Falling For Fire

by Talia Jager

  “Sure.” I smiled. “When?”

  “How about tomorrow night?”

  “I get off work about seven.”

  “I’ll meet you here.”

  “Okay.”

  He smiled and left the store, and I spun around and threw my wallet at Kailani.

  “What?” she yelled, laughing.

  “What was that?”

  “Setting you up on a date. You don’t have to marry the guy. Just go to dinner. Of course, if you do marry him, you could thank me by letting me be your maid of honor.”

  I laughed and rolled my eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.”

  I had high hopes for a relationship with Maleko. But even though he was a sweet guy, and I adored him, the spark I had hoped for wasn’t there.

  Many nights I still woke up after an image flashed in my mind of a guy I didn’t know. Who was he? The image never stayed long enough for me to really remember what he looked like.

  The winter in Hawaii didn’t get much cooler. The first few months of the year were the coldest, with highs about eighty.

  “I’d really like to go someplace where there’s a lot of snow,” I said to Kailani one night as we sat on the beach.

  “You and snow. I don’t think I’d do well there.”

  “You never know. Have you ever been?”

  “No.”

  “See. You have no idea.”

  “It snows here, up in the mountains.”

  Laughing, I said, “I’m talking about snow that reaches your knees and cold air that makes you feel alive.”

  “I don’t need cold air to feel alive.” Kailani arched an eyebrow.

  “It would be fun. Just the two of us on a girls’ vacation.”

  She sighed. “Maybe someday. Would cost a lot of money to go.”

  “We can save up. Let’s do that. We could save some money and take a vacation someplace where there’s a lot of snow. Would you go with me?”

  “Sure.” She shook her head. “Only I would find a friend who is obsessed with the cold.”

  The next month, I walked into Kailani’s shop on my day off.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Kailani said. “But we really need transportation to get there. You think you could handle a motorcycle for a short ride?”

  “Maybe.” I shrugged. “I’ve never been on one.”

  “I borrowed one. C’mon.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now.” She pulled me outside and over to a motorcycle and got on. “Get on the back.”

  I took a deep breath and did as she said. She started the bike up and pulled out of the spot. Soon we were flying down the highway. Thankfully I didn’t feel as drained as I did riding in a car. About fifteen minutes later, she pulled up in front of a building with a sign that said “Ice Castle.”

  My mouth fell open. “Ice-skating?”

  “Yeah. It just opened.”

  “You’re going to let me teach you?”

  “A deal is a deal.”

  I grabbed her hand and ran toward the building. Once inside, I dug out my wallet and paid the lady. I pulled Kailani inside and grabbed some skates. We were the only ones there so far, and I wanted to get out on the ice before anyone else.

  “These are tight!” she complained.

  “They need to be.” I turned to the rink. “Do you mind if I take a minute to brush up before your lesson?”

  “Not at all. Go for it.”

  The second I opened the door and the cold air rushed at me, tears sprang to my eyes. I reached down and touched the ice. I expected it to be freezing, but it just felt good. I took a deep breath and stepped in. My feet took over, and before I knew it, I was gliding across the ice doing turns and jumps. After a few minutes, I skated over to the door and opened it.

  A crowd of people stood there with shocked looks on their faces, including Kailani. My cheeks burned as the owner introduced himself and offered me a job on the spot. “You could be a teacher.”

  “I’ll think about it,” I promised, grabbing Kailani’s hand and yanking her into the rink.

  “Rory…you were amazing. I knew you love skating, but I didn’t know you were Olympian good.”

  “It’s no big deal, really. I just love it.”

  After falling a bunch of times, Kailani finally made it around the rink and became more confident.

  We went back one day every weekend, and after a couple of times, I had her skating. “See, you’re a natural.”

  “I’ll never do what you can do.”

  “I didn’t think I’d ever surf.”

  I hated when our time was up at the rink. It felt so right being there, but it wasn’t like I could move in. I kept turning down their job offers. The biggest reason was that I loved the job I had, and I didn’t really want to have to find transportation every day.

  As summer approached, I prepared for the warmer temperatures, but they stayed in the low eighties. The meteorologists were all talking about the extra cool summer. It wasn’t cold enough for me, but I was glad it wasn’t as hot as the year before.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Sorin

  I shivered as I sat on the deck staring into the wilderness. Although it was cold, the beautiful stars in the sky made it worth being outside. I hadn’t been able to sleep again, so hoping that the cold air would help, I had gone outside.

  I stood up to go inside but noticed a faint green-white glow in the distance. In the months that I had lived here, I hadn’t seen that before. I sat back down and watched. Slowly the colors intensified and formed dramatic arcs in the sky. It was breathtaking. I had never seen anything like it. Mesmerized by the beautiful light show taking place around me, I sat back down, unable to leave.

  I felt oddly sad, as if I was missing something wonderful.

  “You look like death warmed over,” Trevor joked the next morning.

  “Tired. I was up late watching the sky.”

  Trevor raised his eyebrows. “First time seeing the lights?”

  Surprised, I glanced over at him. “Is it a regular thing?”

