Winter Fireworks

"Alli," Slade's quiet voice called out a bit nervously. Turning my head to look at him, I saw that his gaze was focused on the night sky. "You believe in miracles, don't you?

I was taken aback by the question. Why would he ask me something like that? "Well...yeah. Of course I do. Why the serious face, Slade?" He was usually so playful and sarcastic, he'd always been that way, but now he was the complete opposite. I wondered what he was getting at. 

I wrapped my coat tighter around myself and studied him closely, as though I could find my answers that way. Like everyone else, he was wearing a jacket, and a scarf was draped around his neck. He'd always been about a head taller than me, and as usual, he was wearing all black. 

He turned his attention towards me, and to my surprise, his normal grin was back in place. "It's nothing. I was just curious. What, did ya think something was wrong? You looked worried there for a second."

I couldn't help but smile. "I wasn't worried about you, silly. Why would I be?"

"Ah, but I never said you were worried about me. I simply stated that you looked worried about something." He retorted slyly, a mischevious gleam in his eye. I felt my cheeks turn red, and I was suddenly thankful that it was hidden by the dark. 

Determined to change the subject, I sigh and swing my legs back and forth against the fountain. "I wonder when the fireworks are gonna start, we've been waiting for a while now." The fireworks, the parade. That's why we were here, sitting on the fountain in the middle of the city, nearly freezing to death in the cold. People huddled around us, walking in and out of the many shops that lined the street, some (the smarter ones, I couldn't help but think) were still in their cars, listening to the radio and sipping coffee from Starbucks while they waited for the show. 

"Soon, probably. They usually start around 9, dont' they?" With that, he looked down at his watch. "It's already nine o' five." Sighing, he looked over at the small coffee shop that was just across the street. "I'll be right back, want anything?"

"Just a cappuccino, please." I said with a small smile, pulling my light jacket tighter around my shoulders. Slade nodded and started towards the shop, already reaching for his wallet in his back pocket. To pass time, I pull out my phone and scroll through my messages, stumbling across one that read, "Alli, dad's coming to visit tonight! Be back soon, ok? -- Lizzie." I felt another smile work its way onto my face as I read it, imagining the look on mom's face when dad walked through the door. He was coming back from Afghanastan for Christmas, and she had no idea. 

Slade's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Here ya go. And a cookie, too. The old man always feels generous during the holidays." 

"That was quick. Thank you," I said as I took both the cookie and cappuccino. "Oh! Peanut butter, my favorite!" With maybe a little too much enthusiam, I bit into the cookie, chewing it slowly to savor the taste. "Yum..."

A laugh caused me to open eyes I didn't even know were closed, and I looked over to see Slade doubled over and clutching his stomach. At first glance, you would've figured he was hurt, but I knew him better than that. "Oi! What's so funny?" I demanded, pursing my lips in frustration.

"You...chew...funny..." he managed between laughs, reaching over to set his own cappuccino on on the fountain so it wouldn't spill. 

"Aw, you're the worst!" Crossing my arms, I turned my back to him, awaiting his reaction. As expected, he soon stopped laughing. 

"Alli, I'm sorry. Forgive me?" I turned back to face him, unable to conceal the grin that had worked it's way onto my face. 

I put a finger on my chin. "Well, I might reconsider things if--" A loud but seemingly excited squeal from somewhere behind me interrupted me, and I jumped slightly before I realized why everyone was suddenly 'Oohing' and 'ahhing'. "The fireworks! Finally!" I felt the smile form on my lips as I stared, almost mesmerized, by the scene. It reminded me of all the times when I was a little kid, when my family would bring me here at the same time every year to watch the parade. It became a tradition. But this year was different. Dad was stationed in Afghanastan due to the war, and my mom grew ill with pneumonia, so it was almost impossible to make it here this year. That's what I thought at first anyway, before Slade invited me to come with him. Against my protests, my sister Lizzie convinced me that she would be fine taking care of mom on her own that night, and that I deserved a night out, anyway. I was practically dragged, but the truth is, I'm thankful for it. Not once have I missed the parade, not since I was two. And Slade knew that. Even though he said parades weren't his thing, he still came here. For me, I realized. 

"Alli-chan." Slade's voice once again broke into my thoughts. "You alright?" When I looked over at him, I noted that he actually looked worried. His brows were knitted together, and his blue eyes were full of concern. 

"Of course I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be?" I asked out of curiosity, grinning widely at him.

"You're crying." He stated simply, and I felt my smile falter. I reached up to touch my cheeks, and sure enough, he was right. My cheeks were soaked. 

"I am..." I breathed. "I'm not sure why, though. Weird." 

"Alli," he said again, but it was different than all the other times. His voice was quiet, barely over a whisper, and full of some emotion I couldn't name. 

I looked up at him, feeling my face go red from his gaze. "Yes?" He reached out and brushed a gentle hand along my cheek, and leaned forward until our lips were millimeters apart. "S-slade..?" I whispered weakly right before his lips crashed down on my own. The kiss was gentle, almost as if he were afraid he would scare me away, and as quickly as it had happened, he pulled away. 

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, but I shook my head. 

"Don't be," I said without thinking. Feeling my cheeks grow red again, I focus my gaze on my blue converse. "It's okay."

"But I shouldn't have--"

"Hey. I-I said it was okay. So...don't worry about it." Flashing what I hoped to be a confident smile, I turned back to the fireworks, but my thoughts were elsewhere. "Slade," I whispered after a while. "Thank you, for bringing me here. I know you're not into this sorta thing."

His smile was bright and genuine. "Yeah, no problem. I know it's a big deal for you, so..."

My own smile grew impossibly wider as we both turned back to the fireworks. "Oh, and Slade?"

"Hm?" 

Standing up on my tiptoes, I leaned up swiftly pecked him on the cheek. He blinked slowly before turning a bright red, and I couldn't help but smile again. "The parade's about to start." Grabbing his hand, I took a sip of my now half-empty cup of cappuccino while one thought went though my mind: I'm glad I came.