Snowed In

Chapter 1

Avi was more frustrated than I'd seen him in a long while. I watched him fidget and fuss with his beard as we sat at the little picnic table in the back of the studio and waited for the rain. I wanted to help him in some way. Confront him and ease whatever stress I could for him. He looked through me with solemn eyes. They were just a little too shiny. I wanted to hold him, take his face in my hands and give him his mantra, but given where we were, all I could do was sit and watch him and wait for him to decide that he wanted to talk about it.

I could already tell that it was going to be a long day.

Finally, his eyes registered my presence and he gave a slight smile. He looked around to make sure we were alone then took both my hands in his. It wasn't a secret touch. He'd taken my hand or both many times in front of his friends and peers before. How much of a secret were we supposed to be anyway?

"There are other people here today. They will leave soon, but they don't know us." His smile was soft and apologetic. "I don't know them well enough to trust them with us. I'm just not ready to deal with all the crap. Please?" His pleading little look was pitiful and cute as hell. I'd have given anything to be alone with him in those moments. He smiled again and looked around one more time before gently kissing me.

His eyes didn't look so empty or shiny when I looked at them again. He was smiling, mischief was there in his eyes. I wanted to touch those cute little eye crinkles of his. I almost did but his smile shifted and his grip on my hand tightened just a touch. Then he gave me that look that I knew all too well and I knew he was holding my hands to stay his too. We both sighed heavy sighs, let go of each other's hands and leaned away from one another.

"Are you busy this weekend?" He asked the tree he happened to be looking at while he thought.

"Are you asking me or that tree, because I'm pretty sure it'll be busy and right here for the rest of its life." The look he shot me was withered and hilarious. He even managed to hold it for a second or two before the whole space erupted with the rich and beautiful sound of his honest laughter. I mentally put a checkmark on my to-do list for the day. I hoped to collect much more for the same action item throughout the day.

His laughter was the most endearing thing I had ever heard. It was so genuine and true. His funk was far from over and I knew it, but I enjoyed the reprieve.

"You're so silly."

"Why am I so silly?"

"I don't know. Why are you so silly?" He was holding his sides laughing and crying and slapping his knee. My shoulders slumped. He did it again. Why do I always fall for that? He was still shaking his head and chuckling to himself.

"You, Babe. I'm asking you." He said sobering. He took my hands again and fought the giggle fit I saw in his eyes. "Are you busy this weekend?"

"No."

"Okay. Let's go somewhere?"

"Where?"

"I have an idea. Do you trust me?"

"Always." His smile was immediate. It could have outshone the sun.

"Good we'll be back Monday." He hopped up like someone kicked him.

"I'll make the arrangements." He called over his shoulder as he disappeared around the corner.

I waited for him to return for a little while, then gave up waiting and went inside to find him. I didn't see him at all. It had finally started raining, I didn't want to go out to the car, so I peeked out the window. I found him. I was not entertained by what I saw. Which should have been the boys dancing in the rain. He was in a heated discussion with his ex. I couldn't hear what they were saying, and I didn't want to.