Wren

I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy waking up next to Huxley. It was every dream I had as a teenager come true. He made me breakfast, spent the day with me. He made me feel special, important. Part of me wondered why I kept pushing him away, fighting this thing between us. As much as I hated to admit it, I knew he was right. I know that no other man will ever effect me the way he does. I'll never feel what I do for him for someone else.

But I still don't know if I can trust him. I want to, I really do. But part of me thinks that if I give in, let him have my heart, if he hurts me again I won't be able to survive it. The pain would be all consuming, overwhelming. I'd never be the same person again.

That thought is what makes me keep him at an arm's length for the next two months. We spend time together, building a friendship. He seems frustrated at times, but he seems to realize that years worth of pain can't be erased in only a few weeks. He is respectful of my boundaries, but whenever we spend time together I feel my walls falling more and more.

I have a terrible night's sleep, so I decide to head to the diner early. My college aged help is back at school, so I work breakfast as well as lunch. Waking up early is fine, I decide. I can help Jim get ready for the morning rush.

I drag myself out into the cold, dark morning, shivering a little as the icy tendrils of wind float across my skin. I pull on my gloves, smirking at the thought of plastering my cold hands against Huxley. He hates it, I know, but he lets me do it anyway. The diner already has a faint glow of light from the back and I smile to myself, yawning a little as I push open the door. Jim pokes his head out from the kitchen and gives me a curious look.

"Morning, sweetie. You're here early." He says and I nod.

"Couldn't sleep. Figured I'd make myself useful." I say and he gives me a warm smile.

"You work too hard, honey. Why don't you take a few days off?" He asks and I shake my head.

"There's no where I'd rather be than right here with you." I say with a bright smile and he chuckles.

"Come here." He says, waving me towards him. He opens his arms for me and I practically launch myself at him. The fatherly embrace is something I've been missing since my parents flew south for the winter. He gives me an affectionate peck on the head before pulling away to look at me.

"You're so young, Wren. It's ok to live your life." He says and I give him a sad smile.

"I don't know what I want that to be." I say and he chuckles a little, tugging on the hair in my ponytail.

"I think we both know what you want. You're just nervous to admit it. I understand that. Just don't waste too much more time. We only get so much of it." He says and I blink back tears before nodding.

"You're right." I say and he barks out a laugh, giving me a pat on the back.

"Of course I am! With age comes widom so I should have a shit ton of it." He says making me giggle.

"I'm gonna go get the front ready." I say, hugging him again before heading out.

"Alright. I'm gonna get some pancakes going. That new recipe is selling like crazy." He says and I smile back at him.

"It's Huxley's recipe." I say and he chuckles, shaking his head.

I head out to the front and start to flip the chairs off the tables, making a mental list of everything I need to do. Fill the salt and pepper shakers, order more flour, proof the new menus before I get them printed.

The next moment I'm forcibly propelled off of my feet, landing on the ground and sliding until my head smacks into the wall. My brain becomes fuzzy as I lift my head gingerly, groaning at the pain as I try to understand what's happening. My eyes move around the diner until they reach the kitchen. Flames are barreling through the small window opening and I gasp in shock, pushing myself to my feet.

"Jim!" I cry, limping towards the door and pushing it open.

My eyes widen in horror at the scene.

The oven is in pieces, flames licking out of it and up the walls. The sound is overwhelming, like the roaring of a lion as I try to locate Jim. Smoke is filling the small space, but I hear a pained moan from the other side of the room. The shelving system fell in the explosion, food and supplies littering the ground. I try to climb over the shelving, but it's hot to the touch. I hiss at the pain in my hands as I try to go around it, coughing and sputtering as the smoke fills my lungs.

"Jim!" I croak out again. I see his foot twitch, but he makes no other movement or sound.

My heart is beating frantically in my chest, my eyes watering from fear and smoke as I push through the debris trying to get to him. I try to push the boxes out of the way, but my strength is waning. I catch sight of him, his head covered in blood and his arm laying at an awkward angle. I scream his name again, but it comes out more of a cry as I frantically throw things out of the way.

Just as I clear a path, I hear a horrific creaking sound. I look up and gasp as fear takes over me. I watch with horror as the ceiling begins to collapse. A mess of plaster, insulation, boards and dust begin to fall on top of me. I lift my arms to protect my head as I watch a piece fall on Jim. I let out a pained cry, as I realize he make no movements to free himself. I reach for him, pushing through the new obstruction, laying on my stomach to crawl towards him. Another snapping sounds rings out from above me and I look up, watching as if in slow motion a beam falls, crushing my leg.

I cry out in pain, trying to push it off of me but it's too heavy. My breathing comes in pants as smoke and dust fill the space. I cough harshly, trying to breathe but I feel like I can't catch my breath. My strength gives out and my body collapses backwards, laying on the ground as I fade from conciousness, staring up at the morning sky through the hole in my ceiling.