Sweets

8.

*The snow was heavy and the wind was blowing fiercely. Mister Sunshine had long since gone down.*

Michael breaths a heavy but quick breath out. "What time is it Ben?"
"It's almost 9:00." Ben said before shoving his phone and hand back into his pocket.
"Geez we better get home huh?" Michael shivered out.
"Yea I'd say! You're as cold as ice!" Ben said taking Michael's hand in his own.
Michael pulled his hand back and placed it back into his pocket without saying a word.
"Come on Mikey! Let's go into Mrs. Felto's shop to warm up a bit."

*Ben took Michael's hand back and led him up the street a ways and into Mrs. Felto's shop. This time Michael didn't protest and let himself be pulled along. The door rang as they made their way inside still holding hands.*

"Sorry! We're closed!!" She exclaimed from behind a rack of flowers.
"It's us Mrs. Felto!" Ben shouted back to her.
Recognizing the voice she yelled back to him. "Oh! Hello Ben!" She peeped her head out from behind the Lilacs. "And Michael?" She looked them up and down noticing their interlocked hands. "Holding hands?"

*They both look down at their hands and then back up at each other. Ben smirks causing Michael to blush even more than from just holding hands. Mrs. Felto just watches in amazement.*

(Mrs. Felto's Head) I wonder if something happened between them. Has one of them finally told the other?

"Yea, Ben felt the need to hold my hand because I was apparently 'freezing' or something!" Michael takes his hand from Ben's and quotes the word freezing.

(Mrs. Felto's Head) Aww guess not... I was hoping someone had finally made a move...

"Hey!" Ben turned Michael toward himself. "I did not say you were 'freezing'!" He exclaims using the hand quotes too.
"Ok fine! But you still said, 'As cold as ice' and that's pretty much the same thing!" Michael fires back at him.
"Boys! Boys! No fighting!" Mrs. Felto interrupts. "Let's just get you both warmed up! How about that?"
They both nodded their heads. "Sure." They said in unison making them look at each other and laugh.

(Mrs. Felto's Head) They really would make such a cute couple... Too bad they both don't have the guts to do anything about their own feelings!

*She brought them into one of the back rooms of the house and to their surprise it had a fireplace. They both sat down next to each other in front of it. Mrs. Felto left the room to make some tea and there was an awkward silence. They each took turns glancing at each other before Ben spoke.*

"Are you excited for tonight?"
"Tonight!?" Michael almost choked out as the question caught him off guard.
"Yea... The ball drop?" Ben said questioning the reaction by Michael.
"Oh!" Michael's face quickly heated up. "Yea! I'm really excited! Hehe!" Michael laughed awkwardly trying to cover up what he just thought of and looked away.

(Michael's Head) I can't believe I just thought like that! I'm so dumb!!

(Ben's Head) What the heck was that all about... Could he have thought I meant something else!? No way... No way... He doesn't think of me that way...

*Mrs. Felto comes in and immediately feels the awkward tension in the room. They both turn around to look at her with the same eyes. Both pleading for help.*

(Mrs. Felto's Head) I guess I should help these dumbos out a bit...

"I brewed up some tea for you guys. Here take some and get warm." She palaces the tray on a small coffee table behind them.
"Thanks Mrs. Felto!" Michael says grabbing his tea and taking a sip.
"Watch out it's hot!!" She said but Michael had already taken a sip.
"Ow ow ow ow owwwwww!!" He yelled and grabbed his tongue.
Ben started laughing. "You dummy! She said it was hot!"
"I already took a drink of it before she said that!!" Yelled Michael still holding his tongue.
"Whatever ya say Mikey!!" Ben laughed out ruffling Michael's hair in the process.