simmingkatie writes

The storm from Glimmerbrook rolled slowly into the valley. Thunder rumbled, and the sky flashed as if full of fireworks.

Inside, the group gathered, unbothered by the angry weather outside. 

Javier’s hand was warm in his, a welcome heat. The air around them was filled with a chill and smelled of rain not long past. He stood close to his date, trying to stay warm. 

“Guess we should have brought coats, huh?” Javier asked, feeling Ian shiver against his shoulder. “I’m sorry about that. It’s not usually this cool this time of year. The rain must have brought it in.”

“It’s okay. You’re warm enough for the both of us,” Ian replied, smiling and cozying up closer to Javier’s shoulder. 

“Oh! Here it is!” Javier exclaimed, rushing ahead before spinning on his heel and striking a pose. “This is where I work! Granite Falls Police Station! I thought you’d like to see it. Want to come in and see my office?”

“Of course I do,” Ian said, longing for the warmth that the police station was sure to provide. Javier led him in to a small room, divided by a half wall. Behind the counter, a pretty young woman waved to him. On the other side of a half wall, a man and woman sat at desks facing each other. They were arguing about the woman’s lunch choices, by the sound of it. 

“That’s Greta. Over there are Steven and Lily. It’s not much, but it’s home. And this way is my office, come on. Being sheriff isn’t without its perks!”

They crowded into a cozy little room, the walls lined with books. Ian sank into the comfortable chair in front of the desk, and Javier took his spot behind it. 

“So, what do you think?” Javier asked, a grin on his face.

“It’s lovely, Javi. I can see why you love it so much.” Ian smiled back at him.

“Oh, this isn’t why. I’ll show you why.”

Javier led him back outside and onto the small dirt path they’d been walking earlier. After what felt like an eternity in the chilly air, the trees cleared. Ian gasped, his breath taken away. In front of them was a gorgeous, 50 foot high waterfall. How had he not heard it roaring as they approached? Lost in your own thoughts, he figured. 

“So?” Javier was looking at him expectantly.

“Javi it’s…. It’s absolutely amazing.” 

“My truck is right over here, if you want to hang out and watch it for awhile.” 

They settled into the bed of the old, blue Ford. A blanket was spread on the floor, and it was surprisingly warm in here, shielded from the breeze. 

After awhile, Javier finally seemed to get the courage to ask Ian a question. “So… Could you see yourself living here, do you think?” His voice was quiet, timid.

“Oh Javi… It’s beautiful here. I really do see why you chose to live here.” 

Javier’s face broke into a grin. Ian breathed a sigh of relief. 

He didn’t notice that wasn’t a real answer.

The theater felt too quiet. There should be people whispering, candy wrappers rustling. At least one person should be shushing everyone else.

Instead, there was silence. The quiet in the theater made the booming of the movie’s introduction that much louder. Ian jumped in his seat, startled. Robbi snickered beside him, and Ian stuck his tongue out at him. The tension was broken, and they began talking to each other in whispers. 

After a moment, Ian said “wait, why are we whispering?”

Robbi laughed. “Old habits die hard, I guess?”

The opening credits rolled, hushing them as effectively as any fellow movie go-er. Robbi had picked something scary, something Ian had never heard of. As the drama rose on the screen, Robbi hid his face in Ian’s shoulder. 

“Gosh, I don’t know why I always do this to myself!” He whispered. Ian chuckled. 

“Well, I could always distract you…”

They didn’t see much more of the movie.

Corey and Ian walk along the small dirt path, their hands intertwined. Corey is talking a mile a minute, but honestly Ian isn’t hearing much of what he’s saying. Instead, he’s watching. 

He’s watching the way Corey’s eyes shine with excitement, his lips as they pull into different shapes. He’s watching his hair, shining in the specks of sunlight coming down through the trees. He’s so beautiful, he thinks.

As they walk, the sky begins to darken. Thunder rumbles in the distance. 

“Is it supposed to rain today?” Corey asks. This time his lips form a frown, and this is what draws Ian’s attention to his words. 

“I don’t think so… but then, we are in Glimmerbrook. I didn’t think to check the weather here,” Ian responds, gazing up at the sky. As he does, a large drop of water smacks into his face, just below his eye. “Oh… guess that answers that. We’d better find some place to keep dry.”

But Corey has already come to this conclusion. He’s excited, pointing ahead of them. 

