Snowing news

Hey Lovelies!
Now you might be curious on why I am positing about snow, I am at school (west jersey) and it is snowing.  Not just any snow, but sticking to the ground, caking the trees in layers of white.  It isn't even Halloween and it looks like a White Christmas outside!  I'm in my pjs and a sweatshirt and don't plan on going out into the snow storm.  I seriously might have to move its too early for snow.  I was walking outside a little bit this morning I love when the snow flakes flutter around landing on my hair and eyelashes.  I was hopping around the driveway to get the snow shovels out of the shed to store in the house.  It looks like I wasn't being paranoid now!

So I've been working on Project US a little more.  I keep changing scenes, both taking them out or adding some to help with the other characters.  I've been having some fun!  I'm really feeling that I need to get it published so I can stop proding at it, started it in the year 2004 (November), so I have had a lot of time to play around with it.  However I don't want to play with it too much that the story plot get muddled.  So when I'm done editing it this time, I'm going to try to publish it.  It's a story close to me and my friends who knew me in high school so it shoould be interesting.  Plus I'm on a kick to write some loving stories so Project US and Beneath the Scars will help that fix!  Sooner Project US is done the more I can work on other stories!  I'm hoping to finish rewriting, going to print the god only knows how many pages to help edit!  Should be fun!!  So now there is a chance Project US will be before A Pirates Life for Me...

Just a reminder I'm hoping in a month or a little over a month to have the contest up for the new edition of End of the Line!  I'll probably post a tester up on here just to make sure that it does work how I want it to!  Start looking over Family Ties for the quiz ;)
~Ottilie

Upcoming Giveaway!

Hey Lovelies!
Yes you did infact read the title correctly!  I will be hosting the first giveaway on THIS blog!  So exciting!  Since End of the Line is on it's second person editing it I can start talking about this!  So do you think you know my book Family Ties?  If not the ebook format is only 2.99!  So around a month from now I will be posting a tivia quiz on here, the questions will be dealing with Family Ties, I'll leave the quiz up for about a week to give everyone a fair chance.  Then I will announce the winner, and the prize will be a free e-format copy of End of the Line 2nd edition!  I'm just giddy thinking about it, I'll have fun thinking of questions!  There are a couple other fun things I'm planning for November and December!  The winner of End of the Line will have the new edition before the paperback book is edition!  The new edition has a new scene in it too!  Who wouldn't want to be the first to read something before other people??

Sample Sunday

Hey Lovelies!!
Well I haven't really been sleeping and got woken up early this morning by my partner for a project by a text message for him to not be responsive.  Not good.  However I will not be making you all suffer!  Today is Sample Sunday!!  Free readings, what could be bad about that??  Well today I will be doing Family Ties!  You might be saying, didn't you already do a sample from this story?? I did and you want to know what will be different about this sample, it will be from a male's point of view!  I usually have my stories starting with female character, and since I usually post the first chapter my leading males have been silence.  I love my characters and decided to show a little of one of the Men of Ottilie!  I really should do a day about the guys in my stories...idea for another time!  Well Today's sample and Men of Ottilie is Cory, the best friend of Abby.  He is the sweet, best friend who is always up for a verbal action of wit!  Enjoy!
~Ottilie

Family Ties

Chapter 3

Cory

“Cory, you’re late!” A stern voice cut through the air as each word was pronounced with a sharp tone ahead of me.


I looked up from the side walk to see Abby in her uniform at the corner of the restaurant, right before the road to drive down into the property of the country club. She was standing in front of me with her hands on her hips glaring at me with her foot tapping just for added effect. We were supposed to walk to work together, I was running late. I thought I timed it all right, but unfortunately my alarm decided it did not want to go off on time. Thankfully, Mom woke me up not much longer after that.


“What can I say? At least the boss doesn’t know. Are you wearing a skirt!?” I asked as we walked down the short road together as people practiced on the driving range.


She was wearing a white button down dress shirt with a red bow tie and cummerbund. She wore a black skirt that ended little above her knees with black plain dress shoes that didn’t have much of a heel. Abby’s hair was of course in its usual messy bun thing, you really couldn’t see her hair well. I looked at the skirt, shocked again that she was wearing one. That was when I looked at her legs. Sometimes I forget that she isn’t that little girl I grew up with that we are growing up, maturing. That she is actually very pretty and had very nice legs.


