The Love of a Stranger

Rescue Mission

I woke up the next morning in Dan's bed. I rolled over to see Dan's body lying on top of the covers fast asleep. I smiled to myself and got out of bed. I checked my phone for any missed texts or calls, I had one from my brother.

'Hey, in town, should meet up?'

I replied;

'Yeah I'll meet you in the park at 12?'

And it was sorted. I left Dan a note saying that I'd be out with my brother. I left early so I could go to the coffee shop. Cathy seemed to be in a rather odd mood. I left confused and headed to the park.

I waited for my brother on the park bench while I listened to the angelic voice who belonged to no other than Dan Smith. I started to day dream again, watching the kids run around playing tig, young couples holding hands while they walk and many elderly couple sitting on park benches while they fed the birds, I wasn't even aware that I was doing it until I was interrupted by a hand waving in front of my face. It was my brother, Jack.

"Oh hey! I didn't see you there I was daydreaming." I said as I pulled him in for a hug.

"Again haha, so how've you been, what's the gossip?" He said as we sat back down on the park bench.

"Well nothing much, except my apartment burned down and moved in with the lead singer of a band" I casually said.

"Wait what? Hold up, when did this happen?"

"Just recently. I met this guy called Dan, he helped me get out of a run in I had with this horrible guy who I accidentally spilled coffee over. We chatted a couple of times, then after my house burned down he let me live with him."

"Oh wow, you've been busy. Still talking to that psycho Cathy?" I frowned at him. Why did he describe her as psycho?

"Yeah, only when I have a coffee, why?"

"Well you should just stay away from her, she seemed to be a bit crazy when I left her. She turned into a psychopath burning all the things I gave to her."

"What? She isn't a psychopath? Do you think she started the fire?"

"There's a possibility, but it's probably nothing."

"Well why didn't you tell me before?" My voice was getting louder.

"Sorry I didn't think it was relevant"

"Well she has been acting weirdly lately, ever since I walked in with Dan she hasn't been herself. Dan is the lead singer of Bastille which is apparently her favourite band."

"Hmm, best just to stay out her way for the now."

That thought that there was a chance that Cathy set my fire to my home stayed in my head all day. I was going to confront her about it to see how she reacts. She's never been like this, she was always a polite and lovely person, not some crazy arsonist.

My phone started to ring, when I looked at it the word 'Dan' spread across my screen I smiled. I excused myself from my brother and accepted the call.

"Hello?"

"Lauraaaaaaa? Where are you?" He moaned.

"I left a note saying I was out with my brother, did you not get it?"

"No I got it, I'm just really bored."

"For goodness sake Daniel Smith, you're like a child. Call the guys over or something or take a walk, get a coffee, I don't know I'll be back soon."

"Okay..." There was a long pause, but he continued;

"I love you." He said quietly. I turned away from my brother and whispered,

"I love you too."

I hung up the call and went back to talking to Jack. He had suspicious look on his face.

"Was that 'your hero' you were talking to?"

I didn't reply, I just shrugged my shoulders just to avoid the awkward conversation about relationships.

We chatted for a while, he told me how mum and dad were doing, apparently they split up years ago, mum met someone new and dad is living on his getting on with life.

"Was this all because of me?" I asked hoping the answer would be the one I'm looking for.

"I'm afraid so, dad couldn't live with mums uptight standards and hated how he was forced to kick you out, he argued with mum to say that there was a better way to deal with you but it was too late."

I stayed in silence as we walked along with street heading towards 'Cathy's Cafe', then that's when we heard sirens going off behind us then soon racing passed us, I watched as it drove down the narrow street and turn left, right where the cafe was. I looked at Jack, he didn't realise until I told him then we both sprinted down the street.

The flames burst out from the windows. The smoke floated high into the air. The heat rising. I couldn't just stand and watch, I wanted to help. I asked a passing firefighter if everything was okay, he told me there was still people inside, the workers of the cafe and a customer, a man to be specific. Then, that's when I remembered,

'Get a coffee' I repeated in my head when I was on the phone to Dan. My heart was pounding. My breathing was unsteady and my thumbs shook as I tried to call Dans number. It rung several times but he didn't pick up, he always has his phone on him.

Dan was inside.

Many people had made it out, firefighters repeatedly exited the cafe with people over their shoulders, but the ceiling collapsed and was only enough room for a small person to fit through. Firefighters struggled to get in.

"I can fit through there." I whispered to myself. It was the stupidest decision I had ever made but if it means getting Dan back out alive, it was completely worth it. I started to run, as fast as my tiny little legs could go, my dodging skills weren't the best but I had succeeded on getting past the 5 men trying to stop me. I fitted through the hole that stopped the rest of them, the place was a shambles, I was completely blinded by the sting of the fire and the thick smoke. I heard someone cough.

"Dan?" I coughed. "Cathy?" I wheezed. My breathing was getting worse by the second, but I had to do it. I made my way to where me and Dan sat last time, and I started to cry when I saw his body lying, looking dead, on the seat.

"Dan! Dan please stay with me, I'm going to get you out!" He may not of been conscious but he was breathing and that's all that mattered. The challenge was bigger than I expected, he was way heavier than me and every second that passed by I was getting weaker. I grabbed his arm and lifted it around my neck, he was semi-conscious now. He didn't communicate but at least he was able to walk making my job easier.

I turned to face the exit to see Cathy standing there.

"Cathy, please help me." I coughed. Her face and clothes were covered in soot. She was emotionless, just standing there. She said nothing and simply turned around and hurled herself through the tiny hole I used to get in. That bitch. She had knocked her foot on the piece of wood that was holding the ceiling up from collapsing and caused everything to fall.

Explosions were happening all around us and the ringing that I could hear was making me dizzy. I placed Dan gently down and kicked the other emergency door as hard as I could. It didn't budge. I repeated and repeated until I was no longer conscious. I was getting annoyed.

"COME ON!" I half-screamed-half-cried. The ringing became louder, the flames became bigger and were edging their way closer to us, my vision slowly drifting from me, but finally that fucking door broke away. Firefighters burst in managing to quickly catch my now unconscious body.