  “Depending on the time of year, weather, and all that, yeah.”

  “What are they?”

  “Aurora borealis.”

  My head snapped up. “What did you say?”

  “The display. It’s called the aurora borealis.”

  “That sounds so familiar,” I muttered.

  “You must have heard of them before. The northern lights?”

  I shrugged.

  “No? Really?” He looked at me as if I was crazy.

  “I’m not from here.”

  “I know, but still…”

  It bothered me for the rest of the day. Aurora borealis. What was it about those words?

  “Hey, Sorin,” Trevor called out after work. “Are we still sparring?”

  “Sure, man.” I put down my bag, and we went into the gym. My head wasn’t in the fight, so losing didn’t come as a surprise.

  “What’s up?” Trevor asked. “I haven’t won since the first time we sparred.”

  “I don’t know. Just distracted today.”

  “I’d say. Maybe you need some downtime. Do you play basketball?”

  “No.”

  “Well, tomorrow you do. Meet us in the big gym at six.”

  “In the morning?”

  “Yup. Are you up that early?”

  “Yes. I’m an early riser.”

  “Meet us tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  The next morning I got up, pulled on my sweats and gloves, and ran all the way to work. Trevor, Miles, and a few other guys were in the big gym dribbling the basketball around.

  “Hey, Sorin!” Trevor passed the ball to me.

  I loosened up after playing for a while and began joking around with the guys. Trevor was right. It was good to have some downtime.

  A couple of nights later, I saw the lights again. I grabbed a blanket from inside and wrapped it around myself. Sitting down and watching them, I felt peaceful
and full of love.

  When I walked in the gym one day, my eyes landed on Nyla, and she smiled. Aw, what the hell. Maybe I should ask her out on a date.

  “Hi, Sorin,” she said as I walked up to the desk.

  “Hi, Nyla. I…uh…wanted to ask you…” I licked my dry lips.

  “What is it?”

  “Would you like to go to dinner with me?”

  Her eyes lit up. “Yes!”

  “Is it okay if we leave from here? Walk over to the restaurant?”

  “Sure, that’d be fine.”

  That evening, we walked down the few blocks to the grill. I pulled out the chair for Nyla to sit down, and we ordered. “Tell me about yourself,” I said.

  “I grew up here. I’m an only child, but I feel as if I have a bunch of brothers. The guys here treat me like family. I like skiing and watching movies by the fire. What about you?” She tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “I grew up where it’s much warmer. I like swimming, martial arts, and being outside.”

  “What about your family?”

  “We don’t get along, so I don’t see them much.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  At the end of the date, I gave her a quick kiss before walking home. The kiss lacked everything it should have had. My heart just wasn’t in it.

  I kept busy with work, class, and volunteering. Any free time I had, I spent with the guys or Nyla. Even after I’d dated her for a few months, my feelings didn’t change. I knew she wanted to take our relationship to the next level, but I didn’t. I felt guilty because I couldn’t bring myself to tell her.

  Patrick had become a mentor, so I asked him to talk at the grill one day.

  “What’s going on?” Patrick asked.

  “I’m not sure what to do with Nyla.”

  “What’s holding you back?”

  “The way I feel,” I answered. “I like her. She’s pretty. But…something’s missing. I don’t love her.”

  “Do you think that might change after a few more dates?”

  “No. I don’t. I know most people dismiss the idea of love at first sight, but I believe my heart will know when I find the one…” I didn’t want to admit that part of me felt as if I had already found her, but something had happened.

  “Well, Sorin, I do believe that what you’re saying is possible. While I think you should keep an open mind, don’t change for someone else.”

  I always appreciated the wise advice Patrick gave.

  After talking with him, I took Nyla out and gently told her I didn’t have those kinds of feelings for her. At first she said it wasn’t a big deal and to give it time. I had to be firmer, and she ended up leaving in a huff.

  “I saw you talking to Mr. Kemp. Everything okay?” Trevor asked.

  “Yeah…” I responded, confused. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  Trevor studied my face. “You don’t know who he is, do you?”

  “A nice guy.”

  “Well, yeah, but he owns the gym.”

  “No way! Seriously?”

  “I’m dead serious, bro.”

  “He never said.”

  “How did you meet him then?”

  “The first time I used the pool, he complimented me on my time.”

  “He was a swim coach for a while. Gives lessons sometimes at the gym,” Trevor explained.

  “We just started talking. He’s a good guy. Has some good advice. Reminds me of what a grandfather might be like. Listen, I broke it off with Nyla. She’s a great girl, but I just don’t have feelings for her.”

  His head bobbed. “Okay.”

  “I wanted you to hear it from me. I know you guys all watch out for her, and I don’t want that to impact our friendship.”

  “It’s fine. I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but I understand not liking someone that way. Let’s go snowboarding this weekend.”

  “Sure.”

  “You really don’t ride in vehicles?”

  “Not if I can help it.”

  “I have an idea. Be ready Sunday morning.”

  The next time I saw Patrick, I flat out asked him. “Yes,” he responded with a smile. “I do own the gym.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Would it have changed the way you saw me?”