“Shut up! I have to wear this thing! It’s part of the uniform so give me a break!” she growled, sliding her hands down looking for pockets that were not on her skirt so she crossed her arms over her stomach.


I smiled at her.


“I just can’t remember, in all the years I have known you, seeing you wearing either a skirt or a dress. The one time I think I did see you wear a dress was for a funeral and you were wearing shorts under it. We have known each other since you were born since I’m older.”


“Bite me, this wasn’t my choice,” she snapped, walking up the stairs of the porch of the restaurant.


I caught up and opened the door and I laughed at her.


“I don’t pay you two to flirt!”


There was our boss standing a few feet away, in the doorway of the room with the bar and a few small tables, giving us evil glances. The rumor was that the country club belonged to the mob and looking at him you could believe it, he definitely looked like the stereotypical head mobster. He was a little shorter than me, but on the broad side, a very solid looking man. He has jet black hair, oiled back, that shined in all of the lights of the place, dark eyes, and a sales man smile.





Work started out as a disaster. Our boss wouldn’t give us any slack, which was probably because we were a couple of minutes late on the first day. On top of that, the people we were serving were such snobs. I looked over at Abby at one point and it looked like Abby was going to throw water into a face of one of the customers. I was planning on asking later what happened on the way home from work. I had people who would change their orders over a hundred times even after I put their food on their table. Then what did those people have the nerve to do, they left a quarter for a tip and they said that since I was one of the poor to use it wisely. That just makes my blood boil with fury.


Abby works here since it is within walking distance from her home. We live a few houses away from each other. We were kind of raised as brother and sister; well, not exactly siblings, but very close as our families were close, so we were always together. Also her family was happy she didn’t have to walk home by herself, that she had me with her to keep her safe. Her parents didn’t want her as a girl to be a defenseless girl, walking alone by herself at night, and her brother had his own life to deal with. Not that I mind walking with my best friend, and we work together. There wasn’t anything we wouldn’t do for each other.


On the walk home, the sun was only starting to go down with a light glow in the air, the sky was filled with oranges and purples. Abby was carrying her shoes instead of wearing them. She wasn’t a high believer in shoes. The second she walked out of the door of the restaurant she took off her shoes and crossed the street in a quick rush before another car came, with me right behind her smiling. This didn’t surprise me because she does this stuff all the time. Not caring that she was going to walk in the street without anything protecting her feet or that she was running in a skirt. She didn’t care what others thought or what people thought was right, she did what she did because it suited her. She didn’t follow others.


“I hate wearing skirts,” Abby growled as she kicked the grass by the sidewalk. “They show off my legs. There was this one guy who was trying to flirt with me. He seriously needed to buy a book on what is acceptable flirting and what will get a girl to throw a drink in his face. On top of that, he tried to touch my legs! I wanted to kill him! Rip him from limb to limb! I told the boss instead, he just shook his head. Then I didn’t have to deal with that table. Men are pigs! Seriously, if the customers are going to act like that, then we should not have to serve them!”


She was still looking at the ground as her voice was hard. It was almost a pout, but a strong voice ready to murder the next male that crossed her path against her wishes. She was walking trying to balance on the side. I kept an eye on her as the cars drove by.


“Abby, do you not realize what I am?” I raised an eyebrow at her as I held an arm out ready for her to grab onto if needed.


She really didn’t look stable. Yet I smiled at her weird childish quirk. She has always done that that I can remember.


“You’re not a man, you’re Cory.” She finally looked at me, rolling her eyes, like I should already know this.


I just rolled my eyes, knowing I had come to expect that from her - Abby the queen of sarcasm and bluntness. I still thought of her as that little girl in pig tails and jean overalls with her Raggedy Ann doll she carried around in a tight hug. That doll was never far from where she was: her grandmother, I think, gave it to her. I can remember it sitting in her backpack while we were in school, even to fourth grade. I had given her a Raggedy Andy doll when we were six and she has both on her bed to this day.


