AUTHOR'S NOTES: Yay! I got more reviews! I'm so glad you like the story. In all honesty, I was so nervous posting this because I wanted to stay true to the movie as well as the characters, but I'm so relieved you guys enjoy this. Enjoy! Oh, and by the way, this chapter tends to get a little dark, so ye be warned! Also, I decided to add this verse from the song My Last Breath by Evanescance, I completely forgot!
I'll miss the winter
A world of fragile things
Look for me in the white forest
Hiding in a hollow tree
Over the past two weeks, I had slowly become more open to Mort Rainey. Granted, I didn't tell him everything, like how my father treated me, but I did tell him my mother passed away after I graduated. I was surprised when he hugged me but I found myself hugging him back. I found it odd how his touch comforted me like nothing else, but I didn't think hard on it. I found out that Rainey did smoke but only when he was stressed, so I tried to keep things as light as possible so he would still have lungs when he was fifty. He told me that he was writing a new book but was stuck on the ending. "It has to be perfect," he'd always say. I told him that I wasn't exactly familiar with happy endings, but I would try to think of one.
One cold December day, as I washed the dishes, I glanced out the window and nearly dropped the dish I was washing. It was snowing; not too lightly and not too heavily, but just enough so that I gently placed down the dish down and ran outside.
I laughed as I caught snowflakes with my tongue and ran around in circles. I loved the winter. There were so many fragile things and it was so peaceful and serene. Plus, I loved the snow but never usually got to play in it because of the lack of jackets and coats.
I heard to door shut and turned to see Rainey holding up an old navy blue hoodie with a grin on his face. His glasses were on and I ran over to him, grabbing the jacket he handed me.
"Thanks, Mort," I said graciously. He had given me the right to call him Mort after the first day. I hurriedly pulled it on and asked, "How'd you know I was out here?"
"'Cause I heard the door close," he said, winking at me. I blushed and he glanced up and stared at the bleak, grey sky.
I giggled and felt my cheeks turn rosy. I suddenly ran into the forest, giggling as I heard him follow me. I don't know why I suddenly turned and ran, but I had hoped he would chase me.
I hid behind a big, oak tree and squatted down, picking up a bunch of snow and formed it into a ball. I felt the cold, miniature icicles prick my skin. I stood and slightly tensed as I heard his footsteps nearby. I suddenly stepped out from my wooden barrier and threw the snowball. Once again, I wished I had a camera because Rainey was in utter shock. I laughed and tried to run past him but he quickly snapped out of his shock and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me to the ground.
He landed on top of me and his look turned mischievous. I just smiled innocently and tried to ignore the heat that was rising inside of my body. I shifted under his weight and he just smirked.
"Now Madison," he addressed me, pretending to be as serious as possible. "What was going through your head when you threw a snowball at your employer?"
I put a surprised look on my face. "Excuse me, Mr. Rainey, but you ran into my snowball."
He quirked an eyebrow and said, "Oh, really?"
I nodded and he replied, "Then it's not my fault if your body happened to be in the way of my fingers, right?"
I scrunched my eyebrows when suddenly, he began to tickle me. I began to squirm and laugh hysterically, silently thanking for the vastness and emptiness of the forest or else somebody would've thought another murder was being committed.
After a moment of begging, wiggling, and laughing, Rainey got off of me and offered me a hand. I took it and smiled, shaking off the snow that had made its home on my jacket. "What do you say to hot chocolate now, hmmm?"
I smiled and nodded, following him back to the house.
Sitting on the couch in the warm house, wearing a forest-green t-shirts and black slacks, I patiently awaited for Rainey to bring the hot cocoa into the living room. I had offered to make it, but he insisted that he do it himself, so I didn't argue.
"I hope you like marshmallows in your cocoa," he said, coming into the living room and sitting down, tryng not to spill the hot drink.
"I've never had marshmallows in my cocoa," I replied honestly, carefully taking the warm mug into my cold hands.
"Really?!" he asked, obviously surprised. I nodded and smiled lightly, as I took a sip of my drink. "Well, it's a good thing I got to you in time."
My smile deepened. I felt the hot liquid warm up my throat as Rainey began to talk to me about some writer's get-together that was coming up on New Years'. To be honest, I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying, but more to how he was saying it. Like, when his eyes danced with excitement when he was speaking fast, or when his nostrils seemed to flare when he laughed. I hoped he hadn't noticed, but I had been doing it often, finally admitting that it was one of my secret pleasures.
"Christmas is coming up," he said. "Are you going to go and visit your family?"
I tensed at the mention of my family and shook my head. "No," I said, trying to think of an excuse as to why. "They would rather want me here, making money."
"Nonsense," he said, waving his head. "Christmas Eve, I'll take you over there, okay? I'll tell your father that you'll still get paid, okay?"
I shook my head. "Mr. Rainey, I think-"
"Mort," he said, interrupting me. "And I really think you should. Everyone deserves to be with their family during Christmas."
"What about you?" I asked quietly, avoiding his eyes. I always thought that eyes were the window to the soul and if he looked into my eyes right now, he would find me terrified.
