Just Friends

The party was going great. Inside, people were dancing and hanging out by the food, as teenagers always do. Outside, a fire had been started and was burning merrily. Caitlyn sat down by the fire to warm her chilly fingers. This is exactly what I needed after this week, a good time out with friends, with no worries.

“Hey Dylan, how are you?” Caitlyn smiled at the smartly dressed kid next to her. She hadn’t really spoken to him in awhile. Their friend circles were vastly different, but he was a nice guy.

The one thing Caitlyn really liked about winter was the snow. The sparkling, beautiful, peaceful, and perfect snow always seemed to make her day. However, there was none. Today was just cold… miserably cold, bitterly cold. She shivered in her thin cardigan. Although she had taken a special care to dressing tonight, she forgot to take into account the freezing temperatures. Dressed in a sheer lilac blouse and blue jeans, her favorite pair of black boots, and a light cardigan, she felt free and happy… until she stepped outside.

“I’ve been pretty good. Not so good sometimes, but pretty good nonetheless. You know how it is.” Dylan grinned wryly at her, showing his pearly whites.

Caitlyn raised her eyebrows briefly, and then laughed aloud. “I suppose I should.” She took a moment to stare at the fire. The flames danced brightly, flickering amber. She shivered again. I wonder what’s going through his head…

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Dylan scrutinized Caitlyn for a moment. She looked prettier than usual. It was obvious she had dressed more carefully than usual. For what reason, Dylan could not possibly fathom.

“And how have you been, Caitlyn?” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He had unintentionally, but all too obviously broken her train of thought. He watched her shiver so slightly but uncontrollably. He felt the sudden urge to remove his warm coat and give it to her; she looked so cold. I can’t do that; people will think I like her. So what’s stopping me? He pondered the thought for a second.

“I’ve been doing pretty well so far, school’s tough, but it always has been.” Caitlyn tried desperately to warm her hands in the fire. “Oh, it’s freezing.”

That’s it. I don’t care what people think.

Dylan peeled his thick, warm coat off and draped it over her shoulders. With a warm smile he said, “I’m not that cold, you need it more than I do.”

Caitlyn was completely taken aback. They were in public, in the middle of a group of their friends. What was Dylan thinking? But the coat was too inviting. She gripped both sides and drew it close to her.

“Thank you.”

Clio apologizes for not writing for a long time. However, she has been busy with school and all the other wonderful things life has to offer (although it is not very apparent in her stories, Clios does have some sense of humor). This story is not finished (unless the readers want it to end here). Do comment and tell Clio what you think. Thank you for visiting The Three Muses.

~ Clio