Fire Always Burns - By Krista Lakes Page 0,52
started calling her name, choking on the haze surrounding the house. I couldn't leave her. She was probably terrified and running around trying to figure out what to do. I cursed silently in my head that I hadn't brought her in while I was gathering everything to go as I stepped off the wooden porch and started towards the trees lining the edge of the yard.
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Andrew looked around the high school. It seemed like everyone he had ever known was there, milling around the gymnasium and talking in hushed tones. He looked around for Holly, wondering what he was going to say when he saw her. There was no way she was going to leave him alone if she saw him first. She had texted him everyday, the same thing: I'm sorry. Please call me. He had ignored every single one.
Andrew felt a little guilty at ignoring her. The initial anger of finding out that she wasn’t who he thought had finally faded, but it was left with a cold apathy. The girl he loved was sweet and innocent, not some tramp who would sleep with anything that had a penis. She had changed in his eyes, and he didn't like the new girl he saw.
Andrew sat down with his back against the gym wall and watched as people moved and greeted one another. Ray waved to him as he sat down at a table and began talking with the other locals. Despite the fight with his mom, Andrew still liked Ray. He kept hoping they would work it out. There was free coffee and donuts in the cafeteria, and he considered getting up to get some. Breakfast had been a long time ago.
Audrey had woken him up early, the house still dark, after getting a phone call to evacuate. They had quickly packed what they could into their cars and headed to the high school. Audrey made sure Andrew was safe, and then headed to the clinic. The donuts were sounding better and better.
He was about to get up when he saw Louise sit on one of the band chairs people had dragged in, her belly swollen and pronounced. Andrew tried not to stare at her, but it was hard. How could she have done that to herself? He shook his head, pity lining his face. He felt so sorry for her, having to raise a child by herself. She looked so helpless. He stood up to get his donuts, and decided to ask if she wanted one as well. He made it three steps towards her before he stopped.
"I wasn't sure what you would like, and the book said you shouldn't have coffee, so I got you an orange juice. If you want apple, I bet I could find some."Jimmy Haskins knelt next to her with a juice and donuts, his face anxious as he handed her the food. Louise beamed at him, her smile transforming her face into a radiant beauty.
"Orange is perfect, Jimmy. Thank you. Come sit next to me and we'll split these donuts," she said. Jimmy's worried look disappeared instantly and he pulled up a chair as she began pulling the donuts in half. Andrew watched as the two of them laughed and fed one another donuts, their happiness pooling around them like sunshine.
Louise suddenly squeaked and put her hand on her belly, a look of surprise on her face. Jimmy moved closer to her, his worried, but she smiled and grabbed his hand putting it on his belly. Andrew watched as Jimmy's face filled with amazement and joy.
"He's kicking me! He's so strong! My little boy is going to be a football star!" Jimmy exclaimed. Delight poured out of him, as he kissed Louise, the two of them settling back into their happy bubble. Andrew found himself envying their happiness. The two of them radiated such a pure joy and hope for the future that Andrew actually wished he could share it. The thought caught him by surprise.
Andrew stood up and headed to the cafeteria, trying to figure out why he envied Louise and Jimmy. He certainly didn't want a kid yet. He wanted their happiness. Their certainty that the future was going to turn out right. It had to be an illusion. There was no way they could be that happy in that situation. Andrew picked up a couple donuts and a coffee and headed back to the gym, still keeping an eye out for Holly.
"Andrew," Louise called to him as he