Burning For You

Windows and Wardrobes

"Well, I originally thought I'd ask your parents if I could take you out. But then your dad answered the door," Ezra chuckled.

"Yeah, well done. You’ve ruined the tiny social life I had," Lari sighed.

"Hey, don't be like that. Come with me." Ezra held out his hand as if she were meant to take it—as if she could just run away from her problems.

"I... I can't just jump out my window." Lari crossed her arms.

"Why not? It's not like he's so drunk he’ll notice." Ezra raised a daring brow.

"I don't like trouble."

"And?"

"You're trouble." Lari bit her lip, contemplating going with him.

"Come on, I’m not that bad. I can see it on your face—you hate being here."

Lari stepped away from the window, grabbed her phone and shoved it into her shorts pocket.

"I have no money." She turned back to him—black curls, dark chocolate eyes.

"Good thing I do."

"I have no way to get home."

"I have a car." He rolled his eyes.

"Why do you want to hang out with me?"

Ezra didn’t have a ready reply for that. Or if he did, he didn’t feel like sharing.

"Whatever. If you wanna sit and have a pity party..." He shrugged and turned to leave.

"Fine! I’ll come!" Lari checked her bedroom door—it was locked—then turned the light on before carefully climbing out the window.

"It’s a nice view from here," Ezra teased from the ladder below.

"Just hurry up. He might see us."

Lari scurried down after him and followed him to a black BMW.

"This Daddy's car?" she joked as she got in.

"No. Birthday present for my sixteenth." He smirked.

"Must be nice to have rich parents."

Ezra didn't reply when he saw the sadness well in her eyes. He just started the car and drove off.

"So, where are we going?"

"Where do you want to go?"

Lari shrugged.

"We'll just go back to my place for a bit."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. No one else is home right now anyway—not that my family would mind."

Lari scoffed under her breath, as if his family wouldn’t mind him bringing home a stray for a charity project.

"Is he always like that?"

"Huh?" Lari blinked, pulled from her thoughts.

"Your dad. Is he always a drunk arsehole?"

Lari nodded. "Yeah. Anywhere outside of ten in the morning to four in the afternoon."

"Why do you put up with it?"

"Do you always ask people so many questions?" Lari turned the music up.

They arrived at Ezra’s house a while later. Lari silently trudged in behind him, unsure what to do with her hands or face.

Ezra threw himself onto the couch and turned the TV on. "What do you like? Comedy, horror, drama?"

"Horror." Lari perched awkwardly on the edge of the couch.

"You can relax, you know," Ezra said, eyeing her stiff posture.

"I'm trying." Lari rolled her eyes.

Ezra put on The Conjuring, then disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a bowl of microwave popcorn. He offered it to her casually. She took a small handful.

"You're so timid now," he mused.

"Yes, well, I am in your house. Alone."

"You say that like I'm dangerous."

"You could be."

"Then why would I save you from Silas?"

"Seriously, why the f**k do you even care?" Lari snapped, shifting to face him fully, daring him to answer.

"I honestly don't know. You just seem very... interesting."

Lari’s blood boiled. "Well, thanks for letting me participate in this social experiment!" She stood to leave.

But he caught her hand. His firm grip froze her.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just meant—you’re an interesting person. I don't meet many girls like you. I just wanted to get to know you. Christ, is that okay?"

Lari slowly sat back down. "Sorry. I'm just used to being right about doubting people’s intentions." She stared at the floor.

Ezra went to reply, but before he could, Lari’s phone rang. She looked at the caller ID, and her hand shook as she answered.

"Hello?"

Ezra couldn’t make out the words, but whoever was on the line was yelling.

"I'm sorry! I'll come back right now," she pleaded as tears started rolling down her face. "No! No, please, Dad, you know I have nowhere—No, I can't just—No!"

The line went dead.

"f**k!" She screamed into her hands.

Ezra scooted closer, wanting to comfort her but unsure how. "What happened?"

"Dad’s kicked me out. Said he’s not letting me take anything. He even wants the phone back." Her voice stumbled. "I shouldn’t have come out with you. Now I have nowhere."

"Look, you can stay with me till Millie gets back. Then we'll sort something out." Ezra’s voice softened—gentler than she’d ever heard.

His dark eyes softened as he pulled her into his chest and ran a hand through her bright auburn hair.

"I can’t expect Millie’s family to just take me in," Lari gasped.

"Let’s not worry yet, okay? It’s summer. No parental rules. Let’s just... chill."

"Maybe you live in some fantasy world, but I don’t."

"If Millie’s family really can’t take you, I’m sure my parents wouldn’t mind. We’ve got a granny flat you could stay in."

"You're touched in the head." Lari let out a strangled laugh.

"I'm not. It'll be fine."

"I have no clothes," she sniffed.

"You can buy some."

"I have no money."

"But I do."

"Don't be f*****g stupid," she hiccuped.

"I'm not. I’ve got savings. And if you don’t want to buy anything, my sister left heaps of her clothes when she moved out last year."

Lari looked at him properly then. Wide brown eyes. Heavy lashes. Steady. He was serious. He was telling the truth.

"I don’t understand," she whispered, breathing beginning to slow.

"Me either." He smirked—that stupid smile.

"Are you sure she won’t mind?"

Ezra laughed. "She has a whole new wardrobe. Take whatever you want."

They stood in a walk-in wardrobe overflowing with skirts, dresses, blouses, shorts, jeans, sweaters, shoes—every colour and style.

"I'm just gonna grab some pyjamas," Lari muttered, finding the section and plucking out a silk set.

"Okay. I’ll wait in the lounge," Ezra said awkwardly before leaving.

Lari slipped into the silky fabric, feeling like an imposter. Standing before the mirror, she pulled her hair out of its high ponytail and let it fall around her shoulders.