"Don't worry about me," he said softly. "Will you please do this? For me?"
I glanced up at him and felt myself giving in to him. He had this puppy-dog face that I could not say no to. Finally, after much deliberation, I slowly nodded.
A week later, I was in Mort's black Jeep, driving down the icy road in silence. I hadn't spoken much, and kind of isolated myself from him, speaking when spoken to but not making any conversation. I wasn't mad at him, just nervous about today. I knew he felt the change in my mood, but didn't press me for details, which I silently thanked.
Twenty minutes later, we stopped at a familiar shack and I was suddenly embarrassed at my home. It had weeds growing everywhere, and the house was small. I got out of the car and led Rainey to the house. I knocked and I was surprised when my sister answered the door.
"Oh, it's you," she said flatly. I glanced at her attire; a tight, red T-shirt, and tight, low jeans. I silently wondered how she got the money for her new clothes. "And you..." Her voice had a slight suggestive ring that I almost wanted to puke. She was staring at Rainey like a poor man wanting steak.
"Mort Rainey," Rainey politely introduced himself. I slightly hoped that he wouldn't fall for my sister or sleep with her. I know what I was thinking was crazy, but I suddenly felt jealous of my sister.
"Emilee Alexander," Emilee replied. "Wow, people have been talking but no one said how good you looked."
"Thanks," he said tightly, forcing a smile.
She turned her eyes on me, angry. "And what are you doing here?"
"Yes," said a gruff voice from behind her. "What are you doing here, Madison? You're supposed to be working."
"Mort Rainey, sir," Mort said, smiling at my father. "I felt that Madison should spend some time with her family. It is the holiday season. And she will be paid."
My father smiled icily at me and nodded. "I agree." He stuck out his hand. "Thanks for stopping by, Mr. Rainey. Nice meeting you."
"You too, sir," Rainey said, shaking my father's hand. He turned to me and replied, "I'll pick you up tomorrow night, okay?"
I hesitated and nodded. He smiled once again and walked back to his Jeep. I silently prayed Rainey would change his mind and come back for me, even when he stepped into the car and drove off.
I turned and was about to walk in when my father grabbed me roughly by the collar. "What do you think you're doing here? I can't afford to house you, so you're gonna stay outside."
"Are you kidding?!" I asked, glancing at the snow that decorated the ground. "There's snow on the ground!!"
"And that's my fault?!" he asked. His eyes burned with fury and he brought his hand in the air and smacked me in the face. Even my sister was shocked at what he had done; he had never done anything like that before. I didn't even know why he did it now.
I held my cheek in agony, silently hoping there was no bruise on my cheek. The door slammed in my face and I sat down in front of it, leaning my back against the door. Silent tears crawled down my face and I silently prayed for Rainey to come as soon as possible.
By the time Rainey came, I was practically frozen. Not literally speaking, but I was so damn cold. When familiar headlights pulled into what we called our driveway, I nearly jumped for joy. Shaking off the snow and slowly standing up, I patiently awaited for Rainey to get out of his car.
When he did, he had a look of anger and confusement put together. "What are you doing out here?" he asked and opened the passenger door so I could get in.
"Waiting for you," I replied.
"Why aren't you with your family?" he asked. "Where are they?"
"Out," I said quietly as he started up the engine. I stared out the window and before I knew it, I fell asleep.
When I awoke, I was surprised to find myself on a couch with a heavy quilt tightly wrapped around me. I saw Rainey beside me, silently reading. He must've felt me move because suddenly, his eyes shot into mine.
"Madison," he said evenly, putting down his back. "What happened when I left? And I want you to be completely honest. I'll know if you're lying."
"Me and my family never got along," I replied softly, after a moment. "After my mother died... My father got me tons of jobs; anything that would make money. My sister didn't have to work. She slept around a lot. My father found me this job, actually."
"Why were you out in the snow, Madison?" he asked softly, trying to take everything I was saying in. "And why is there a bruise on your cheek?"
Suddenly, I felt hot tears sting my eyes. "They said they didn't have room to house me," I said quietly. "So they sent me out in the snow."
"And the bruise...?" When I wouldn't answer, Rainey moved a bit closer to me, studying the purple mark on my cheek. I felt his fingers softly graze my cheek and I stiffened at his touch. Sensing my reaction, he quickly pulled back but asked, "Did... did your father hit you?"
Still not willing to answer, I saw a look of realization cross Rainey's face and I blinked back tears. He pulled me into a tight hug, and said, "This is all my fault. I am so sorry Madison. Please, please forgive me. Oh my God, Madison."
I only cried harder into his chest, grasping his sweater with my hands. "Madison, I promise, I won't let anything happen to you. I swear. I swear to God, Madison, no one will lay another finger on you."
I just hugged him tighter, acknowledging his words and believing them though I did not know why. His voice was so soothing and persuasive that I had no choice but to believe it. His touch made me feel so secure and safe that I never wanted to let him go. Without warning, darkness took me once again and I fell asleep in Mort's arms.