• That night I checked on Zane to make sure he was ok and when he was fast asleep I went up stairs to my room leaving my door wide open to hear if he needed me and fell to sleep.

    The night was run by nightmares. Every time I woke up it would disappear but then when I would fall back to sleep again a new one would start up. It always started with Zane getting hurt then me then….him dying and me watching. It was horrible. But every time it was a different thing that killed us. The first time it was Scott. That was the worst one I had ever had. The second time, it was a tornado. The third time it was a zombie attack. I know weird and a Dawn of the Dead moment but it scared me. I had to watch him get ripped apart. I woke up crying the last time. I remember it clearly. We were standing beside the big tree laughing at something. Then in the distance we saw two people walking towards us. I frowned. It was Kendra and Grant. Kendra was wearing my white summer dress and Grant was wearing what Zane was wearing. I glanced over at Zane and he was frowning too.

    “Ollie,” Grant said his voice fading with the wind. It was strange and too sweet. “Come with me.” he reached his hand out and I frowned clearly wondering why their doing this.

    “Zane come here,” Kendra coed. We both walked forward and took their hands. Grant’s were warm and hot as I placed my cold one in his. They lead us out into the middle of the field then turned us to face each other. I tried to speak but I couldn’t. Zane and I stared at each other as Grant and Kendra circled around us. I looked behind Zane and saw Grant smiling wickedly. When I tried to move my feet they wouldn’t. Zane looked behind me and his eyes bulged into horror. He reached over and grabbed my hands and I held on as I knew what was coming. Grant lifted his knife above his head and I screamed but nothing came out as it raced toward Zane. At the moment it hit him something hit me searing pain down my back. I woke up in a cold sweat flinging myself up. I put my hand to my heart and tried to calm my breathing. I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. It was just a dream. It felt so real though. Kendra and Grant had stabbed us in the back. I looked at the clock and saw it was only 8 o’clock. I looked over and saw a little light coming through the cloudy sky but then it disappeared. I stood up and tip toed to the window. 5 inches of snow covered my car and the ground. I smiled. It was just lightly snowing now. I sighed and a cloud of breath formed on the window. Christmas Reindeer stood by in Mr. Roger’s yard with a Santa on a sled. Christmas would be here in a week and a half. I’m glad mom and dad will actually be home this time. Last year we went to Australia and it didn’t snow at all. They left me after we opened presents on Christmas morning. Actually we all went our separate ways. Even though I wanted to spend Christmas with them. But they will be home for it this year. And we will spend it with each other. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a black wool sweater. I went down stairs and saw Zane still sleeping with the curtains across the window. I went over to him and looked at his forehead. It was healing quickly but I need to get cream for it. I leaned over him and kissed his forehead softly. I put another cover on him and he groaned and turned on his side. I got my coat and wrapped myself up well before heading out. The 7’11 was only about a block away and seeing my car was covered in snow and probably wouldn’t start I decided just to walk.

    When I got in there I grabbed a tube of cream for Zane, a box of doughnuts, a bottle of soda, and snacks of all sorts and paid. I knew that if we got snowed in we would have to have food so I got everything I could. As I was getting closer to the house the wind picked up and snow started to pound down on me. I looked down shaking as I pushed my feet toward the house. I unlocked the door quickly and ran in shutting it. I sighed as I dropped the bags and peeled off my jacket, scarf and gloves. I kicked off my boots and went to the kitchen to put away the food. I sniffed my nose stuffy.

    “Where were you?” I turned around and saw Zane holding his side with a small smile on his lips. He had put his shirt back on.

    “I had to get some things. Are you hungry? I got doughnuts.” He grinned.

    “I love doughnuts,” I laughed but felt like I shouldn’t since he still looked pretty bad. His black and blue eye looked better but it was still swollen. He walked with a little limp as he went to the table where the doughnuts were. I grabbed the cream and went over to the table where Zane ate a doughnut. I dobbed a bit on my finger tip then looked down at him.

