Fire in the SnowStorm

Have you ever had to write a short story for school? I did my junior year in high school. I think it could have been an interesting book but we couldn’t have more than 10 pages, so I had to make an interesting plot in a short amount of time. So, it definitely seems very fast paced. Reading it back I see a lot of errors and things I for one would change, but like I said I really think it could have been something. I know back then I had a full plan for it, but that’s been over 9 years ago, yeah not sure how I fully wanted it to go. But I thought I would share it with you here. Please don’t judge, I thought books needed an abusive male to a girl and a hero male to save her. Don’t get me wrong, I still fuck with those book but I have grown to realize that theres better books then ones with so much trauma. 

So, please enjoy my short story from when I was 16 years old.  

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Fire in the Snowstorm

I could hear Janice chewing her gum from across this overstaffed office. I have worked for the ‘Becky Blume’ company for 5 years, you think the least they could do is get me an actual office. I do a quick look at my clock on my computer and see that the time is 2:29, crap, the meeting is in one minute. I jump up from my folding chair and walk as quickly as I can to the elevator. I wait patiently for the doors to open, because there was no way i was running up four flights of stairs in these heels. Once the doors open I see Cole standing there with a smirk on his face. I walk in and press the button for the sixth floor. When we reach floor 3 the elevator stops, so I glance at my watch, 2:31, I’m a minute late.

“Damn it.” I mumble quietly as I can so Cole doesn’t hear, but I guess luck isn’t on my side and he does hear.

“So, pretty girl can cuss.” He says with a bit of a chuckle. God, he is so annoying, just because he is the boss’s son, he thinks he rules everybody.  “Eh, you know it’s not very polite to ignore someone when they’re talking to you.” He continued. 

“I’m sorry, I thought you were talking to yourself.”  I try to say as sassy as I can manage. He looks me in the eye and starts to walk towards me, which doesn’t take him very long since it’s a small elevator and he’s tall. 

“Are you insinuating that I’m insane, Ms. Young.” Did he really just call me by my last name. Wait, he knows my last name. I mean I expect the boss to know it, but Cole.

“Maybe I am Mr. Carter. What are you going to do about it?” I urge, that’s when he gets closer and starts to lean in. Crap he’s going to kiss me. I was about to tell him no,when he just wipped a eyelash off my face. I swear my face was probably redder than a tomato. Jeez, when are we going to get to the floor. I quickly look over to the door to see that we are still on floor three, dang it the elevator stopped working. “Dang it, we’re late for the meeting and now the elevator stopped working. So we’re stuck.” I complain and start to stress out.

“Calm down, love. Maybe you need to get laid to try to release some of that stress you’re putting on yourself.” He tells me once he sees me start pacing around the elevator. Wait, laid, I need to get laid. I swear to God this guy is getting on my last nerve.

“I’ll have you know that my boyfriend and I are having a Good enough sex life. Not that it’s any of your business.” I snap at him. OK maybe I lied a little, but he doesn’t need to know my home life problems.

“Ok, sorry. I’m just saying.  So what does this so called ‘boyfriend’ do for a living?” Is he making small talk? Wait, did he just apologize? Well, I guess I should talk to him, since we are stuck in this small rusty elevator. Man, I can’t wait till I get to go to Australia for the company move in three months.

“He does. Well he.” I try to say. Hmmm, what does he actually do for a living. I mean I know he goes out of town with them a lot. Actually at least once a week. But, I have no idea what he actually does. “I’m not really sure what he really does.” I finish telling him. I can’t believe I’ve been dating Victor for 6 years now and I still don’t know what he does for a living.

“Is he working now, or is he off?” 

“ He has today off. Why?” Why on earth is  he asking me so many questions. Does he know something I don’t know.

“Has he texted you at all today?” Ok, this is really starting to creep me out. 

“No, he hasn’t. He knows I’m at work, and he is being kind and doesn’t want to interupt me.” I mean if he did text me I could answer back since it’s not that big of a hassle. 

“Are you serious, if you were my girlfriend I wouldn’t care where you were I would be texting you non-stop. Especially  if I love you. Wait, Victor loves you, right?” He asks.  Love, we never told each other that. I mean he doesn’t love me, he can’t love me. And I don’t love him. I’m just afraid to be alone, and I’m also scared to try to leave him. I don’t think he would kill me if I tried to leave but when he abuses me, sometimes I fear he may.

“No, he doesn’t love me.” I simply tell him.

“ You’ve been dating him ever since you began working here, and you haven’t said you love each other? How long have you guys actually been dating? Wait,do you love him?” He questions me.        

“Six years, we’ve been dating for six years. And no, I don’t love him. But Cole this isn’t any of your business.” Goodness, when is this elevator going to start working.  Man, I can’t wait till I get out of Toledo.

