Chocolate Emergency

Twenty-four Tea & Lanterns

Song: Give your heart a break

Twenty-four Tea & Lanterns

"Do you want to stop for a drink?" Devlin titled his head to meet my gaze.

"A drink?" I whispered apprehensively. Was he talking about alcohol? Looking outside the window, I realized the sky had fallen into vicious darkness as a half-moon had risen to the solemn occasion.

He smirked, in manner that reminded of a charismatic wizard, weaving enchantments through the cold air, unaware of the hearts speeding away faster than ever.

"Let me rephrase myself if you will," He cleared his throat. "Would you like to have some tea? It's a perfect night. The sky's clear, there's absolutely no chance of rain."

I smiled. It was hard not to smile when he was around. "But where?" I gestured towards the winding roads, stark snowy-peaked mountains, and forests of pines and aspen trees.

"There's a place few miles from here,"

"There is?" I quirked an eyebrow.

He turned his attention back to the road. "You'll love it, trust me," Somehow it felt as though there was hidden meaning beneath his words.

"I'd trust you with my life,"

△▼△▼△

Devlin had pulled over to a empty patch of forest, devoid of trees. Several other cars were parked here, some along the sides of the road, some on the bare grass fields. It was loud outside. The chatter and noise could be heard within the car. There was light outside, a strange halo of golden and red.

Devlin departed from the car and came over to my side. 'come outside' his mouthed knocking on the window. I motioned him to move back a little so I could open the door. He did move back and I tumbled out the car.

"It's just right past that bend of aspen," He pointed in a distance, where the light grew stronger. There was a little opening between the towering, white barked trees.

We walked side by side. Devlin didn't seem to be in a rush, he walked slow, in small and steady strides.

"I would give you my jacket," He whispered, his breath washing over my cheek. "But I don't have one,"

"It's really not that cold,"

He shrugged, a boyish kind of grin forming on his lips. "I always wanted to do that. You know?Give a girl my jacket,"

I laughed without meaning to. "Do you even realize how cheesy you sound?"

"Cheesy!" He exclaimed. "Alice, you're killing me here,"

"Well," I drawled. "I already killed your manliness,"

"If someone heard us talking, I swear they'd get all the wrong ideas."

"Do you care?" The opening between the trees grew nearer as the light grew brighter.

I realized that the light was coming from golden, umbrella-shaped lanterns hanging from strings of wire all which connected to the roof of a small wooden shack like stall. There were people standing in a line in-front of the stall. Few oak tables and benches were scattered throughout the small square of trimmed wild grasses.

Couples, families were sitting on the worn tables, laughing, talking with one another. Eyes lighted with joy, faces adored with soft, indulgent smiles greeted me. There was a small campfire at one end, bodies were huddled close to the fire. Their skins glowed with a orange hue. The smell of cinnamon and pumpkin pie drifted through the air. A sudden kind of homely, nostalgic feeling tightened its reigns around me.