Then there are times I find myself looking at her legs, or just really looking at her, and then I realize that she isn’t that little girl anymore. We are growing up and I don’t even remember seeing this process happening. It was like I woke up recently and there stood this new version of Abby. I would call myself a sick person for looking at my friend that way. I find myself mentally smacking myself. She is my friend and I’m supposed to protect her from guys, not to look at her.


“Cory, you want to come in for a little bit?” Her voice was softer and snapped me from my thoughts. How did we get here?


She tilted her head, looking at me, standing in front of the gate in front of her house.


“Sure, I’ll call my mom when I get in too.”


Abby opened the little gate with a hard push and walked up the small walkway with me right behind her. She kicked her front door a couple of times before it opened. Abby refused to let me help her with opening the door. Her dad has been too busy to fix that and the gate because of his hours at the office so they’ve been broken for a couple of years now. She just laughs it off and says it’s her work out for her muscles since gym class was a joke.


When it finally swung open, she went in first with me behind her. After I moved aside, she ran into the door as it slammed into place with her rubbing her one shoulder afterwards. When I looked in the room, Josh was sitting there with the TV on while he had his books opened across his lap along with a couple next to him. Seeing him studying wasn’t something that unusual.


Abby and her brother look a lot alike. At the beginning of the year all Abby would have to do is walk into the room and the teachers would know, by just looking at her, before asking, if she was related to him. Both have the chestnut brown hair and eyes from their parents. He has glasses though. He isn’t the Poindexter guy in glasses. He is one of those guys who still have girls falling at his feet guys. He worked at the sports center by us and a lot of the girls from school go over there just to drool over him. He was still a high man on campus. Yet he’s very level headed and acts like I’m family also, not just one of Abby’s “little” friends.


He has offered to drive us to school, but Abby told him we would rather walk. Wasn’t that nice of her to speak for the both of us? Did I mention that both had the spunky, fierce personality? Well, she was more out front with it than he was, most thought he was laid back. Though I see him at home and really interacting with his sister and that alone speaks about a lot of fire going on. At times it’s kind of funny depending on the fight that’s going on.


Josh waved to us as we headed for the stairs to go into Abby’s room, not saying a word, but sticking to his studies. She hated talking downstairs because she hated Josh and her parents listening to our conversations. She was not as vocal around people’s families, including her own. At times it was kind of funny, but I was the same way - it was easier to talk when families weren’t hovering. As we climbed up the narrow stairs, I couldn’t help but poke her in the back just to hear her scream. I started to smile, she was very ticklish. It was one of her secrets that she tries to keep hidden from everyone. I was one of the few people who knew about how bad it was. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face me, her chestnut brown eyes met with mine. Her hands were firmly on her hips.


“So you want to play that game, do you?” she asked, challenging me, her eyes narrowing as she shifted her weight to the side.


“No, I just wanted to get on your nerves.” I gave a small laugh raising a hand, pretending like I was about to do it again when I wasn’t.


She stuck her tongue out at me and continued up the last couple of stairs quickly, and then walked down the five or six feet to her room. Right in between her room and Josh’s, on the thin wall that divided the two, was a phone with a long cord whose parts were starting to uncoil. Her house had two phones, one in the kitchen and the other was up here for the two of them to answer so they wouldn’t have to go racing around the house looking for phones, especially when they were upstairs in their rooms. She walked into her room and closed the door, to probably change, so I called my house.


“Hey, Mom.”


“Hello Cory, I thought work ended a little bit ago.”


I leaned against the opposite side of the wall. She wouldn’t care I was here, our families were close.


“I’m at Abby’s, actually. We’re just going to hang out for a little bit. Is that okay?” I asked switching ears for the phone, looking at Abby’s door waiting for her to open it up.


“Yeah of course, I’ll leave dinner in the fridge if you don’t eat there.”


“Thanks, Mom. Bye.”


“You’re welcome honey, love you.”


“Love you too.”


“Bye.”


“Bye Mom,” I responded and hung up the phone.


I stood in front of Abby’s door waiting for her to be done.


“Abby, I didn’t think getting changed was rocket science,” I spoke, enjoying poking her buttons any moment I could get.


