Winter's Summer

She hated this weather. Hated the way the sleet hissed against the window like a big old nasty snake. Hated the way the wind blew , sharp edged and cold, across the courtyard.1

Summer Dale adjusted her coat and placed the hood over her head. Sighing, she turned and locked the door behind her. Dropping the keys in her pocket, she walked out into the sleet. She felt the chill of the night crawl down her spine, making the hairs on her neck stand up. The road wound through the night following the curve of the river.2

Headlights coming from oncoming cars illuminated the road no further than the next slow twist. Summer hated this dark stretch of road and wished she didn't have to work late. A smile crossed her face when she remembered that she had had the house to herself. Her parents had left for their anniversary honeymoon that very morning. It was only a matter of minutes before she would be stepping into a noiseless house. She pulled the hood further over her head as she hummed a tune and pressed on for home.3

Summer stood in the doorway and stared blankly around the house...this was too good. This was 'her life' for a weekend. Caught in her trance, she walked into the house and removed her wet coat and t-shirt. A small smile crept on her face. She was going to enjoy this weekend. Kicking off her wet sneakers, she ran upstairs. She was going to take a bath and she was going to take as long as she liked.4

He shook his head. That girl just never learned. He watched as she stripped of her coat and shirt in the door, revealing a navy blue sports bra underneath. She disappeared then, leaving the door open. A light in the upstairs bedroom flickered on. He made out her beautiful silhouette through the light curtains. He saw as she stripped then walked naked towards the bath. Perfect!5

She stepped out of the bath pulling on her towel as she got out. She put on the underwear and shorts she had chosen before she went to bathe. She shut off the light and stared around the moonlight-struck room for the last time.Shutting the door, she went down the hall to place her dirty clothes in the clothes basket.6

If she had heard him come up the steps and slip into her room, in the short space of time of her slipping out, then she made no external show of it. She was too careless. She should know better than to leave the door open anyway. He watched from a small opening in the door as she trotted downstairs in a tight shorts and a black lace bra.7

She was hungry. The bath had made her hungry. She walked downstairs and stopped. Had she left the door open. She remembered opening it but couldn't remember if she had shut it. Shrugging, she shut the door and walked absentmindedly into the kitchen.8

'Well she is smart, shutting the door after everything else', he thought as he watched her walk into the kitchen. He removed his shoes, leaving them upstairs and walked down the stairs wearing only his socks. He leaned on the door frame as he watched her dance and hum along to a song that was playing on her mp3 player. She was deaf. That much he knew as he could hear the music pumping from his place in the door. She turned around slowly. He moved out. No too soon.9

She could have sworn she saw someone. Maybe she did. Or maybe she was just being paranoid. She stuck her plate inside the microwave and continued humming. She was halfway through the song when she felt arms snake around her. She jumped.10

He had wanted to teach her a lesson. And he'd accomplished that. She was shaking as she turned around to face him. He hadn't let her go. Her face of fear slowly faded as a small smile came creeping on to take its place. He smiled back at her. The smile vanished when he felt a stinging on his left cheek.11

"You are such an idiot." she yelled at him.12

"It should teach you a lesson." he answered back calmly as he rubbed his cheek. He didn't want to admit that her slap had pained him more than he'd imagine.13

"Oh Jason. What should I do with you?"14

"I know." He said, leaning down to kiss her.