Sandcastles

Chapter Sixteen

The day that our hot water heater in our house would break had to be on the day that temperatures were below freezing. Today was the last day of exams which means that it is now Christmas break. As if to clarify that Christmas is around the corner, temperatures were below freezing and there was a permanent frost on the grass all day. Walking up to our house after school, the crunch of the grass sent a thought through my head that an extremely hot shower would be amazing. So I put all of my stuff on the bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. Whenever I turned the shower handle, the water was almost icy. So I turned it all the way up and then stepped in, gasping from the cold temperature of the water streaming down. After a few minutes, my skin felt numb so I just decided to continue showering anyways. I had a date later so I definitely had to shower sometime.

Now, as I step out of my freezing shower, a smile forms on my lips when I think of the date later. I've barely spoken to Alexander since the fair due to exams, but he did sit with us at lunch today and asked me if I wanted to go hang out with him and some friends at the beach today. Sure, it's cold and not necessarily a date, but of course I said yes.

I dry my soaking wet hair off with the towel and wrap it up before pulling a towel around my body. I walk out of the bathroom, clad only in the towels, to get my clothes. When I do, I nearly scream when I see Ben laying on my bed.

He chuckles at me but doesn't move. I send him a glare and stay still as if any movement would be revealing of some sort. The coolness of my house is sending chills through my body, making goosebumps rise on my skin.

"Get out." I say through gritted teeth.

"Why?" he asks with a smirk.

"I'm not clothed?" I say in a condescending tone.

"Really? I always shower in my clothes." He says.

"Get out, Ben." I tell him.

"Fine." He hisses as he gets up and walks out my door. Why was he in here in the first place?

I grab my clothes and go into the bathroom to change. I pull Alexander's hoodie on to wear. It's going to be freezing out on the beach.

I check the time and notice that I have fifteen minutes before I have to leave. I blow dry my hair quickly and run a brush through it. Since it's cold and my hair looks a mess, I steal one of Ben's beanies that he has yet to take the tags off of. He's probably never worn it.

I tie the laces of my Converses and walk out into the living room. Madeline sits texting someone and Ben just glares weirdly at me.

"Is that my beanie?" he asks.

"Yes." I say.

"Give it back." He says sternly.

"No." I say with a smirk before walking out the door. I let out a relieved sigh when I see Alexander's truck in my driveway. I walk up, pushing my hands down into my pockets, and get in his truck.

He smiles when he sees me and pulls away. We stay silent for a while, mainly because I'm too cold to even talk. Those few seconds that I was outside were brutally cold.

"S-so how many of your friends will be there?" I ask, my teeth chattering from the cold. He shrugs lightly.

"Only a few. Not really good friends with them. That's why I invited you." He says with a grin.

For some reason, I feel like he just classified me as a friend. I know that we aren't just "friends" but I suddenly feel like we are.

He takes his hand off the gearshift and I entwine my fingers with his. The warmth of his hand almost seems to run from my hand and all the way up my arm and I feel a lot warmer all of a sudden. He draws circles on the back of my hand with his thumb and holds it tightly as he continues to drive.