𝔸𝕕𝕦𝕝𝕥 𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 // Weston Koury

Fire

Spring was climbing up to summer, and my life had become too good to be true. 

On Friday, exactly a week ago now, we'd had our first date. Although we hadn't really had an official second date, I was on better terms with Weston than ever before. No jealousy, no miscommunication and no bitterness. 

When we'd both woken up that sunny evening on the grass after falling asleep together, we'd had a sleepy walk home under the sunset and I'd stayed up late that night in my room just writing and writing in my diary. I hadn't known what else to do, I couldn't sleep.

That weekend Weston, Olivia, Sam, Kalynn and I spent the entire time in the flat working all day and all night on a plan for our next project. We worked through midnight, hunched over the kitchen table drinking late night coffees and arguing over the themes and storyboarding and song and locations for the music video. We had fun, anyway. 

I loved being back in the group and I knew Weston did, too. When I'd look over at him he was always joking around, grinning that boyish grin or throwing his head back laughing at something stupid. He was so animated and bright, holding everyone's attention no matter how exhausted we all were. I couldn't believe it - how he could so easily hold anyone's attention, but when everyone else went to sleep he saved all his for me.

Most days for the rest of the week Weston and I walked to college together. When there wasn't a class to go to, we'd walk to the library to work all day even though neither of us really had that much to do at this point. There was an unspoken agreement that it was just somewhere to go to be in eachother's presence. If we weren't distracting each-other from our work with stories and jokes and deep conversations, I'd been doing the least efficient work of my life, stealing glances at him and smiling to myself. 

Last night I couldn't sleep and I'd knocked on Weston's door around half eleven. He'd been awake at his desk, playing some game online. I'd sat down on his bed cross legged and listened to him explain the game before watching him play it for a while. We talked and talked and eventually went out to get pizza, walking the long way home under the streetlights.

"We've eaten too much takeout." Weston declared today while we left the library. I had art class now, and had asked him to walk me there. He'd agreed.

"Too much takeout? Not a thing." I asserted, adjusting my backpack. "It's only been... three days in a row, now, I don't see a problem."

"It's great and all, but I'm personally running out of money. Aren't you? Or do you have a secret trust fund?" he poked me, and I slapped his hand away.
"Hey! It's worth being broke for constant veggie burgers!"
"Maybe, but, I'm making you dinner tonight. What's your favourite meal?"
I couldn't hold my grin in. "You're making me dinner?"
"Yes. What'll it be? Actually, I'll surprise you. You'll love it. I'm a great chef."

I laughed, unsure if he was joking but over the moon at the thought of coming home from class to have dinner with him. He was making me dinner, I didn't think the world could possibly feel any brighter than it did right then, as we approached the door to the art building, that thought in my mind.

We said goodbye and he pulled me into a hug before leaving.

"Don't burn the house down!" I called after him, and he turned to shake his head at me.
"As if!"

Art class couldn't have felt any longer. It dragged, and the thought of seeing Weston again interrupted my stream of consciousness again and again. When it ended, I walked home faster than ever.

As I approached our flat's building, I noticed that a lot of people were gathered outside. As I got closer, I realised it was everyone inside. I pulled my headphone out, pushing through the crowd to see if anyone was around.

"What happened?" I asked a girl who had glanced me up and down. 
"Fire. Not a drill this time, I guess." She shrugged, taking an uninterested drag from her cigarette.

I pushed forward through the crowd, looking around for any of our housemates.

I saw Weston on his own, kicking a pebble against the wall. He was wearing smart trousers, a button up shirt over a t-shirt and a nice looking brown jacket I hadn't seen before. 

"You look nice." I told him. "You burnt down the flat with your cooking, didn't you?"
"No..." He said, glancing side to side. "...Yes."

I laughed at him, leaning against the wall next to him. He leaned against the wall next to me, turning his head towards mine. "It was barely a fire." He explained. "The pan just got a bit... well, anyway... it was just a lot of smoke, nobody even died, the fire alarm was being so dramatic."

The fire alarm stopped, someone appeared from the doorway to announce that nothing was on fire, and people immediately started pooling back into the building.

"Thanks, anyway." I smiled at him. "I'm eating the delicious meal in spirit. But I am still hungry."
"Takeout?" He suggested, pulling his car keys out.
"Takeout."

We walked side by side to his car.

"So, I look 'nice', huh?" Weston pushed as we walked.

"You know you do." I told him, surprising myself with my forwardness. "It's a nice outfit."

He did a little spin to show it off, making me laugh.

"What was it anyway?" I asked as I got into the car.
"What was what?" he smiled, putting his seatbelt on.
"The fire you made f- I mean, the meal you made for me?"
"Aubergine steak."
"Seriously?" I asked him.
"Seriously!" He confirmed, putting the car into gear and turning to reverse, resting his hand on my car seat headrest. 
"Aubergine steak. Sounds... erm, not like steak."
"Hey! I don't know how to cook for a vegan, I thought I'd get creative!" 

"No, that is actually sweet, anyway." I told him. "Anything that isn't a side salad is great to me. I... appreciate the effort."

We talked the whole drive to a little pizza place, which was a little run down and cheap, but we had fun anyway. The whole time we just talked and laughed, and I felt unbelievably lucky to be there. 

The next morning, Weston woke me up by knocking on my door, before just letting himself in anyway.

I propped myself up on my elbows, yawning and blinking myself awake as he sat on the edge of my bed.

"Hi." He smiled.

"Good morning Wes. Very early morning, by the way. What is it, seven?" I asked, leaning across to grab some water from my bedside table.

"Eight. And I've been up since seven packing anyway." He said, and I suddenly realised that today was the day we'd all planned to leave for the road trip and start the project.

"Shit, already?" I facepalmed.
"You're not excited?!" He looked betrayed.
"I am, I am, I'm just not prepared!"
"Well, get prepared Anais." He got up, putting his hands on his hips. "I'll help you pack."
"Nope, you are not going through my things." I ordered, pulling my duvet off and getting to my feet, adjusting the shorts I'd slept in. "I can pack myself."

Although he insisted, I kicked him out of my room and rushed my packing. I packed shorts, t-shirts , my cap and sunglasses into my duffle bag for the hot weather. It was gonna be a good day.

A/N:

Please check out the pinterest board I made for this book! Love yall. DM any requests for scenarios etc. 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/Drunk_In_LA/adult-diversion/