was thankful for Zander’s steady hand on my back as it was, no doubt, the only reason I hadn’t fallen flat on my butt. My heart beat rapidly in my throat, as I looked around. Everyone seemed to be okay, though they were all equally shaken. A few had even started heading toward the door.
All at once, the sky began wavering like hot asphalt on a summer day and softened to a milky white glow. All trace of the massive primary flare began to melt away. The colors moved organically, like a school of fish weaving around obstacles. Bursts of soft orange slid languidly through the buttery yellows, before spattering and spreading like huge raindrops.
The twisted spokes of orange and umber danced and rippled, before slowly building into a cresting wave of red and purple. I was transfixed, unable to bring myself to look away from whatever cosmic artist was sliding these colors around on his canvas. I felt Zander's gaze shift towards me every few minutes, but avoided his eyes, unwilling to let myself get lost again in their coppery depths.
Not part of the plan , I reminded myself. That’s right, just focus on the pretty colors.
After what seemed like hours, the colors muted and slowly melted together. The heavenly artist had grown tired of his work and had seen fit to rinse it all away. What was left was a muddled backdrop of muted purples and blues, and for the first time that day, the sky sank into darkness.
Orange tracers lingered, but the stars were finally starting to peek through as a wavy jade ribbon swirled languidly across the sky, then another and another.
Each seemed to build off the one before it, rippling outward like a stone dropped into a pond. Their soft glow slowly faded as the rings expanded outward past the horizon. A sense of contentment settled over me and I smiled to myself.
Zander squeezed my hand and I squeezed back, instinctively leaning against his shoulder. He looked down into my eyes, smiled that crooked smile, and for a brief moment I felt at peace.
Chapter 7
Trapped
We had all seen something amazing that night and despite the heat, everyone seemed reluctant to walk away. Zander's fingers were still curled gently around mine and to my surprise I did not pull away when Riley and Micah approached us. The look in her eyes was practically screaming, I told you so .
“Was that not the most incredible thing you have ever seen?” Riley dragged Micah along by their intertwined hands, wiping sweat from her forehead. “It was even better than I thought it would be— totally worth the heat.”
“Yeah, it was actually really awesome ,” Zander said. He turned to Micah, smiling broadly, as they clapped hands. “Dude, thank you so much for inviting me. I am sorry I ever doubted you.”
His hand tightened around mine a little as he spoke and I felt my face heat. I silently blamed the sweltering temperature on the hot tar rooftop. Still, I found myself staring down at my feet, shuffling a few loose pebbles with the toe of my boot.
“Okay, so, I don't know about you guys, but I am roasting,” Riley chirped, pulling her phone from her pocket. “Jesus! It’s one hundred and two degrees you guys. Let's get inside before we melt.”
I was suddenly very aware of just how much I was currently sweating. My thin black racer-back clung to my stomach, and my jeans were rubbing uncomfortably against my sweaty hips. The heat was so heavy it pulsed like a living thing. A rogue bead of sweat rolled quickly down dip in the center of my back. My skin
All at once, the sky began wavering like hot asphalt on a summer day and softened to a milky white glow. All trace of the massive primary flare began to melt away. The colors moved organically, like a school of fish weaving around obstacles. Bursts of soft orange slid languidly through the buttery yellows, before spattering and spreading like huge raindrops.
The twisted spokes of orange and umber danced and rippled, before slowly building into a cresting wave of red and purple. I was transfixed, unable to bring myself to look away from whatever cosmic artist was sliding these colors around on his canvas. I felt Zander's gaze shift towards me every few minutes, but avoided his eyes, unwilling to let myself get lost again in their coppery depths.
Not part of the plan , I reminded myself. That’s right, just focus on the pretty colors.
After what seemed like hours, the colors muted and slowly melted together. The heavenly artist had grown tired of his work and had seen fit to rinse it all away. What was left was a muddled backdrop of muted purples and blues, and for the first time that day, the sky sank into darkness.
Orange tracers lingered, but the stars were finally starting to peek through as a wavy jade ribbon swirled languidly across the sky, then another and another.
Each seemed to build off the one before it, rippling outward like a stone dropped into a pond. Their soft glow slowly faded as the rings expanded outward past the horizon. A sense of contentment settled over me and I smiled to myself.
Zander squeezed my hand and I squeezed back, instinctively leaning against his shoulder. He looked down into my eyes, smiled that crooked smile, and for a brief moment I felt at peace.
Chapter 7
Trapped
We had all seen something amazing that night and despite the heat, everyone seemed reluctant to walk away. Zander's fingers were still curled gently around mine and to my surprise I did not pull away when Riley and Micah approached us. The look in her eyes was practically screaming, I told you so .
“Was that not the most incredible thing you have ever seen?” Riley dragged Micah along by their intertwined hands, wiping sweat from her forehead. “It was even better than I thought it would be— totally worth the heat.”
“Yeah, it was actually really awesome ,” Zander said. He turned to Micah, smiling broadly, as they clapped hands. “Dude, thank you so much for inviting me. I am sorry I ever doubted you.”
His hand tightened around mine a little as he spoke and I felt my face heat. I silently blamed the sweltering temperature on the hot tar rooftop. Still, I found myself staring down at my feet, shuffling a few loose pebbles with the toe of my boot.
“Okay, so, I don't know about you guys, but I am roasting,” Riley chirped, pulling her phone from her pocket. “Jesus! It’s one hundred and two degrees you guys. Let's get inside before we melt.”
I was suddenly very aware of just how much I was currently sweating. My thin black racer-back clung to my stomach, and my jeans were rubbing uncomfortably against my sweaty hips. The heat was so heavy it pulsed like a living thing. A rogue bead of sweat rolled quickly down dip in the center of my back. My skin
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