Walking through the Fire

Chapter Four

Delilah squinted in the sunlight outside, as she continued to walk alongside Jasper. Delilah was musing over what to say, when he interrupted the silence first.

"What do you do for fun?" Jasper asked, turning his head to look at her as they walked towards the fields. Delilah was startled at first by the question, but found that the answer came to her easily.

"I like to play the piano, hang out with my best friend Charlie, swim, spend time with my family, and just spend time outside, walking actually while listening to music." Delilah responded, as they started down a concrete flight of stairs that lead to the lower field. Jasper smiled,

"Same - I love walking and listening to music, I think it's the perfect way to start the day." Jasper and Delilah started to walk across the field, as the sun continued to shine down on them.

"Is that what you were doing this morning?" Delilah asked, as Jasper stopped at the edge of the lower field, which had a small bank where he indicated for them to sit. He sat down first, and crossed his long legs, and leaned back onto the bank, smiling up at Delilah. She copied him and sat half a metre away, also crossing her own legs but not leaning back. She could see why he liked this spot, they were overlooking the small lake that the school backed on to; Lake Tawera. She squinted again, and could make out a couple who seemed to be out on the lake, kayaking and laughing.

"It was, I walk to school every morning. I find it settles me a bit, helps me get ready for the day." Jasper responded, shrugging as he answered. Delilah turned slightly so she was facing away from the lake, but able to make eye contact with Jasper, who she noticed was staring at her quite directly. His green eyes seemed to be magnified by the lush green grass of the field, and Delilah couldn't help but think that Jasper Mace was a heartbreaking kind-of-good-looking. Delilah began to play with a blade of grass, as she looked at the lake and asked,

"So, what do you do for fun?"

Jasper chuckled, and responded,

"I thought you would never ask. Well, walking like I said, and soccer, of course, and I really love watching old movies."

Delilah glanced back at him, and said,

"Old movies?"

"Yeah, weirdly enough. Growing up, I would always watch them with my parents, and now it's become both a tradition and a comfort of mine." Jasper said, as he sat up slightly, and leaned back on his arms. He stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles, as Delilah turned back to the happy, laughing couple on the lake.

"We should watch one sometime, I think you would enjoy it." Jasper said, watching Delilah's face and enjoying the slow spread of red across her nose and cheeks. Delilah simply nodded in response, wondering on what planet Jasper Mace would want to watch a movie with her. She tried not to get ahead of herself, and decided to finally voice the thought that had been lingering in her mind since Jasper sat down at the table with her in the cafeteria.

"You know, I am perfectly fine, you don't have to feel...weirdly responsible for checking in on me, just because you saw me almost get in a car accident today." Delilah's voice started out strong with the beginning of her sentence, but she found her voice trailing off as she finished voicing her thought. Jasper burst out laughing, which was so unexpected for Delilah, that she snapped her head to face him again, and found him rolling on to his side towards her, closing the gap between them slightly. Jasper, still laughing, said,

"Well, I appreciate you releasing me of my duty-bound responsibility to - what did you say? - check in on you, but did it ever occur to you that maybe I just wanted to enjoy your company?" he asked, sitting up now so he was directly facing her, with his legs crossed. Delilah was very aware that their faces and bodies were even closer now, and she felt her breath hitch slightly. She could feel the warmth from his body coming off him in waves, and she could clearly smell his cologne - which was a musky scent with hints of caremlised sugar and wood.

"But...why?" Delilah asked, finding it hard to tear her brown eyes from Jasper's green. Jasper half-shrugged and grinned,

"Does there have to be a reason?" Jasper asked, "How about, I have noticed you for a while, and it seemed your near-accident was a good excuse to finally have a conversation?"

Delilah felt her stomach doing cartwheels as she mulled over what Jasper had just said, I have noticed you for a while, with her brain naturally emphasizing the word noticed. She looked at Jasper again, and noticed he had a small smile on his face, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. That was the second time in one day that she thought he could do that, but that was not possible - people couldn't read each other's minds. Realizing he was waiting for her to say something, Delilah opened her mouth, but was interrupted by her phone frantically vibrating in her pocket.

"Hold that thought." Delilah sighed, as she reached into her bomber jacket pocket and pulled out her phone. Delilah was not even surprised, of course it was Charlie. Delilah answered the call and quickly scrambled to her feet so that she could put a bit of distance between herself and Jasper - not that it would help, Charlie was always loud and clear, even through a phone.

"Um, where are you?!" Charlie shrilled over the phone, and Delilah could hear the excited energy in her best friend's voice. Instantly, it was like Delilah was out of her body and somehow standing right in front of Charlie. Charlie had gotten changed early; she was wearing her gray trackpants and a hoodie over top, with the hoodie zipped open, so Delilah could see Charlie's navy blue one-piece swimsuit. Charlie's bright red hair had been swept up into a ponytail, and Charlie was leaning against the library building. And just as suddenly as Delilah was in front of Charlie, Delilah was back in her own body on the field. Delilah felt herself stumble backwards with a jolt, but before she could hit the ground, two very capable hands and a strong, broad chest, caught her. Delilah leaned back, and looked up to see Jasper, looking down at her curiously.

"Woods? Hello? Woods, are you there?! Earth to Woods?" came a loud voice, and Delilah realized that she was still holding the phone up to her ear.

"Let me call you back, one sec." Delilah said, hanging up her phone as Charlie was responding.

"Are you okay?" Jasper asked, as Delilah regained her footing and took a step away.

"I'm fine, I have to go. Thanks for that." Delilah said, as she rushed over to pick up her bag and started to stride away. Jasper easily caught up to her, and stood in front of Delilah, making her stop.

"Not so fast Delilah, I need your number." Jasper said, that easy smile back on his face.

"So we can organize a time to watch an old movie, remember?" Jasper prompted, when Delilah made no move to respond.

"Right." Delilah said, as Jasper passed her his phone and she gave him hers. They each put in their own numbers and handed back the respective phones.

"Now please, try and make it back to the main school grounds in one piece. You seem accident-prone, Delilah." Jasper said, as he winked and started to make his way across the other side of the field. Delilah watched him for a second, but was interrupted again by her phone buzzing. It was Charlie, again, which made Delilah roll her eyes. Delilah answered,

"Just stay where you are, I will be there in less than a minute." And with that she hung up again, and rushed towards the library, weirdly hoping that was not where Charlie would be.

As she got closer, a weird feeling started to seep through her body, as she started to make out the clear body shape of her best friend. There was Charlie, in her tracksuit, with her navy blue swim suit, and her hair in a pony tail, leaning against the library building. Delilah stopped in her tracks, as Charlie saw Delilah, and started to jog over.

How is this even possible? Delilah thought to herself.