“Six years. Six years. Diana you’ve been dating him for six years, yet you don’t love him. Why on earth are you still with him. Is it all about the sex? No, that’s not it. Wait, is he abusive, and your only with him because you’re afraid of trying to leave him?” He asks Well, dang he’s right on point. But, I can’t let him know that’s he’s right. Cole not the nicest guy and we aren’t what you would call friends but he would try to hurt Victor. “He does, he does hurt you.” He says after I don’t answer him. I was about to tell him it  was nothing but the elevator doors open before I get a chance. Saved by the door. I rush out of the elevator and head into the meeting, 5 minutes late.

I see Cole walking in behind me when we enter the room. After the door shut everybody turned and looked towards us.

“Oh, glad you two could join us.” Becky said sarcastically. Great I just love when everybody looks at me. “ Well, since everybody else already picked partners for our project, I  guess you two are partners then.” I look at Cole to see him smirking right at me. Great, I get to work with the guy who I had a crush on since I was 5.

“Partners for what, ma” Cole asks Becky. Oh, if you haven’t noticed, Becky’s the boss and Cole’s her son. 

“You all will be writing a story. You and your partners will be sent to a different location, for a whole two months, where you will be able to write you stories and have a bit of a vacation. You are allow to bring up to two other people.  The packets I am passing out now will have your location and your airplane tickets. It also has all the requirements and details about your story. You all will be leaving tomorrow morning bright and early so I’m letting you all leave early to pack. Have a safe tip everyone, and I will see you when you all get back.” She said while passing out the packets. I look at where we are going, Barrow, Alaska, are they serious, it’s freezing there. I went there once with my parents when my sister and I were young, it was actually our last family vacation before they all died on our way back home after the vacation. But that’s another story.

“Well, it seems like we are going to be partners. So you better get home and get packed because we are going to Alaska. Partner.” He tells me then leaves the room. Great, first I get stuck in an elevator with him and now i’m going to be stuck with him for two months. Wait, that means I’m Victor free for two months, unless he finds out that I’m going on a trip. 

When I get to my house, I see Victor sleeping on my couch with a bag of doritos in his hand, ugh, disgusting. I quickly run to my room and grab out a suitcase. I throw as much clothes as I think I will need, all my chargers expect my phone charger, my passport, and all my toiletries. Right as I zip up the suitcase, Victor walks in.

“Where on earth do you think your going? And why are you home so early?” He questions with pure disgustion clear on his face.

“I have to go on a work trip for two months and they sent us home early to pack.” I simply tell him while putting the suitcase on the floor.

“Ok, wait, they’re making you go by yourself?”

“No, I have to go with my co-worker Cole.” I tell him and then grab the water bottle that was on my floor.

“Does he have a girlfriend?” Jeez, what is with guys and all there question. 

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.” I mean why would he of gotten so close to me in the elevator if he did.

“Ok then i’m coming with and I’m bringing him a friend.” Great, just great. Me and my big mouth, I just couldn’t of lied about it. Well, I guess this means I have to spend two months with him, but maybe since Coles there maybe he won’t hurt me. 

The next morning goes by so quick, Victor and I pick up his friend Lacie from her house down the road and headed to the airport.Then during the plane ride Cole and I worked on the plot line for our story while Victor and Lacie sat in their seats talking or well, what looks like flirting. When we get to Barrow, we head the the store to get food since Becky said there was a snowstorm coming and we needed to be prepared. On our way to our cabin, Lacie fell asleep and was leaning her head on Victor’s shoulder while I sat in the front seat picking at a loose string on my loose purple long sleeve sweater, and while Cole drove. When we arrived at the cabin I was surprize and shocked at how big it is. It was a 3 stories,  brown log cabin. It had a large window where you could see into the living room which had a large fireplace. There were stairs that went into the bedroom and the balcony, which was very cool.When we walked inside we sat all the food and headed upstairs to find our rooms. There were only 2 rooms, so Victor and I had to share a room and Cole and Lacie had to share a room. The room had a big king size bed which on top of it had like a thousands pillows. There was a fireplace and a big flat screen T.V. hanging on the wall opposite of the bed. I guess I was to in awe to have seen Victor walk in and put his hands around my waist. 

“I’m going to unpack and help Lacie unpack. So why don’t you go downstairs and either work on supper or continue writing that story with cole.” He told me. He’s going to help Lacie unpack, I’m his girlfriend why doesn’t he want to help me unpack. But I probably should just listen to him so I don’t cause any problems. So I just nod and Head over to Cole’s room. I knock , and after about 4 second he opens the door. 

“Hey, are you ok? Do you need help unpacking?” He questions, while leaning against the doorframe. So, the guy I’m not even friends with will help me unpack, but my own boyfriend won’t.

