Chapter Four

When Joelle reached her house Ice was waiting outside as she had told him. She felt her heart skip a beat as he looked up and noticed her. He was amazing. He came across as tough and heartless, which was why most people had been scared of him, but underneath that exterior was a heart of gold. While they had been walking he had told her a lot about his life before the virus. As she was about to approach him she decided against it, and instead, hid round a corner so she could see his every move. As she watched him pacing up and down the garden she recalled their conversation earlier.

*"So," she asked. "What was your life like before the virus? Or shouldn't I ask?"

"Nah I haven't got any secrets. It was just me and my mum. I never had a dad. He left mum when he found out she was pregnant. He couldn't handle the prospects of fatherhood. We were happy though and I was never curious about who my dad was, I had a mum who loved me and that was good enough for me. I had to look after her most of the time. She suffered from MS and had problems walking a lot of the time. So I helped her out. Did the housework, cooked a lot. Then the virus struck. It was weird. For years I'd been helping her, I'd had a routine. Then she was gone and I didn't know what to do with myself. I left the house and travelled, wandering from town to town, city to city. But I was never comfortable in any of them. Until now. This place is… Amazing. Here I can have my own responsibilities. And I'd like to stay, if you'd like me to that is."

Joelle had been lost for words. She couldn't believe these passionate words were coming from his mouth. She realised the toughness was an act. To survive in this world you had to be strong. She thought about his question. Did she want him to stay? Did she even have to ask herself that question? Course she didn't! Of course she wanted him to stay.

"I'd love you to stay," she echoed what her mind had been saying to her. He smiled.

"I'm glad," he said. "I couldn't bare to have to leave now."

They were on the brink of kissing when a voice called her name…*

A noise brought Joelle back into reality. She glanced at Ice. He was kneeling on the floor by one of the front windows to her house. She squinted slightly to see what he was doing. He appeared to be looking at something on the ground.

"Awww you poor thing," he was saying. "Don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you."

Who was he talking to, Joelle wondered. Her eyes were beginning to ache from her squinting so she proceeded to move closer to him. When she was as close as she could be without him noticing her she watched. It was only then that she realised what was doing. In its confusion, a young bird had flown into the window pane, mistaking it for a gap. It was now lying stunned on the floor. Ice had noticed and was now sympathetically tending to it. Joelle's heart melted as she stood there viewing him knelt down there murmuring quietly to the dazed creature. He cupped the bird in his hand and sat up, delicately stroking it with his finger as if it was made of glass. After doing this a couple of times he opened his jacket and put the bird inside to keep it warm. He continued talking to it throughout. This proved it to Joelle. Ice was the most caring person she had ever seen. He hadn't been putting a show on for anyone by tending to that bird, he hadn't known that anyone was watching. He had done it out of the kindness of his heart. She realised with a beating heart that she was in love…

"Hey," a  quiet voice spoke from behind her. Joelle almost jumped out of her skin. She turned  round. It was Jamie. Without speaking she got to her feet and pulled him away to somewhere where Ice wouldn't hear.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I just wanted to apologise to you about earlier. I didn't mean to be so mad."

"I forgive you," she replied simply. "I just wish I knew what was up with you. You've been weird lately, even Zak's noticed."

"It's OK. I'm fine. I don't have any problems, no problems."

"OK," she gave in although she knew he was lying.

"So who's that?" Jamie pointed to Ice who was still tending to the bird.

"It's Ice. He entered the estate this morning."

"Ice? What sort of stupid name is that?" Jamie scoffed.

"Hey, don't knock him. Can you see him with that bird?"

"Yeah, so?"

"He acts so tough and yet inside he's so sweet!"

"Yuk"" Jamie announced.

"Awwww," Joelle looked at him. "You're not jealous are you?"

"No… No of course not," he replied, looking away.

"That's OK then," she grinned. "Anyway, I guess I'd better be getting back to him. I'll pop round to yours later OK?"

"Whatever," he muttered as he watched her join Ice by the front door before sneaking away.

"Hi," Joelle said as she approached Ice, blushing slightly.

"Oh, hi. I thought you weren't coming."

"Yeah sorry I got held up," she lied. "What's that?" she asked, pointing to the bulge in his coat.

"Poor little thing," Ice said sympathetically, producing the bird from his coat. "It flew straight into the window."

Joelle stood up and unlocked the front door to her house. As she walked in she glanced back at Ice. "Come in," she said.

"Are you sure?" he replied.

"Yeah cause. We've got to help that bird haven't we?" she smiled softly as he followed her indoors, cradling the bird in his hands.

 As she produced a shoe box from a cupboard in the kitchen she watched him. He placed the bird carefully in the box, still murmuring to it as he had been earlier. Once again her heart melted as she watched him wrapping the animal in a cloth she had found.

"Ice," she said quietly as not to startle the bird.

"Yeah?" he said, turning his head towards her. As he moved closer she lifted her head and kissed him passionately on the lips. He didn't complain; he just smiled and kissed her back. They remained locked together for about a minute before Joelle pulled away.

"I'm going to have to get on," she said reluctantly. "I'm making dinner for some of the younger kids today, I need to make a start."

"You need some help?" he asked. "I'm a surprisingly good cook."

"That'd be great," she said, smiling at the thought of having him around for longer.