, I wouldn't. When I get back home I'm gonna eat then sleep.
He snorts, not convinced. "Whatever the reason, you're welcome. This is a nice park, so I didn't mind the walk, I guess."
He stands up from the swing and shoves his hands into his pockets, as if to make ready to leave.
"Wait," I said, "you walked here? Where do you live?"
Befuddled, he nodded with his head north, up a big hill, "A few miles that way, why?"
"You wanna ride back to your house?"
"What?"
I shrugged, "I didn't know you couldn't drive. So- I don't know- I feel kinda bad. You had to walk through the snow."
Armin shook his head, "It wasn't a bad walk, Jean."
"That was downhill, obviously. And besides, do you really want to do that walk again?"
Now he hesitates, "Well-"
"No, you don't?" I asked, kinda forcefully.
"No. I guess not."
Now I too stand from the sitting on the swing, my hands in my own pockets. "I'll give you a ride," I pressed.
He heaved a sigh, "Well I now see you're not gonna let this go, so alright I'll take the ride."
It took a surprising amount of control to keep the smile off my lips now, and I nodded. "Then let's go. It's getting dark."

We walked through the snow, it crackling underfoot. The only sound in the thick silence that snow brings. Then the sound of doors on my Honda opening. The revving of the engine, and then as we drove away. I drove in the general direction of where he said his house was. Then I told Armin, "You're gonna have to help me find your house."
He nodded then pointed down a road that was (thank god) ahead of us, "Turn here, then after a bit- I'll tell you when- take a left, then the next left after that. Then I'm the third house down."
"Ookay," I turned where he said to, then followed his directions with the occasional commentary and instructions.
Finally I parked on the street in front of his house. "Alright! Here you go!" I declared.
A ghost of a smile seemed to trace Armin's lips as he said, "Thank you, Jean. I appreciate the ride."
I grinned cockily, a grin that quickly vanished when the same lips that just have me a smile kissed my cheek ever so quickly and suddenly. Then Armin opened his door and the cold air slapped my reddening face. Then the air was locked in my car when he closed the door and waved to me as he walked up his driveway to his door and went inside.
And yet I still sat in my car, red as a tomato and that feeling I had when he smiled at me during the beginning of this Sunday afternoon in November was back and filled my stomach and chest. A little knot of tension and joy. Like I wanted to throw up but also shout for joy at the same time. I couldn't shake this feeling the entire time I drove home, and was still there when I went to sleep later that night.