“I’m fine, i just wanted to know if you wanted to help me make supper?” I ask  while biting my bottom lip.  

“Sure, I love cooking. My family and I would have a full cooking day on sunday, instead of going to church like normal families.” He chuckles while telling me the story. I love hearing about family stories, it makes me think that my family could of been happy too.

“That sounds like so much fun. Before the car accident my family and I used to have a dinner party once a month and we would pick a country and make tons of their native foods. It was a tradition.” I tell him while walking into the kitchen and grabbing a knife and the carrot out of the bag and begin to chop them up. 

“I remember that accident you weren’t at school for over 7 months. My parents made me come to that funeral, and I remember they had a webcam so you could see the funeral.” He said while peeling the potatoes.  They wouldn’t let me go to the funeral so my amazing nurse got me a webcam and set it all up so I could be at their funeral. After that day I spent the rest of my 6 years till I turned 18 with my grandma. 

“Yeah, it was sad. But, let’s get back to the real issue, where’s the garlic?” I ask to which he laughs. God, I hope these next 2 months go by great.

That night after we finish eating our wonderful chicken stew, we all sat down in the living room with the fireplace lit, while watching a movie, which I think it was some horror film. Lacie got real scared,wuss, and cuddled up to Victor for safety, while I just sat there keeping an eye on the movie, Victor and Lacie, and Cole, while also drinking my very delicious red wine.  I think Cole may be right on Victor cheating on me, but I just can’t let myself believe that I wasn’t good enough for him.

We spend the next month and a half finishing our very amazing story,and today we were heading home since the snowstorm is coming early tomorrow. But now all we had to do was get Lacie and Victor from upstairs so Cole and I went upstairs to get them. We walk into Lacies’ and Cole’s’ room to see Victor on top of Lacie making out with her. I wanted to scream and yell, but all I could do was stand there with tears in my eyes. Not because my boyfriend is cheating on me, but because Cole was right, out of everything I wanted to think that I was good enough for Victor, but sadly, I guess I’m not. Victor must of notice we were in here when he lifted his head and smirked. 

“Go ahead, Cole say it.” I say.

“Say what?” He asks all confused.

“That you were right, and that I’m stupid for not listening to you when you said he was cheating. Go ahead tell me you told me so. I deserve it.” I say my voice going hoarse from me keeping in my tears. “You know what, don’t tell me. Because I don’t want to feel like more of a fool in front of the one guy I hate and the one guy I love.” I snap, while walking outside of the room and down the stairs and out the front door. I was probably outside for a good 2 second before Cole yelled my name and pulled my shoulder back so I would face him. Goodness, was he fast. He looks at me and out of nowhere he kisses me, and it was a magical kiss. I swear I felt those sparks that are always put in those romance novels I read.

“Diana Young, I have been in love with you since we were 18, and the day you started going out with Victor my heart broke. I couldn’t take it. I have wanted to be with you since forever. And I know I haven’t been the nicest person in the world, but i promise to never cheat on you or abuse you in any way Victor has. I can’t promise that we won’t fight, but I can promise that I will always love you.”He said. I was shocked, the one guy I’ve been in love with, loves me back.

“Cole, I love you too. I have loved you since, god, I can’t remember, but I know it’s been like ages.”  I cry, with a bit of a laugh.

“Diana, will you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?’ He asks. Yes! But, wait, I can’t I moving to Australia, and I’m not doing a long distance relationship.

“I would love to.” I start to say, which makes him have a huge smile on his face. “ But, I can’t” And just like that, the smile is gone.

“I know I’m going to sound like a baby but, why? If you love me, then why can’t we?” He asks with pure sadness in his voice and I think if you look closely he has tears in his eyes. I’m hurting him. 

“I’m moving, and I can’t do the long distance thing.” 

“To Australia with the company?” He asks with, I think a hint of hope in his voice.

“Yeah, why?’ I ask with confusion.

“My mom asked me if I wanted to go and I said I would think about it. Diana I can go to, we can be together.” 

“Then yes, Cole, I would love to be your girlfriend.” And just like that his smile is back. He comes over to me and kisses me again, and this time it’s full of way more love.

“Let’s stay here.” He spits out after our kiss. I give him the are you crazy look and then ask what.” We can go to the store and get more stuff to be prepared for this storm and you and I can stay here till our two months are over. Lacie and Victor can go home though.” Wow, that actually sounds perfect.

“I would love to.” I say with a huge smile on my now red face.

“Great, and no matter what happen to us, you will always be my fire in this snowstorm of life.” Ahhh, my cheesy man.But I guess I am his fire in his snowstorm since I’m really red and there’s a lot of snow here in Alaska.