Title was chosen because of the incident the fic is about...and because I couldn't think of anything else xD
Major spoilers for Shatterproof. Again, MAJOR SPOILERS. Also maybe a minor spoiler for Trust No One, although, this was written before that book was released.
Happy reading! And, as River Song would say, "spoilers, sweetie."
- Airy
They don't talk about it in New York; running through the streets, Vespers on their heels.
They don't speak on the train, the rumbling of the car leaving their thoughts more scattered than ever.
Those thoughts don't come spilling out until they get to Connecticut, the chill in the air suddenly reminiscent of the coldness between the two of them.
Jake breaks first, stopping her on the steps to the library, giving Atticus and Dan the go-ahead—"We'll be there in a minute."
They sit down on the steps, Amy staring down at her feet, determined to look anywhere but Jake's searching eyes as he mutters the phrase that they both don't want to hear, but must—"We need to talk."
She sighs and nods, reluctantly lifting her head to prepare for the onslaught of words to come.
He begins speaking and she's surprised to hear that his first words are nothing close to regret, in fact, they seem almost angry, frustrated.
"Why couldn't I just keep away from you?"
The question is rhetorical, but it's still directed at her and she can't help but feel a surge of irritation.
"So, this is all my fault?" she asks, nose flared and eyebrows raised, her cheeks becoming pinker by the second.
"If you hadn't been unabashedly flirting—"
She snorts in disbelief, "Right, because I was obviously the one flipping my hair and acting like I was god's gift to mankind."
He seems to soften for a moment before continuing, his brown eyes catching her green ones in a magnetic hold.
"You could have mentioned a boyfriend earlier, you know…," he runs his fingers through his hair, then shakes his head, "never mind, just forget it."
He turns away from her, his eyes focused on the trees in the middle of the lawn, the gears in his head turning violently.
She squeezes her eyes shut, when did everything get this hard? Part of her wishes the kiss had never happened, that the two of them would have gone on avoiding each other's existence. But, that same part of her knows that it wouldn't have worked.
He nitpicked every plan she had, argued her logic, teased her when she was wrong, and rejoiced when he was right.
So, why did his stupid smile make her legs feel like uncooked noodles? Why did his teasing not cause her to blush and stammer but to fight back instead? Why did arguing with him give her such an adrenaline rush?
She'd never felt that way before, so electrically charged, and, strangely, she liked it.
Unfortunately, there was always a nagging problem in the back of her mind—an adorable, nerdy boyfriend at home.
"None of this is fair," she murmurs aloud, suddenly aware of the taut tugging on her heart, the wavering sound of her voice, "why do I have to deal with this now?"
A warm hand laces its fingers through hers and she tries not to notice how perfectly it seems to fit. He's moved over, she notices, his shoulder now at level with her head. She resists the urge to lean into him as his hold on her hand tightens reassuringly.
They sit in silent comfort for a few moments, the breeze stirring the russet leaves on the lawn, swirling like dancing flames happy to finally be free from their hearth.
That's what this is, she thinks, a fire.
It started with a spark, dizzying glances that quickly rose to a heated brush of lips. It was wrong, but the blaze felt so warm and welcoming, like a hot cocoa on a snowy day.
She was content, comfortable, with Evan. He was a safe choice, so different from her risky life, and she had liked that about him. But, now, something else had come along, something that could be better than safe.