R O L L E R C O A S T E R 

It's a cloudy day today, all gray skies accompanied by crisp cold air. It's finally beginning to feel like winter and I can't help but feel a bit sad about the loss of color. I miss the green leaves, the blue sky, and the general happy chatter of students but I suppose those things will come back after a while. Still, it's even more dreary when everyone is subdued and silent while they gather their clothes and warmth about them. I can't blame them though. I'm pretty focused on how cold I am too.

I should have brought a scarf, I think as I walk up the concrete steps. And gloves.

Breathing on my hands just doesn't work, but I'm distracted from the cold when I see him walking my way.

He must be on his way to meet his other friends. Oh.

.

.

He's getting closer.

Maybe I should say hi? Hm.

.

.

We're almost side by side.

"Where are you headed?" his voice says.

He's turned and he's walking with me. Suddenly.

Oh?

.

.

"I'm not really sure. Where are you headed?"

"Cafeteria? I'm not sure, either."

"Well then--"

.

.

And somehow we end up together at the same place, sitting alone and side by side.

.

.

"It's been pretty chilly lately, huh?"

"Yeah, a bit."

"Your hands are cold though." 

"How do you know? They could be warm!" I laugh.

"You're holding them together. That tells me you need a bit of warmth," he teases.

"Yeah, well." I shrug.

Then he's taking off his gloves and holding my hands, enveloping them with his own. His hands are bigger and it's like a furnace compared to my cold skin, which stings a little. It must be the shock of temperature, I figure. He rubs a thumb in circles across the back of my hand and breathes a little on them, and I watch his mouth part to release that puff of air. It seems like an eternity passed  by before he let go. 

"Better?" 

"Yeah, thanks."

He's grinning and we continue talking, cold air forgotten and just being together.

.

.

It was better than just better.

--

(Especially when the bell rang and he gently pushed my hands into his gloves.)

("I don't want you to be cold.")