Take My Hand

f i n a l

Hansi knew this Christmas wasn't going to be the same this year, no themed tree, no decorations covering every inch of awning, no presents and sadly no family. As exciting as the idea moving eight hours from home seemed at the time, she hadn't been able to see her family in almost ten months and she had to admit it was a little lonely.

But as lonely as she was, she would never go as far to handcuff herself to the irritatingly smug boy next door, no this was all Finn's fault.

"Are you seriously giving me the silent treatment?" Finn probed bumping her shoulder.

She huffed turning away, replying to his question naturally with silence.

"Come on Hansi, I said I'm sorry."

Hansi felt her patience wearing thin, she had moved in next door to Finn last February. With a small apartment and thin walls it wasn't a surprise Hansi held some dislike for the musician next door. She just hadn't expected him to be defacing the Christmas Display at the second biggest department store in the city.

"Why do you hate Christmas?" She couldn't keep her silence about the event any longer.

"Why do you love it?" He countered. Hansi rolled her eyes and turned away looking out the window, the police officer had been gone for ages.

"What's taking him so long?" Finn shuffled, leaning over Hansi to look out the window.

Hansi pulled her right hand and he fell back onto the seat with a thump.

"Shit." He groaned, the cuff digging into his skin.

Hansi sighed, relaxing into the back seat of the police car, how could she have a criminal record for just recognising her neighbour and doing the polite thing of asking what the hell he was doing? She should have walked away, ignored him like she usually does.

Finn's eyes gazed over at Hansi, his eyes scanned her trying to register why she seemed different. She was wearing a wool navy dress, her hair neatly styled down and her makeup evident only in the light touch of blush on her brown cheeks and mascara-lined lashes. Definetly not the usual sweatpants and plaited hair she wore around the apartment complex.

"You look nice."

"It's Christmas Eve. I have plans." Finn's brows furrowed and he unconsciously gave her a pointed look. She didn't want to admit that her plans were just church followed by baking fruitcake, which would probably take the entire night.

"Then we should make sure you don't miss them." He pretended to pull the door handle. It was a complete fluke and he almost fell out when it opened.

They both paused for a moment, a little astonished that the policeman actually left the doors unlocked. Finn pulled himself to his feet.

"Come on then." He said pulling gently at the cuffs, enough not to hurt her.

"No," Hansi crossed arms not taking the same precaution for his wrist. He sighed and jerked his hand as he steps out the door, dragging her along just as the policemen turned from the coffee stand.

"Hey!" The policeman yelled.

"Run!" Hansi resisted but as soon as Finn started running she had no choice. She could sense the policeman gaining on them as Finn turned into an alley. "Shit, take my hand."

"No way." Hansi said between puffs.

He sped up, the cuffs now grated the skin on her wrist and she could feel the sting under the metal. Before the pain got unbearable she entwined her fingers in his.

The policeman is a little on the hefty side plus with the boiling coffee in his hand, it didn't take long for them to lose him.

"We lost him." Finn turned to tell her, she didn't get the memo to stop and she stumbled at the sudden change in moment and she collided nose first into his arm. Luckily it had snowed for Christmas and the soft layer of snow broke their fall. His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as Hansi rested her now throbbing nose into the soft material of his sweater.