Smash!

•F O R T Y S I X•

Riley's POV

It's a long climb up. Our fingers and toes went numb from the cold awhile ago, from kicking the snow off the ladders and stairs of every level. The fire escape is aged with rust, feeling like it might give out from under our feet at any moment. I never cared before whenever I climbed up, but with Jamie up here with me I'm trying not be paralyzed with an all of sudden fear of heights. To be extra careful, we take quiet precise steps, trying to make sure the fire escape doesn't rattle with our weight.

One loud step and it'll echo through the entire warehouse, and Nate will know we're here before we climb all the way up.

"Do you think anyone will see us up here?" Jamie asks in hushed voice, while peering over the metal railing. The tip of her nose and her freckled cheeks have gone red from the freezing cold. The harsh December winds blasts at us, sending Jamie's red hair everywhere. The strong freezing breeze gives me a strong urge to pull a warm cap over those fiery locks, pull her inside someplace safe and warm, and hold her as tight as possible against me.

"If they can, no one ever phones a compliment or whatever." I explain, clutching the railing as I trudge up the metal steps.

"So, every time you left late at night, you were here?" Jamie inquires, following behind me. My shoulders rise to my shoulders in a sharp wince.

"Yeah..." I sorely admit, risking a glance at her over my shoulder.

"I use to stay up late, wondering if you were in trouble. I couldn't call you and just had to wait till you showed up in the morning after staying out all night, while you were just on the other side town." Jamie thoughtfully says, looking out over the town with a tired expression. Stopping dead in my tracks, I twist around to face her so fast Jamie jumps at my sudden movements.

With just a few inches between us, our foggy breathes puff in each other's faces as we hold off reaching out to touch each other. Jamie's green eyes hold my brown ones, staring up at me like she's looking at me for the last time. I feel the exact expression on face aimed down at her.

"Remember how you said you would do you and I all over again? Everything all over again?"

"I remember you saying how you wish we never meet." Jamie states, taking a step back with a bruised expression.

"I take that back." I state firmly, "I take it back. And if you and I come out of this in one piece, I'm going to do right by you, Jamie." I'll get her a new apartment, first and last deposit on me. I'll buy her furniture and curtains, and pay every electric bill too. I'll put her through culinary school. I'll do whatever to make her happy.

Staring up at me, Jamie searches my face. I can tell she doesn't believe me.

"Lets end this." She declares, moving past me.

Jamie's POV

I have never been so afraid in my entire life.

The metal door is gaping open, with light flooding out, and reaching over the threshold with a haunting glow. Still ankle deep in snow, I stay out in the dark and cold, ignoring how my socks are socked through and how numb my toes are. Despite finally reaching the top, I feel like I've never sunken so low in my entire life. But I'm going to straighten up, and when I do, I'll bring Robin and Riley with me.

"Jamie," Riley quietly murmurs my name, the hush tone so small the frigid wind almost blasted it away. For a moment, I expect Riley to beg me one last time to make a run for it. Instead, he laces his cold fingers through my one good hand, and clutches my hand like a lifeline.

"We just gotta make it to the third floor." Riley gives my hand a squeeze that doesn't let up. I grip back just as tight.

"In a minute." I keep us out here for another long moment. Taking in the harshness of the winter air, the sound of city like screeching of brakes or cats fighting, and the feel of Riley next to me.