Hotter Than Fire

3 - Hotter Than Fire

Ash came running to me. "Cat! The fire alarm!"

I instantly got up from my chair. People around us were running towards various exits. Ash grabbed my hand. And begun pulling me towards one direction. Anxious to get away from the fire I too followed him wordlessly. Ashley pulled me into a doorway and slammed the metallic door shut behind us. I turned around to find a sink behind us. Ashley locked the door imprisoning us inside.

"a washroom?" I said alarmed. "what about the fire??"

"the fire was at the exit," he said. "in the opposite of this room."

"right," I mumbled disbelievingly. Great. I was stuck inside a lonely washroom with a guy I just met yesterday. Who my best friend warned me not to date. I sighed and hoisted myself to the edge of the sink behind me and sat on it. Big mistake, I realized. My dress came a few inches higher. I couldn't get down now, it would seem obvious.

Ash turned to me. I wished that his eyes doesn't stray to my legs. He fanned himself with his hand, a pathetic excuse for cooling himself, you get absolutely no wind by fanning yourself with your hand. "its getting hot," he said.

I looked at the door. "the fire is probably spreading," I said.

Ash took a step towards me. now he was invading my personal space. "some things," he said, stepping closer to me until there was no space left between us. His face leaned in closer to mine and his hand was on my thigh. "are hotter than fire." his last word was whispered on to my lips.

His lips lingered on mine while his other hand came around me to my back and pushed me forward on to him with such a pressure that I lost my balance and had to throw my arms around Ash to prevent falling.

His lips slowly took mine, in a passionate kiss, going slow and easy over my braces. I was too shocked to kiss back. I had not expected any of this. I had my eyes wide open in shock and was staring at his beautiful red painted eyelids. The hand he had on my back tightened its grip. The hand on my thigh begun pushing higher, taking my dress with it.

For a moment I couldn't decide if what's happening was good or if I should be more careful.

Just then the lock burst and the door was slammed open.

"KAT?!" I turned to find Juan, with a red face, sweating who had probably walked through the fire to find me. my heart warmed and I was instantly embarrassed of myself. I tried to pull down my dress but Ash's hand was unmovable.

"john?" he asked irritated.

"Juan," he corrected almost involuntarily.

"whatever," Ashley replied coolly waving a hand. I used the opportunity to escape his grip and get off the sink.

Juan frowned at Ashley (his typical older brother act) and turned to me with concern. "the fire is spreading," he said. "we've gottu get out."

He turned to the now broken door, hanging on its hinges. The three of us walked of the charred café coughing and chocking on the thick smoke. Most of the customers had escaped the fire, a helpful few were throwing pathetic buckets of water at the fire until the fire brigade arrived. Juan left me with Ashley to get his motor bike to give me a lift home.

"is your best friend your elder brother as well?" Ashley asked looking at the direction of the parking lot.

I laughed. "he loves to pretend that he is."

We looked at the fire in silence.

"I wonder how this started," I said. "the café was all wood. They ought to be more careful."

Ashley turned to me and flashed his signature mischievous smile. "something's are hotter than fire."

I gaped. He couldn't mean...?

Juan bought the bike to a stop in front of me. Ashley took that as his cue to leave.

"meet you at the band practices at 4?" he said. I was still staring at him disbelievingly. "your John knows the place."

"Juan," my bestie mumbled.

Ashley winked.

Did he actually set an entire café on fire to kiss me???

***

I was practically dying of nervousness by the time 3.30 rolled by. I had already called Juan around 20 times, for various reasons but mostly just to give him an in detail description of the breathtaking french that Ashley had given me.

"do you think he likes me??" I asked Juan for the millionth time, over the phone. And for the millionth time I heard Juan sigh and roll his eyes.

"the dude never had a stable relationship in his entire life." he said. "how can a guy like that be serious?"

"I could be his first love," I argued. "besides, even you never had a stable relationship."

Awkward pause. I guess I hit a weak point. Juan had crushes on various girls over the past few years but for some reason he could not hold a permanent or at least a few months relationship with anyone.

"Kat, I- " Juan started to say something and then I 'heard' him shake his head. "doesn't matter."

I frowned. I could sense his sadness to where I was sitting on my bed. I had done some serious offense though I had no idea what.

"you're still taking me to watch the guys practice right?" I asked in a small voice.

"yes yes" he said surrendering. "ill take you to ur eventual death."

"make sure you speak at my funeral."

"I'll sing Karmin's I told you so."

I grinned and looked at the clock. Shit. Only ten minutes to 4.

Juan came over with his big bike at around 4.15 to pick me. I was dressed in black convas, ripped jeans and a Bullet For My Valentine t-shirt. My hair was twisted up in a bun.

The practices were at Andy's place, and despite being a big band with a tour and things, they still practiced in the garage like any ordinary band. The guys were going through a sound check. Juan and I sat on a black couch in the corner. Ashley stopped tuning his guitar and looked up at me and smiled. His fringe was looking so long and silky I fought the urge to go and touch it.

"ok guys lets start," Andy said, giving Juan and me acknowledging nods. "Heart of Fire, k?"

As the band fell into the music, Ashley looked at me and gave me a look that set my heart (and the world) on fire.