The Fire he Ignited in Me

Chapter 19

Annabelle all but broke my hope for us when she ignored me this afternoon. All she wanted to

do was talk to Lucas who was happy to oblige, taking her to the parking lot for a probable make

out session.

He came back in a panicked sort of state though, so I bet Annabelle may have told him she likes

me. That's just wishful thinking.

The day is slow and the only thing I've done is clean the fire trucks and cooks some food. Maybe

I could get off early to go see Annabelle?

"Hey Richard? Can I head off early?"

The old man sighs and throws his stack of cards down before nodding.

"Go for it son. Nothing's happening here since that stop light finally got put in."

The state did put up some stuff after Belle's accident, which I'm grateful for. I thank Richard and

make my way to Annabelle's in the clinging hope that maybe just maybe she might accept my

apology.

I've never been so nervous waiting at a door, but a weight is lifted off my chest seeing Belle

again.

"I just wanted to apologize. I was out of line that day and I shouldn't have said all that. I hope

you can forgive me and maybe let me take you to dinner sometime?"

Belle looks at the ground silently for a moment before giving me a sorrowful glance.

"I forgive you Trent. You were right though. Not about the age Gap and all that, but about the

fact that we can't go out."

If I thought my hope was crushed before, I was wrong.

"Wh-what? Is it Lucas? Is he your boyfriend now?"

The thought irks me, but Belle assures me that's not the case.

"No. I'm done with him. I just can't be with you. I'm sorry."

She goes to close the door and I press my hand against it quickly to her surprise and do the only

thing I can. I kiss her.

It's soft. It's sweet, and I hope it shows her how much I care. She returns it with the equal amount

of fervor that I work with I'm certain neither of us wants to pull away, but just as I think I've won

her over...

She pulls away.

"I really am sorry," she says letting her voice crack.

"It's not that I don't want to."

Before I can say anything else or ask a single question, I hear the lock on the door click and let

out a gasp of disbelief.

No. That was perfect. It was the perfect kiss and I know she felt that way too. My heart breaks a

little, unsure of what else to do.

Something isn't right.

Maybe if I can just be there for a little bit day by day, she'll come back to her senses?

I'll never know if I don't try and there's no way I'm going a lifetime without knowing if this is the

girl I'm never supposed to let go of.