Fire Always Burns Read Online Free

kicked the empty can towards a tarp covered pile. It pinged hollowly through the small space.
    Britney stood up and starting walking towards Luke. “I'm really sorry Luke, but I have to get to work. My shift starts in a little bit. Come by though, and I'll get you a drink or two on the house,” she said, giving him a hug. He held onto her, drawing off her strength. I could see her whisper into his ear, and he pulled her in closer before letting her go. She waved to the rest of us, hoisting her purse onto shoulder as she disappeared around the corner of the hardware store.
    Luke paced between the lumber pile and the back of the building, kicking the aluminum beer can every time he passed it. It made a strange sort of clock as Eli, Andrew, and I sat there, counting the number of metallic pings. The sun began to set behind the mountains, sucking the rest of the day's warmth with it, but turning the sky brilliant shades of orange and gold. I messed with my jacket, wishing that I had worn a heavier one. Eli's phone began to sing some sort of rap song, but he picked it up before I could recognize any of the lyrics.
    “Hey... Yeah, I'll pick up some milk on the way home. Be there soon,” Eli clicked his phone off and picked up his backpack. “Luke, man, I'll see you tomorrow. Tyler will be okay. He's a good kid.”
    Luke nodded, his hands somehow going deeper into his pockets. Eli clapped him on the shoulder as he walked towards the path to the parking lot, then disappeared into the deepening dark.
    “I got to get home too. Holly, could you give me a ride? Britney dropped me off so I don't have my car,” Andrew said as he stood up. I nodded and stood up as well, grabbing the tarp and pulling it back over the wood. Andrew and Luke grabbed the other tarps, resetting the space. It felt cold and distant when everything was back, our perfect spot nothing more than an illusion. It made me sad.
    Luke walked with us back to the front of the store. He stood in front of the glass door, the light spilling out onto the sidewalk and casting dark shadows across his face. He looked so tired, so broken. I hugged him tight, wishing I had a way to fix this. I wanted so badly to wave a magic wand and make his world bright again. As I let go of him, Andrew gave him a hug as well. The three of us stood there for a moment, all looking at one another, not really wanting to break apart. None of us wanted to be alone, but we had no reason to stay.
    A customer opened the door and brushed past Luke breaking the spell. Luke sighed and went inside, turning the sign to closed. I could see him heading towards the register to start closing up for the night, but he turned and waved. Andrew and I waved back, and began walking to my car in the far corner of the lot. The streetlamp sputtered to life, the electrical hum filling the empty lot with light.
    I unlocked the car door and Andrew slid into the passenger seat, kicking an empty grocery bag out from under his feet. The engine whirred to life, heat slowly trickling through the vents after an initial blast of cold air. I pulled onto the main street and began heading towards Andrew's house. We sat quietly until I turned onto his street, Andrew's house the last one on the block.
    “Do you have to get home right away?” Andrew asked, breaking the silence. I shook my head and he smiled at me. That smile made my heart jump. “I don't want to go home yet. I haven't gotten to see you much since you got back. Can we just sit and catch up?”
    I nearly slammed the brakes, but instead managed to pull over and park the car. I had forgotten the effect Andrew could have on me. He sighed, unbuckling his seat belt. I glanced over at him, wondering if he knew how much I had missed him. Missed just hanging out and being near him.
    “Why don't you want to go home?” I asked, turning the music down to just a gentle murmur in the background. Andrew shrugged, looking out the window and playing with bag under his feet.