“Oh, hold your horses. I’m attempting to not leave my clothes to get wrinkled on the floor and there are too many buttons so you can hold on two seconds!”


I leaned against the wall waiting for her to be done, after working that many hours I was growing impatient. I was kind of tired too which was probably not helping at all. I sighed as I tapped the back of my head against the wall lightly. What took girls so much time to get ready? Or would it just be the fact that I was being inpatient? She didn’t need to get dressed up again, she was probably only putting on a t-shirt and shorts anyway, so this was ridiculous.


I heard her door creak open, it needed to be oiled which I offered to do for her. I looked over to see her dark brown hair was still pinned back in a messy bun with a few flyaways that curled naturally and hung by her brown eyes and around her face. She was only partially in the door way as she pushed back some of the hair out of her eyes.


I walked into her room as I took my bow tie off and shoved it in my pocket so I could unbutton the first button of my shirt, I could finally breathe. My breath was caught in my throat when I saw her fully. She was wearing a pale lime green sleeveless shirt that had lace dark green straps along with green and blue shorts. Who made shorts like that legal?!


She sat down on her bed that was on the floor against the wall as she folded her legs. She left room so I could sit next to her on the bed. I stood in the middle of the small room. She raised an eyebrow at me as she titled her head and looked at me with confused brown eyes.


“Is something wrong, Cory?” Abby asked, slightly shaking her head with her eyes never leaving mine.


“No, why do you ask?” I asked, clearing my throat a little.


“You just seem a little off or something,” Abby spoke, raising an eyebrow.


“Nah, I’m just a little tired that’s all.”


“So I guess watching a movie is out of the question?”


“Nah, I’ll be fine.”


“Okay weirdo, then come sit next to me so we can start the movie.”


Nervously I sat down next to her as she started the movie. She sat back with me pulling the blanket up for us as the movie started.

Upkeepings

Hey Lovelies!
Oh you are so lucky I wasn't posting last week!  For those of you who are friends with me, you witnessed part of my mini meltdown from school.  So have I been up to, I'm currently in Hamilton school district and I'll be teaching a junior class starting the 24, haha no they don't know I am a published author!  So with all the assignments with school writing has been on low on the back burner, not happy what so ever about that considering I thought up those 4 new story ideas BEGGING  to be written!  I feel like the new characters (some of which are old ones returning ;) ) are being held hostage in a tight prison cell.  Since I have had off the last few days I'm enjoying the down time of sleep and writing.  My homwork on the other side has been put on a minor hold...oops...anywho Amy and I are working on the editing of End of the Line, which needs to be done asap, I hate delaying things, I like timed schedules, it's so bad blame my mom for being a CPA.  I will still be holding a contest for a couple free copies of End of the Line in e-format to those who can answer my questions about Family Ties when more of the editing is done by the second editor!  That and the cover is done!  Been also questioning the order of what book will be published when, as in the order!  Since I've been working on Project US which I'm pretty excited for, as soon as that is done I'm going to be writing more on the new stories!  I should get back to the homework...
~Ottilie

Sample Sunday ~ Runaway

Hey Lovelies!
Today is sunday and tomorrow it's back to school!  Not a fan, so one last treat for the weekend, a sample of a story I thought up awhile ago and really can't wait to finish!  I would post another sample from one of my new ones, but I haven't really gotten a chance to work on them much and other then Beneath the Scars only one other has been worked on, but since it's a sequel I can't really post it as of the moment.  As we know Family Ties is a story of a kidnapping, however today's sample is the oppositte, running away from something!  These characters are a little fun, well the beginning wont show it as much, but the development is there.  The guy I have a few ideas in mind, and he's is going to be a little dorky, fun hearted so I'm really excited to work with him.  This story over the summer  Runaway was competeing against Project US and Beaker to Life, really wasn't sure which would be the forth work, after A Pirate's Life.  I wonder if anyone will notice the difference with this story then the samples I've given.  I hope you all enjoy the sample today!
~Ottilie

Runaway

Chapter One

Sitting on the bench with my eyes not focused on anything as the wind whipped by me. Old trails of tears stung as the nipped air picked on me to make the situation even worse. My surrounds didn’t come together with my homemade scarf blowing around as if waving goodbye to everyone and thing, when I could not. The yarn of the mittens made imprints on my hands as I held onto the bench beneath me trying to get any train of thought, god I was just a shell of a person these days.