“Ian, look! A greenhouse! We can stay dry there. Plus, we’ll be able to see all the cool plants!” Corey is racing ahead, towards the greenhouse. 

Hope the owners don’t mind us taking shelter here, Ian thinks, following Corey into the glass building.

They are surrounded by gorgeous plants of all kinds. The air feels cleaner in here, but also humid. The windows are cracked open at the top, swinging outward. They allow the smell of the rain in, without actually letting the rain reach their occupants. 

Corey walks through the greenhouse, gazing at all the plants. 

“I’ll bet you didn’t know this, but I really love plants. Flowers, especially.”

The rain pounds on the glass roof, slides off the windows. Thunder crackles overhead. It’s beautiful in its own way. But it pales next to the man Ian shares the greenhouse with. Ian settles on the brick of the greenhouse floor, watching Corey wander through the plants. He can’t think of any thing more he’d rather be doing, any one he’d rather be trapped in this greenhouse with. Truthfully, he wouldn’t even mind being stuck out in the rain with him.

After he’s seen all there is to see, Corey joins Ian on the floor. 

“Sorry I didn’t check the weather. I guess this must really suck for you, huh?” Corey says, looking a little embarrassed. 

“What? No way. This is amazing. I like plants, too. I just have a black thumb. I’ve never been able to grow anything. Not to mention…. There’s some really great company in here.” He wraps his arm around Corey, gazing into his eyes and smiling. Corey’s face turns red, and if it’s even possible, Ian thinks it makes him that much more beautiful.

“Corey?”

“Hmmm?”

“Would you mind terribly if I kissed you right now?”

But he didn’t get the chance. Corey was already kissing him.

Corey and Ian walk along the small dirt path, their hands intertwined. Corey is talking a mile a minute, but honestly Ian isn’t hearing much of what he’s saying. Instead, he’s watching. 

He’s watching the way Corey’s eyes shine with excitement, his lips as they pull into different shapes. He’s watching his hair, shining in the specks of sunlight coming down through the trees. He’s so beautiful, he thinks.

As they walk, the sky begins to darken. Thunder rumbles in the distance. 

“Is it supposed to rain today?” Corey asks. This time his lips form a frown, and this is what draws Ian’s attention to his words. 

“I don’t think so… but then, we are in Glimmerbrook. I didn’t think to check the weather here,” Ian responds, gazing up at the sky. As he does, a large drop of water smacks into his face, just below his eye. “Oh… guess that answers that. We’d better find some place to keep dry.”

But Corey has already come to this conclusion. He’s excited, pointing ahead of them. 

“Ian, look! A greenhouse! We can stay dry there. Plus, we’ll be able to see all the cool plants!” Corey is racing ahead, towards the greenhouse. 

Hope the owners don’t mind us taking shelter here, Ian thinks, following Corey into the glass building.

They are surrounded by gorgeous plants of all kinds. The air feels cleaner in here, but also humid. The windows are cracked open at the top, swinging outward. They allow the smell of the rain in, without actually letting the rain reach their occupants. 

Corey walks through the greenhouse, gazing at all the plants. 

“I’ll bet you didn’t know this, but I really love plants. Flowers, especially.”

The rain pounds on the glass roof, slides off the windows. Thunder crackles overhead. It’s beautiful in its own way. But it pales next to the man Ian shares the greenhouse with. Ian settles on the brick of the greenhouse floor, watching Corey wander through the plants. He can’t think of any thing more he’d rather be doing, any one he’d rather be trapped in this greenhouse with. Truthfully, he wouldn’t even mind being stuck out in the rain with him.

After he’s seen all there is to see, Corey joins Ian on the floor. 

“Sorry I didn’t check the weather. I guess this must really suck for you, huh?” Corey says, looking a little embarrassed. 

“What? No way. This is amazing. I like plants, too. I just have a black thumb. I’ve never been able to grow anything. Not to mention…. There’s some really great company in here.” He wraps his arm around Corey, gazing into his eyes and smiling. Corey’s face turns red, and if it’s even possible, Ian thinks it makes him that much more beautiful.

“Corey?”

“Hmmm?”

“Would you mind terribly if I kissed you right now?”

But he didn’t get the chance. Corey was already kissing him.

Today’s post is late! 

I’ve written it, I’m taking screenies now.