She walked me home that night.
We strolled through the city, nearly shoulder to shoulder, until we reached my rundown neighborhood. A bag of pharmaceutical supplies in one hand, the other stuffed into her jacket pocket.
"You can leave me here." I rushed in front of her. We stopped at the bottom of the hill that lead to my house. I couldn't risk having my Aunt catch her if I was spotted sneaking back in. I'd die right there and then of total humiliation. "You should head to a hospital."
"I'll be fine." Erin dabbed the flesh colored band-aid on her cheekbone and smirked. "I've had worse scrapes than this."
"But what if it scars," I reached for her cheek without even thinking. My fingers brushed her hand, sparking chills up my arm. Her smirk disappeared.
"It might," she whispered. Her expression had hardened. I didn't even realize her hand had slipped out of her jacket pocket until she reached up to snatch mine. "I guess you'll have to make it up to me."
My heart jumped. "O-Of course," I stuttered. "Anything you want."
"Anything?"
"Anything." I insisted. I practically owed her my life.
She leaned in closely and whispered, "Saturday."
"What?"
"Spend Saturday with me."
I blinked, confused.
"You said you weren't like all those girls at the club," she lowered my hand and inched closer. Her breath warmed my face. "Prove it."
Hazel eyes bore into me as pale pink lips closed in on mine. I didn't know how to react. How to respond. So I closed my eyes. Expecting her to take the lead.
Then she snorted.
"Save the date." I opened my eyes to a smile before she backed away. "Get home safe,"
She turned around and left with that.
I watched her figure disappear into the night, wishing she'd circle back to stay a minute longer instead. But after she turned a corner, all hope died.
Groaning, I moved ahead and trudged uphill.
Snow piled heavily on the streets. My limbs were numb. It was unbearably painful to walk on frozen toes. But strangely enough, all the places she touched were incredibly warm.