My lips were numbing as the last of my chap stick was wearing away in the cold as it was set in a relax way when one isn’t thinking. My thin short eyelashes stuck together in small groups making the small amount of mascara and eyeliner run, smearing around my eyes for the illusion of black eyes. The short thick dark hair felt like straw under the hat making the small amount that poke out feel itchy. The cold irritating my nose making it run just a little leaving me not to even care anymore unlike I once would have. Mix of my surroundings and my existence, tears moisten my eyes, not that they were actually looking anywhere.


I couldn’t remember how I ended up here, or what has really been happening in my so called life. It was to the point that the chill that came through the fabrics of my winter coat was almost a disappointment that I was alive. My mother’s old coat worn and loose clung onto the big sweater underneath that overlapped over my jeans.


Nothing seemed to match up on the sides. My mind seemed to be a box of every size puzzle piece ever made. Leaving just the outside, the box, to be shown, but nothing on the inside will ever work. Not that I would care if I ever came back to who I was, it just didn’t matter anymore.


I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be letting the self pity and hopes of dying consume me, but I do anyway. I couldn’t even tell you where I was, or who I was anymore. I had no specific plan, but I was just sitting here on a bench waiting. Cold droplets fell from above to just land harshly on me. Closing my eyes I curled up on my side feeling only part of the wood bench under me with heavy drops not shy of hitting me.


Seeping more into my thoughts even more as my clothes grew heavier with freezing cold rain mixed with snow numbing my body as the harsh wind picked up. My eyes hurt as I tried harder to keep the tears back while letting the numbing feeling take over me hoping this would be it.






The heat sunk into my skin to an almost burning sensation. Every muscle ached as it was cramped all over my body with my eyes feeling as if they were swollen shut. I tried to shift hoping that would help my tender muscles, but found I was too sore and immobile. Groaning, nudging my head against the pillow in some pathetic attempt to get my muscles to move or get the sleep out of my swollen eyes.


“Well, you’re alive,” the voice sounded slightly surprised, but gentle and deep.


I tried to speak before opening my eyes finding that I was unable to get any sound out. My vocal cords were thick with a rock stopping any sound from coming out. I wanted to ask, if they thought I was going to die, why didn’t they just take me to the hospital? Yet my mouth muscles felt as if they were clamed shut. I left my eyes shut, too sore to do anything as my body felt ill as the two extreme temperatures were battling each other.


“Take it easy okay, don’t overwork your body. You’ve really put your body through a lot. Do you know how long you were at the bus station?”


I wanted to die as the needles of heat were working through.


“No,” my voice cracked.


“Shh, don’t speak. Do you want tea, just nod your head yes or no,” the soft male voice continued.


I shook my head under the cocoon of blankets and sheets.


“Hot chocolate maybe?”


Slowly I opened my eyes as the light burned, making it harder to keep them open.


“I guess,” My voice cracking as I tried to speak again.


The guy was a blur, but I could hear him sigh.


A few minutes later the spot next to me sunk on the bed. Turning over in pain I look up at a lean man with strawberry blonde hair that swept to the side with blue green eyes. Wearing a sweater and jeans he held a red mug down to my level. Shifting so my arm could push me up, I cringed.


“Try not to harm yourself, just stay down!”


I closed my eyes as I leaned my head against the headboard.


“You’re a stubborn one aren’t you?”


“Just a bit.”


He gave a short laugh as I opened my eyes and took the drink, wrapping my hands around the cup feeling the heat seep through. I started to debate about not drinking it and just to holding it.


“I’m going to be leaving soon, but my brother will be here to be with you. I left him in charge of the diner. I trust him with it, but I’d rather be there, especially since closing time is in a few hours and I’m OCD about that. He should be here soon,” he glanced down at his watch.


“Thank you,” I whispered.


“You’re welcome, but it wasn’t really anything, there wasn’t a chance in hell anyone with a heart could have left someone covered in ice in this weather.”


