When We Freeze

What the hell is going on and why you?

Aiden comes running over to me. His face shows pure fear and confusion, "what the hell is going on?"

I know I must look like a dead rat, like most mornings, but I don't run away, "I don't know...I don't know..." 

I'm hyperventilating. I must be freaking Aiden out. 

He walks over to me and, get this, hugs me. 

I must have stiffened up because he does too. 

Then he starts rubbing my back.

Ok...

I pull away, swiping at my eyes, "is...everyone else frozen?"

He looks down at me. His blue eyes showing sadness, "Yeah...I've run around the whole town. Every...living thing is frozen."

"Wait, wait, wait," I hold up my hands in front of me, "you've run around the whole town?"

He nods. 

"How long has everyone been frozen?" I ask. I only just got up...could that bird have been flying past my window at night?

"Since 2 am this morning," he runs a hand through his blondish brown spiked hair. 

"2 am?!" I shout, "why were you up that early?"

He shrugs, "my little brother came running in because he was scared of a noise in his room. Then when it hit exactly two he just froze mid-step at my door."

I let a gasp escape my mouth, "For...for what it's worth I'm sorry."

He shrugs, "well, we just gotta work out what the hell is going on and why you?"

"What do you mean why you?" I cross my arms. 

"I mean, I ran around the whole town, and further north into our neighbouring town, to find every living thing frozen. So I need an explanation to why everyone is frozen and why we're not," He grumbles. 

"Ok, fair enough," I look down at my outfit again. Black tank top and tartan yellow skirt. Now I'm self-conscious. Why couldn't I be stuck with a girl? Or a NICE guy. 

"Hey," his voice softens, "it's all right. We'll figure this out."

I look up. Shocked. 

Oh, he must have thought me looking down at my outfit was me about to cry...again. 

Oh god. 

I begin to walk down the street. 

"Hey!" Aiden calls, "wait up!"

I turn to him, "what?"

"We gotta stick together," He calls. 

I straighten up, "why?"

He takes to steps closer, but hesitantly as if I am this tiny baby animal that doesn't know if he is friend or foe, "because...what if we're not safe? What if-"

"Aiden...all the scary people at night are frozen," I cross my arms over my chest.

He shakes his head, taking another two steps closer, "we don't know that. What if we're not the only ones that are...I don't know what we are...awake."

I pull at my braid, "I don't know Aiden-"

Aiden takes three steps closer, "Iz, we have to. It's for the best."

I bite my lip, "how...how do I know I can trust you?"

He raises an eyebrow, "you're being hesitant because you think I'll try to make a move?"