He followed her.

Very slowly.

He stalked after her.

Something was cold about her.

He looked around the forest.

There was something cold about it.

It was gray and dark.

And her eyes...

They were the same way.

When she glanced back at him, they didn't hold the life that they did before.

They were drained and cold.

It was him.

He did this, he knew.

But he didn't know how to fix it.

It would've been simple.

If he'd just fucking kiss her, and admit the truth to himself, everything would be fine.

But he didn't.

Instead, he let the ebony strands of hair fall to his face, sticking his hands in his pockets as he followed her.

It was late.

She stopped walking.

He stopped, too.

George gazed at her carefully.

They'd been walking for some time.

She turned around, her eyes cast down as she began to walk back the way that they came.

As she approached where he stood, she stopped.

George didn't know what she was about to do.

He expected a slap, but it never came.

Instead, she stepped close to him, slipping her arms under his and around his torso.

She hugged him tightly as she balled up his shirt in her hands.

God, she was cold.

He felt it.

Cold as death, she was.

He stood in shock for a moment.

She began to back up when she figured her time was up, and George frantically wrapped his arms around her body, to keep her close.

She was shocked at first, but hugged him tightly.

George closed his eyes but they popped right back open when Emi began to let out soft broken laughter.

"How embarrassing..." Emi said.

They backed away from one another.

"I'm happy for you, George. I'm glad that you've found someone."

George opened his mouth, his eyebrows furrowing.

He closed it again.

"Why?" he finally asked.

"My emotions are all out of sort. I loved that old man like a father. I don't control you. If you have a girl at college-"

"Emi, they don't -"

"They? Allow me to correct myself, if you've found a few girls at your college then I-"

George opened his mouth to protest but Emi held up her hand, silently telling him not to interrupt.

"I should be happy for you. I'll make you something later on in the form of a proper apology."

Oh god, was  she aching inside.

Why was she doing this?

She was doing this because she was scared.

Scared that she'd lose him.

Because of how she felt.

No matter how much it hurt, she had to just suck it up and accept what had happened.

"Emi we should talk about this-"

"I'm mourning. George. There is nothing to discuss."

A shiver ran up his spine.

"I want to go home, now. You're welcome to come along."  She gulped, walking past him.

He was tired of her walking away from him.

As she stepped past him he whipped around quickly, grabbing her arm tightly in his hand and turning her around.

"Emi-"

"What?" she almost shouted.

She was clearly still broken.

"What do you have to say?" As George stared into her eyes, he knew that this was something that would need time.

She ripped herself away from him and then composed herself back to her small, shivering frame.

She cleared her throat.

"Let's go home..." She said, looking at the ground.

George nodded, walking slightly behind her back through the forest.

He glanced at her arm-crossed figure and took off his jacket.

He went to throw it over her shoulders but she jerked away quickly, keeping her eyes cat towards the ground.

"You'll freeze." she said, continuing to walk.

Both of the young ones felt as if they weren't themselves anymore.

They walked along and were soon inside the home.

George had on sweatpants, a tank top, and his jacket.

He laid on the couch, thinking it to be the best decision.

Bzz Bzz.

Emi stepped out from the kitchen.

"I'm going to go lay down for the night."

"Alright."

She stood there for a moment before walking away, down the hallway.

He grabbed his phone.

A text.

'Come back soon pappi xx'

He set down his phone.

~~~

Hours.

It was hours into the night.

Neither of the two were asleep.

Emi was sitting in the corner of her bed, against the wall as she shivered.

She had a tank top and long pants on.

She stared at the bed.

He stared at the ceiling.

He got up.

He want to the bathroom.

Emi heard the door close.

She stared at her closed bedroom door.

The bathroom door opened.

She waited.

He stood close on the other end of her door.

It was around 2 in the morning.

He took a step away.

Emi's eyebrows furrowed at the noise, tears building.

He stopped.

He rose his hand.

He knocked on her door.

"Come in." she let out softly.

George slowly turned the handle.

When he could be seen in the door he bit his lip.

"Did I wake you?"

"No."

Emi rubbed her cold shoulder.

"Can I..?" he asked.

She looked down, taking a deep breath.

She nodded.

George stepped inside, and closed the door quietly as he made his way to her bed.

He crawled onto it and Emi watched him carefully.

He was about to lay down but stopped.

He looked at Emi, and could see the goose bumps on her skin.

He opened his jacket.

"ここに来て。" (  Come here  ) he said to her.

She slowly scooted over to his open arms, and George felt a chill run down his spine when her cold arms touched his side.

He felt her cold through the thin material of his tank top.

He wrapped the end of the jacket and his arms around her as he laid them down comfortably.

Her face was buried in his neck.

Her cold nose pressed against the warm skin.

He gently ran his thumb up and down her side.

She wasn't shivering anymore.

She closed her eyes, feeling lost in the warmth.

He took a deep breath through his mouth.

The words, 'I love you.' playing on his lips.

But he didn't say it.

He fell asleep.