I looked down into the drink.


“My name is Adam, and the late one is Lucas.”


I took a sip from the drink instead of answering.


“Do you have a name?”


“Yes,” I whispered.


“Care to give it to me?” he asked gently, like he actually cared about what happens to me.


I looked up into his eyes showing true sincerity. It was almost as if he has known me my whole life and he was just my caring big brother. I sighed.


“My name is-“


“Oh, OCD King, I’m home!” a loud voice rang as a door was slam shut.


Adam rolled his eyes.


“You must excuse my brother. He’s a bit of an idiot.”


“Depends on who you’re asking?”


A guy with a big grin on his face, same color hair, but a little shorter to show off the green smiling eyes came into the room.


“It’s a good thing she wasn’t sleeping big mouth, now I’ll go back. You put James in charge right before you came here, right?”


Lucas’ face fell, eyes widen.


“Crap! I knew I forgot something!”


“What do you mean!? I had asked you to do something simple!” Adam yelled standing up sounding ready to have a heart attack.


“Chill, man I was kidding,” Lucas started to laugh as he tried to get the words out. “Go on, I’ll keep an eye on her.”


Adam looked a little worried as he said his goodbye’s then left.


“I don’t need a babysitter, I’m going to turn eighteen next month,” I whispered feeling the hot chocolate loosing its heat.


He gave a small laugh.


“Yeah, you take real good care of yourself. You were unconscious on a bus stop bench, covered in ice and freezing rain. Yeah, real good care.”


I glared.


“I have everything planned out just so you know,” I mumbled even though I knew he wouldn’t believe me. “One mistake and I bet you are Mr. Perfect?”


“I’m the essence of perfection I’ll let you know,” he added with a smirk, which just fueled the glaring. “So are you hungry?”


“No,” I answered, as my stomach countered my reply, I closed my eyes. “I guess I am.”


“I’ll go make us something. How do you feel about breakfast food in the late afternoon?”


“It’s as good as eating it in the morning,” I commented taking a sip of the hot chocolate making a face as the cool drink entered my mouth, spitting it back into the cup as he left the room.


Looking around the room, I could defiantly tell this was one of their rooms. There were a few pictures on the dresser and desk, clothes on the floor along with on the chair. The walls though were plain white with a few posters. The comforter was dark blue on top with crimson underneath.


“Are chocolate chip pancakes okay?” He yelled from the other room. “I’m kind of in the mood for them considering the weather.”


“Yeah, that’s fine.”


Pushing the comforter off, I stood up with shaky legs, wrapping the comforter around me. Stumbling a bit, I fell into the wall.


“Are you alright in there,” He called out.


“Yeah,” I answered after taking a few more wobbly steps.


Looking up I saw the partial kitchen with a wall dividing the living room and kitchen. There he stood in front of the stove pouring some of the batter onto the pan. Unsteadily I sat on a stool chair using the hole in the wall between the two rooms making it the place they ate. Drawing my legs into my chest wrapping the comforter closer trying to keep warm I just made fitting on the chair.


“What do you want to drink?” Lucas called loudly looking towards one of the bed rooms.


“Milk will do fine,” I answered, watching him jump a little to turn to look at me.


“When did you get there?” he asked narrowing his eyes.


“Just a moment ago.”


“Shouldn’t you drink something warm?”


“I don’t like pancakes with anything other then milk, and if you were going to question my option why did you ask me?” I asked trying not to sound rude.


“Point made,” he said as he turned around again towards the stove.


“So girly, do you have a name?” he asked with his back still turned.


I didn’t answer for a moment. He was placing two glasses of milk on the counter between us. Turning off the oven he walked to sit next to me with two plates. Looking at the food I took hold of the fork while holding onto the warmth. My stomach begged to just pour the plate of food down my throat, while my mind knew that I would get sick if I did that. To be nice to my stomach I was trying to take slower bites of the warm fluffy treat as small bits of chocolate came to life in my mouth. I tried to remember the last time I had any form of a meal.


“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.


Still looking at the plate I just muttered that I was alright.


“So are you running from the law?” he asked his voice slightly more upbeat again.


Looking up he had one eyebrow raised with a small smile.


