-1Chapter 10

Once when I was ten, I got home from school and no one was there. My dad, who was supposed to be waiting for me to get off the bus had gone to his favorite bar instead. I waited outside until it got dark, knowing my father would be pissed if I went to a neighbors house. It was around two in the morning when he eventually got home. I was sleeping on the crappy old fold out chair in our back yard; he stumbled over to me and smacked me in the head to wake me up. As I followed him in the house he told me that I was lucky I didn't break a window like the last time, believe me I learned that lesson well. To this day the sound of breaking glass makes my heart race and I break out into a cold sweat.

I know what you're thinking, where was my mother? She had taken my sister to visit my grandmother, she begged me to come but I was scared that if I went with her there would be no one to take care of my father. I know it's crazy that I would give a damn about what happened to the bastard, but he was still my old man. The only one I would ever have and at ten years old you don't know any better, it's almost normal when it's all you have ever known.

I look around and notice that the door to the garage is slightly opened. I grab her hand and pull her with me to what would be our shelter from the rain.

"Where are we going?' She asks me, her voice is unsteady.

"There is a heater in the garage, we can get warmed up."

Once we get in out of the rain, I pull her by the hand toward the back of the cluttered building. There is a set of steps that lead to a loft. I discovered this a long time ago, I almost forgot about it.

"What's up here?"

"Meredith used to use this place as a playhouse."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I found this when I moved in and I asked her about it. I needed to store some stuff and she said I could put some things up here."

"What kind of things?"

"Just stuff, what's with all the questions?"

"Sorry."

It was all still there, some furniture I had from my old apartment and a few boxes. I search through the first box and find exactly what I am looking for, a heater that I had in college. It was just a small one that plugged into the wall but it would help to warm us up.

"Take your clothes off." I say to her as I pull my wet t-shirt over my head.

"What?" Her eyes widen and she is looking away shyly as I push my jeans down over my hips.

"Izzie, it's not like you haven't seen it all anyway. We need to get these wet clothes off."

"But I…."

"Fine, suit yourself! Freeze if you want but I for one am going to warm up."

I can tell she is thinking it over. I plug the heater in and turn the knob to the highest setting. When I am satisfied that the heat is pouring out I turn back to the boxes and find a blanket. She has yet to take anything off as I sit on an old futon that I had to use as a couch and a bed in my old one room efficiency. I wrap up in the blanket and I hear her sigh as she pulls the wet cotton from her slender body. The small window offered us a bit light from the outside world. In the low light I could see that she didn't have a bra on and suspected this was why she didn't want to undress, it's not like she has ever been shy about running around in her underwear. The pants are next to go and after she rids herself of them she stands there like she is at a loss for what she should be doing.

"Why don't you get over here and warm up." I say to her as I lift the blanket just enough for her to climb under. She leans back against my chest as she sits down; a small sigh escapes her lips when I fold the blanket around us. "Is that better?" I ask.

"Yes." I can barely hear her.

"So…." I try to make small talk but quickly find I don't know what to say.

"So I like Kelly, she seems nice." She says to me.

"Yeah, I guess."

"How long have you been dating?"

"A while."

"How did you meet?"

"Izzie."

"Alex I'm trying here okay."

"I just can't."

"Can't what? Treat me like your friend?"

"I can't talk about my girlfriend when I can smell your perfume, when I can feel your skin against mine, I just cant okay."

"Alex you cant say things like that, I'm getting married." She sounds more like she's trying to convince herself.

"I don't think we should talk about that either." Because if we do, I know I will say something she will not want to hear.

It's silent for a while, I know her well enough to know that it's driving her crazy.

"Alex?"

I know it's childish of me but I can't seem to just give her what she wants and talk to her. When I don't answer she does something that kinda shocks me, she stands and turns to me. She doesn't stop there; she straddles my lap giving me a perfect view of her bare chest. I know I'm staring but I just can't help it.

"Alex?"

This time I look her in the eyes and she grabs my face and pulls me to her until our lips are touching and our tongues are tangled together.