    “Look up,” I said and he did. I looked into his eyes for a moment seeing he could actually see with his black and blue eye. It was an intense gaze. There were no jokes or sarcastic moment, just a special one. One that explained how we were feeling. I looked away and put the cream on his cut and he winced a little. “How is your eye?” I asked quietly.

    “OK, I think.” He answered. I put the cap back on the cream. I went back over to the kitchen and put away the stuff then sat up on the counter and ate a granola bar. “I should probably call my mom.” Zane said standing up with a doughnut in his mouth. I nodded. “Maybe I should go home too.” he said with a frown. I frowned and stopped eating.

    “Zane what I—“

    “Its ok,” he came over to me and put his hand on my knee not really thinking. “It’s just…I don’t want him to hurt my mom.” I looked away. “Hey,” he said then rolled his eyes. He made me look at him. “Don’t worry. Seriously I’ll be better in no time. It might be the worst I’ve gotten but I’ll survive.”

    “For now,” I muttered. He clenched his teeth. “Zane if you don’t tell the cops I will.” I told him. He was biting his tongue I could tell.

    “Olivia you can’t.” I shook my head.

    “Why the hell not! You’re getting abuse by your mom’s boyfriend!” he put his doughnut down and I saw white powder on the edge of his mouth. I smiled lightly.

    “What?” he asked his voice anger. I snorted.

    “You have powder on you mouth.”

    “Oh,” he said his voice softer. He wiped his mouth but it didn’t come off. I laughed and he grew pink on the cheeks. I took a small towel from the sink and wiped the edge of his lip.

    “There, got it.” I smiled at him. He just laughed. He was closer to me now standing in between my legs and I felt heat run through me. He didn’t notice. I swallowed. I’m not sure how long I will be able to handle this. My hormones keep getting in the way of this fake relationship. I sighed and pressed my lips together.

    “Listen, I’ll call my mom and see how she is ok?” I nodded. He left the room and I took a deep breath. You like him. My mind told me. You really like him. I nodded. Yeah I do. I confirmed. Fireworks went off and cheering yelled in my head. I laughed a little. I jumped down off the counter and walked into the living. I flinched as I remember last night when he stumbled through the door. Zane was standing by the window looking out talking on the phone. “OK, well just stay there…..no I’m fine. You just stay at work until it passes…..good you’re with her……ok I’ll call you tomorrow.” his voice was soft and caring and I realized how he was sweet with his mom. More then any boy I had ever met. He hung up and turned around to me. “My mom got stuck at work and if staying tonight till the snow is over,” he said.

    “Is she ok?” I asked. He nodded.

    “Yeah, Scott hasn’t been over.” I nodded.

    “Are you staying?” I asked quietly. He sighed and looked out the window at his car.

    “Yup.” He announced seeing his car pilled up to the windows in snow. I laughed. “I think we’re snowed in.” he said and I laughed.

    “I’m glad we got food.” he nodded. I stared out a moment thinking of something special to me.

    “There is this great place I know of. It’s up around the mountains somewhere. My grandma used to take me up there and we would stay for a week or two on holidays when my parents went away. It was always so beautiful in the winter.” I said with a smile thinking.

    “You? No way! A county girl?” I looked at him and smirked.

    “Sort of,”

    “What happened to your grandma?” I looked over at him and shrugged.

    “She died a couple years ago and left the cabin to me.” he raised an eyebrow.

    “Sweet!” I laughed.

    “Yeah it’s cool.”

    “Want to watch a movie?” he asked with a smile. I smiled back.

    “Yeah,”

    I put the fire on and sat down on the couch. Zane started a movie and he came and sat right close to me. I don’t think he even noticed but I did. Our arms were touching. I wanted to hold his hand so bad. It was almost hurting me not too. Ignore it Olivia ok. He doesn’t like you that way. I nodded to myself and watched the movie.