Free Thin Ice by Niki Settimo Page B

someone could have their thoughts so tainted that they can’t even eat in front of other people?
    “You know this stuff really isn’t easy to admit Dylan. But I want you to know what you’re getting yourself into. I’d rather you get out sooner rather than waste your time.”
    “You’re not getting rid of me that easily missy. But right now it’s just me and you, and we’re going to enjoy a picnic on the lake without you having one thought about what you look like to anyone else. Got it?” She looks down at the wrap I bought her and slowly brings her eyes back up to face mine and shakes her head yes.
    “Good.” I give her one quick kiss on her lips, then a peck on her nose for good measure, and unwrap our food and eat in an extremely comfortable silence, exchanging smiles between bites, listening to the sounds of the park.  
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    When we finish our lunch, we pack up the basket, take a walk over the bridge and then head back towards my car. I open her door for her, ignoring all of her protests, and wait for her to get in before shutting it and going to the drivers side. I take hold of her hand as I drive out of the parking lot, while the radio is faintly playing a country station.

    “Thank you Dylan. For everything. Really.”
    “You don’t have to keep thanking me y'know. But thank you for opening up to me Elli. I realize it’s not easy. But i’m not going anywhere, and I hope you can trust me.
    “I’m starting to believe I can.” She looks over and smiles at me, causing my heart to skip a beat. Right then, her phone rings and when she looks at the caller ID, her smile turns downward. She clicks ignore and puts it into her pocket.

    “Everything alright?”
    “Yea, just my dad. Probably wants to talk about my classes this month. I’ll call him back later.”

    I feel like there’s more to it, but I’m going to leave it alone for now. She’s opened up a lot today, and I dont want to push her. Just then her phone goes off again signaling a text. She looks at it and then over at me and says “Tegan wants to know if you’d like to join our movie night. She just invited a friend of hers from the football team over.”
    “Is that what you want to do?” I ask.
    “I don’t mind. We can pick the movie if you want.”
    “Wreck It Ralph?”

    Her smile is contagious. We head over to her apartment and make our way up the three flights of stairs which in itself is a workout. When we make it to her door, she opens it and the first thing I see is Tegan dancing in the middle of the living room, and a guy who looks like someone from Jersey Shore sitting on the couch.

    “Win again Tegan?” Elli says.
    “Undefeated baby! Oh hey Dylan! Guys this is David. David, this is Elli and hopefully her boyfriend Dylan.”
    “Tegan!”
    “Call it like I see it El.”

    Shaking her head laughing, Elli says hi to David and nods for me to follow her. I do the bro-shake with the guy and almost hurl at the amount of cologne he has on. Tegan strikes me as a girl who deserves better than what she goes for, but she looks happy, and lives for the moment. Her and Elli are polar opposites in that department.

    While Tegan and David continue whatever they’re playing,  I follow Elli into her room and I’m immediately immersed in her world only half way through the door. Her full size bed is right next to the window, and in the opposite corner is an art desk. She also has a flat screen TV mounted next to a bookshelf filled with tons of books and DVDs. I can totally see this as Elli’s room. Her comforter is gray and yellow and everything surrounds that color scheme.
    I walk over to her art desk and see she has her sketchbook open. I look to her for approval before I start flipping through the pages. Holy crap. She’s good. Like, really good. The first drawing is a portrait, of I’m guessing her brother in his hockey equipment. It looks like she took a picture of him and just made it black and white. The next page is a