  “Yes,” I replied honestly.

  “That’s why. I liked you and our conversations. I didn’t want you to just see me as the boss.”

  “I always thought Dirk was.”

  Patrick laughed. “No. He just works for me. I like to stay out of the day-to-day business details. I do hope this won’t change our relationship. I look forward to our talks.”

  “Me too.”

  Trevor showed up at six in the morning on Sunday with a bunch of dogs and a sled. Laughing, I asked, “What is that?”

  “Dog sledding. We’ll get on the back, and the dogs will bring us to where we’re going. Will that work?”

  “Yes.” Walking over to the dogs, I pet each one of them. They reminded me of another dog. “What kind of dogs are they?”

  “Huskies.”

  “They look like wolves,” I mumbled.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Where are we going?”

  “To a spot I know of where I can teach you how to snowboard.”

  I put on my coat, snow pants, hat, and gloves and got on the sled behind Trevor. The team took off with a surge, running in pairs back behind my cabin and through areas vehicles couldn’t get. It was surprisingly quiet, and I could hear my heart pounding. We began cruising uphill. The magnificent dogs dug in and kept their speed up. The air was cool and fresh, and I found the whole thing invigorating.

  We came to the top of some small hills. A couple others were out snowboarding. “It’s a spot many of us locals use,” Trevor explained. “Sometimes the tourists get overwhelming in the more popular spots.”

  Out of a black bag I hadn’t even seen, he took out two of everything, handing one of each to me.

  “Strap in one foot,” he said, demonstrating. “Pick up the board with your foot and shake. Make sure it’s on good.” I copied him, and then he said, “Leave your back foot free for now. We’re going to do some skating.”

  Trevor showed me how to move around using my free foot. After doing that for a while, he said, “Come closer to the edge and strap on your other foot.”

  I secured my other foot onto the red board. “Ready.”

  “We’re going to turn the boards so that the lead end points downhill.”

  I had butterflies in my stomach as I stood close to the edge.

  “Last thing. Put pressure on the board with your front foot. You don’t have to lean forward. Only lean when you want to turn. Got it?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  I watched as his board teetered on the edge, and then off he went, hooting and hollering the whole way. It looked awesome!

  “Come on, Sorin!” he called.

  I put pressure down on my front foot, and the next thing I knew, I was soaring down the hill. Even when I wiped out at the end, I felt happy for the first time in months.

  From that moment on, any free time I had, I spent snowboarding.

  A blizzard hit in late winter. Trevor arrived on his snowmobile to give me the news that the gym was closed for the day. I stood at the window watching the snowflakes fall to the ground. There was something about the snow that was magical. The image of dancing with a girl in the snow sprang to my mind again.

  The weeks passed, and I was glad when the weather warmed up some. I spent more time hiking, camping, and enjoying nature. I went alone because I thought the guys would think it was weird that I ditched my shoes and many times ate things I found along the way.

  One day, I was sitting next to a stream when a scream brought me out of my daydream. I jumped up and spun around. Where had it come from?

  “Hello?” I yelled.

  The scream came again from the left. My feet took off down the path. I pushed through some bushes and
came to a small clearing. A bear had a couple of teenagers cornered. Looking around, I grabbed a couple of sticks off the ground and started banging them together. “Hey!”

  The bear turned its head and looked at me. Adrenaline rushed through my body. I dropped the sticks, and, keeping my hands above my head, I took a few steps toward it.

  “Run!” I yelled at the couple.

  They didn’t waste any time getting out of there. The bear and I stood facing each other for a minute, mere inches between us. He didn’t attack. Instead, he lowered himself back down to all fours, nuzzled my hand, then turned and walked away.

  I stood in shock as the bear strolled out of sight. “Okay then,” I mumbled and started the walk back toward town. Ten minutes later, a small group of rangers met me on the path. “Hey, guys,” I greeted them. “What’s going on?”

  “Two teens came running down saying a bear attacked them and somebody helped them out. Was that you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you okay?” one of the rangers asked as the other asked, “Where’s the bear now?”

  “I’m fine. The bear wasn’t interested in me.”

  “Really? Good.”

  Alaska wasn’t so bad. It was colder than I liked, but I enjoyed the outdoor activities. I got a second job as a ranger when I graduated, which I liked a lot more than being stuck inside at the gym. I kept that job though I cut my hours.

  The weather seemed stuck in a colder-than-usual rut. It didn’t seem to want to warm up. According to Trevor, the news on TV reported this was happening all over. Winter just didn’t want to let go.

  Chapter Thirty

  Aurora

  Kailani plopped down in my chair. I dragged the comb through her long black hair. “So if I let you do this…”

  “I’ll let you tattoo me.” I smiled. “I’m just not sure what I want.”

  She turned her head to look at me, making it impossible for me to do her hair. “The snowflakes are beautiful. You should stick with the theme. Snowflakes. Winter. You obviously love it since you’re always talking about taking a trip to see the snow.”

  I tilted her head back and thought about what she said. Another snowflake would be cool. “Okay.”

  “Really?”

  “One more thing.”