“The law, no.”


I stared at the food poking a piece of the cut up slice. I put the piece in my mouth and tried to chew. My mouth was dry. I tried to chew, but it wouldn’t happen so I took a gulp of the milk to help the food go down. The lump went down heavily, as my eyes began to water. I didn’t look up; I couldn’t let him see the tears, to let him know something was wrong.


“Are you alright?” the pure curiosity voice came through, but I couldn’t look up though.


I nodded my head.


“You sure?”


“Can I take a shower when I’m done?” I asked still looking down.


I took a bite, acting like everything was normal. It tasted like sawdust now. I put my fork down and just swallowed heavily that last bite.


“Um sure, I’ll give you something to put on afterwards. I’ll give you some clean clothes, though they’ll be big on you.”


“Thank you,” I spoke softly as I slowly stood up. “Which way to the bathroom?”


I started to pick up the plate and cup to bring to the sink, but he took them.


“Over to your right, but hold on.”


He had his back to me as I quickly rubbed my eyes. Hoping the tears were gone, wiped away. I walked over to the bathroom and stood by the door with the comforter still wrapped tightly around me up to my chin enclosed around me. My hands only out in the open just enough to hold the blanket to me. My eyes were glued to the floor, though a warm touch brought me back as it glided me into green eyes.


“Your eyes are red,” his eyes were sad or worried as the words came out slowly, almost as if it were a question.


“They are a little off from the change of weather,” I spoke starting to bite on my lip.


He just stared at me, his eyes were locked on mine, holding them, making me not want to look away.


“If you are sure,” he answered placing clothes into my hands. “Can I have the blanket back before you go into the shower though?”


I unhinged my fingers from the comfort and walked into the bathroom, automatically locking the door behind me. Laying the pile of clothes on top of the toilet and noticed the towel hanging up by the shower. Turning the facet the mere sound of the sudden water being released from its prison was music to my ears. The pop of the water till it hit the floor till it was a full power of its freedom. I didn’t bother putting my hand in it knowing it would be cold, and I couldn’t deal with that. I would wait for the warmth.


Stepping into the misty hot water, a sigh almost escaped my lips. It has been so long since my last shower, or felt hot water. I submerged my whole body under the head of the shower, feeling the hot water, washing away the pain and horrors. Helping even for a moment to forget the tears that have been shed for what feels forever. Even for a short period of time I could forget, put everything behind me.


Wrapping the fluffy towel I did not want to leave the steamy haven the bathroom had became. The mirror was fogged over, which might have been for the best to not have a chance to see the affects of living on the streets did to me. Using a comb I tried my best to get out knots, tearing at my head to the point where using tweezers to pull each hair out of my legs would have felt better. Finding a pair of scissors and a razor entered my mind to solve my problem. My better reasoning won with a few more attacks, then throwing on the borrowed clothes, just so I could pull the towel turban effect.


Even though it was guys’ clothes, I felt small in the shirt and pants that had a belt on them. Before I walked out of the bathroom I hung the towel up and re-brushed my hair to find Lucas sitting on the couch watching television. Shuffling over to the couch near him I saw he left the comforter there for me. Grabbing it I wrapped it around me as he sat there looking at me.


“Still cold?” he asked.


I just nodded my head, my throat felt a little raw. He moved a little closer to me took hold of the blanket to move it, well tried, but I was holding tight.


“Lossen your grip, I’ll help you warm you up.”


I narrowed my eyes at him.


“I really don’t know you.”


He rolled his eyes.


“We aren’t doing anything, just think of it as a hug while watching TV. You’ve already slept in my bed and are wearing my clothes I think we’re on a speedy friendship.”


I let go of the blanket as he pulled me close to him and wrapped his arms around me than putting the blanket around us. His chest was against my back with his head right near mine, I felt so fragile near him, I was once bigger.


“I promise we’re not out to get you…” he whispered as he tightened his hold a little.


“I’ve just been through a lot…” I spoke quietly as I just kept my eyes on the screen.


My eyes grew heavy as he didn’t answer back. Slowly as I fought it my eyes closed as his heat radiated into me. I fell asleep against him as there was silence between us.