Fire || Mike Hanlon || DISCONTINUED

Chapter 3

"We put posts upright first." Mike demonstrated, hammering the first post in.

January watched keenly, though she was a bit nervous. She could almost feel Henry's nonexistent stare piercing into her head.

She knew he didn't like Mike for the color of his skin was different. January was suddenly in awe at how different the two boys were.

Henry was like winter, an angry force of nature that tore life away, the cold that ate at you till you were cold to the bone, where people huddled near the fire with a mug of hot chocolate to take shelter.

Mike like summer, a season of life, where the birds sang in the trees, and where people threw open the door wearing close to nothing and basked in the gold warmth.

-

January let out a wild laugh, blond hair whipping in the wind, clutching Mike's waist, she liked the recklessness of it, clinging to the boy who was disdained, taking in the smell of something earthy that he let off. His soft humming, husky yet sweet.

Mike was glad he was in front of January, so she couldn't see the blush on his cheeks, her arms around him, her merry laugh diffusing through the air. The woodsy and smoky scent of her hair that tickled his face when he turned into the path that led to the quarry.

-

January peeled off her shirt and skirt without hesitation, before moving to stand at the edge of the cliff. "We... we're jumping?" Mike asked, looking at the ground awkwardly.

"How else will we get down quickly?" January teased, "Slide down the path?" "Well I guess not." And with that Mike pulled his shirt off.

Oh the farm work has some benefits, though whether it's for me or him I'm not sure.

"Well don't just stand there and stare!" Mike teased, a wide grin on his face. January smiled slyly before pushing him onto the ground and leaping off the edge.

"WHO'S STANDING AND STARING NOW?" She yelled looking up at the cliff after swimming to the surface. "No one." She shrieked as Mike popped up beside her and splashed water into het face.

"How?" She sputtered, shaking her head like a dog. "Magic." He waved his fingers at her with a smirk.

-

"See you round." Mike whispered as she dismounted the bike. She smiled, "yeah I'd love to hang out agai-" she let out a tiny squeak as he leant in suddenly and kissed her forehead.

"I don't mind my farm work benefitting your eyes." He whispered right into her ear, sending a pleasant tingling feeling down her spine. He blushed and took off.

January sighed with delight before she shot up in horror, "I said it out loud?!"