One more chapter before bed?


Tawni's POV

"Just tell him," I muttered to myself. "Come on, Tawni. You can do it." I closed the door to Lily's room and tiptoed down the stairs, not wanting to wake her up. Now that she was asleep, James and I would have some time to be alone together and I could tell him the truth with no interruptions.

"James," I called.

"In here," he answered from the kitchen. I peeked my head into the room. James was standing over the stove making perogies.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked.

"Shoot," he replied, turning away from the burners. It was the little things like this that showed me James really had changed. Ten years ago, he would have half-listened to what I was saying without even looking up. It was nice to know I had his full attention.

"I...um..." I began. I groaned inwardly. Why couldn't I say it? "I'm..." James started at me with a confused look in his eyes. Sigh...his eyes...

The sound of a smoke alarm warning us the perogies were burning snapped me out of my daze. I stumbled backwards in surprise and accidentally knocked a bottle of vegetable oil onto the burner. The stove burst into flames and James stepped backwards. The fire had already spread to our tea towels and the table cloth sitting folded on the counter next to the stove.

"Come on," I said, grabbing him by the hand and dragging him towards the door. "Let's go next door and call the fire department. I coughed as I inhaled a lungful of smoke.

"I can put it out," James insisted, feeling around on the table through the smoke which was getting thicker as we spoke. He grabbed a jug of water and got ready to toss it onto the fire.

"James!" I shouted. "You never put water on a grease fire!" But it was too late. James doused the flames in water and they exploded up to the ceiling. Half the kitchen was in flames now.

"There's a fire extinguisher here somewhere," he said, searching through the cupboards frantically.

"James!" I shouted again. The smoke was so thick I could barely see. I was starting to get lighthe3aded so I dropped to the floor and crawled around, searching for James. Finally, my hand touched his ankle and I pulled him to the ground. "Come on!" Thankfully he listened this time. He must have realized the seriousness of the situation by now and decided to stop trying to be a hero. We were almost at the door when a horrible realization struck me.

"Lily!" I screamed. "Oh my God, James, she's still upstairs. I have to get her."

"No!" James yelled over the roar of the flames. "I'll get her. Go next door and call the fire department."

"Be careful," I warned. But James had already disappeared up the stairs.

I kept crawling towards the door. The flames were close behind me and I was starting to feel faint and disoriented. Where was the front door again? I bumped into something solid and slid my hand up it until I felt a smooth, round know. The door! I turned the knob and yanked the door open. I tumbled onto the porch and took a deep breath of fresh air. I was still a little dizzy, but I managed to stand up and run next door.

"Help!" I called, knocking on the door. "My house is on fire! I need to use your phone." The door opened and I froze. Brad and Angelina were my next-door neighbours? I shook my head, remembering my mission.

"Thank you," I said. "Thank you so much." I ran into the living room where a teenage Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was chatting on the phone.

"It's an emergency," I said, holding out my hand.

"I'll call you back, Kayla," she said hanging up and handing me the phone. I dialed 911 and explained the situation to the fire department.

"The address is 167 Addison Drive," I told them.

"Tawni!" I heard James shout from next door.

"I have to go," I told the man on the other end of the phone call.

"No ma'am. Stay on the l-" I hung up the phone and handed it to Shiloh.

"It's all yours," I told her, running out the door. What I saw made me stop in my tracks. The house was almost completely engulfed in flames. James and Lily's heads peeked out a second story window.

"The stairs are on fire," James shouted. "I'll have to jump out the window."

"Don't be stupid James," I called back. "You'll break your neck. There has to be another way. I'll go get a ladder."

"There's no time," he insisted. "It's now or never."

"But how's Lily going to get down?" I asked. "You can't jump with her in your arms."

"You'll have to catch her," he answered.

"But what if I drop her?"

"I believe in you, Tawn,"

"But-"

"We don't have another choice," he pointed out. "Now get ready to catch her." I stood beneath the window and took a couple of deep breaths.

"You ready?" James asked.

"Ready," I answered, holding out my arms and scrunching my eyes shut. Please, God, don't let me drop her.

"One," James counted. "Two...three!" For a few awful seconds, I was sure I wasn't going to catch her. Then I felt her fall into my arms. I opened my eyes and Lily started sobbing.

"Shh," I whispered, tears of relief forming in my eyes. "You're okay." I glanced up at the window where James was hanging onto the ledge, getting ready to drop. I said another silent prayer as he let go and plummeted towards the Earth. He landed on his feet and rolled onto the ground.

"Are you alright?" I asked, helping him up.

"I am now," he answered, somewhat cheesily. He kissed me and then we hurried across the street so we could safely watch our house be devoured by the flames.


Random movie quote of the day:

Ned: You look like a total douche

Mike: I don't look like a douche.

Random Guy: What a douche.

Peace out suckahs!