It had been ten minutes of silence, it was not that awkward silence though, it was one where they both were lost in thoughts, thoughts of each other. Greenery sat at the cold floor with the rain now raining on her, the roof of the building providing no shelter for her anymore with the rain getting more and more aggressive.

She could feel the cold deep down her bones, it crept It's way into her body leaving it numb from cold with everything aching to no end. How she dreamed of her dry warm bed right now and it felt as if the time was dragging on so slowly to taunt her. She wanted to ask how far Bash thought his friend was now but kept to herself hoping it would be any minute now.

"Are you okay?" He asked as she sniffled.

"Yeah," she replied holding herself from busting in tears from all the cold.

"I am sorry, I wish could have been there for you." He said.

"No, I should be the one apologising for being such a burden."

"Never Green," He said.

She leaned on the phone drawing warmth from it, from him, his voice. It was so warm and welcoming yet with that deep husky tone that left her day dreaming for days upon days.

How could loving someone so bad be so wrong?

"What is the first thing you will do when you get home?"

"Take a very hot shower then just slip in bed, I am sure I will be dead sick tomorrow."

"Oohh wait, can I put you on hold for a sec , Zeb is calling." He said before the call was put on hold giving her hope that the friend was near. She waited holding on to the phone praying she would not be here any longer.

"Hey, he is at the front, he will take you home." He said.

Greenery got off the floor having never been so excited to hear such news.

"Thank you so much Bash, thank you so much." She said walking around to see red lights from all the thick fog. She walked up to the car.

Getting to the car she tried the passenger seat's door to find it unlocked so she slipped in, closed the door as quickly as she could being greeted by the warm air which she fully welcomed.

"I am here, thank you Bash." She said on the phone.

"Okay, I will call to see if you got home alright." He said back.

"Okay, thank you." She replied before cutting the call and turning around to the driver who was an African American in his early twenties with that basketball captain features.

"Hi, sorry for all this and thank you so much for coming." Greenery said through chattering teeth suddenly her body seeming colder now that it was in a warm environment.

Zeb nodded then turned the car around driving out of there. Trap music was playing in the car which was a ranger 4x4. Greenery sat back in her chair making sure not to make any noise or whatever.

"Which way," the deep voice came with Greenery rushingly saying which direction to take. Zeb wore black sweatpants with a grey varsity jersey. It was totally quiet in the streets with no people walking around while the rain poured like there was no tomorrow making it nearly impossible to drive with the road not invisible at all even with the bright lights. The fog crawled down in the dark with only the yellow and white line visible now and again.

Grabbing the seat belt, she dragged it and buckled seeing how dangerous it was. Looking out she tried to see to make sure she did not miss her turn as it was dark outside. Her wet clothes stuck to her body as it shivered trying so hard to get warm from the heat of the car.

Luckily as the lights flashed she saw the entry of the dirt road.

"Please take your right just there," she tried pointing.

Zeb took the turn quickly as the car stirred, the tires skidding on the road with the harsh wind being evident as the car moved sideways. Zeb could not help his thudding heart, he was afraid, this weather was something else and he still had a long way home. The young man just could not understand why he had been woken up to do this, his hands tightly gripped the steering wheel as the tires slid through the mud. He sat up trying to see past the misty window. The truth was he could not see a thing, the car lights were no help especially here as there were no street lights anymore.

A car accident was prone to happen and Zeb just could not wait to punch his best friend to a pulp for this. He took a deep breath daring to stare at the shivering girl on the passenger's seat. His anger went up a level, he just could not understand. His hatred for the girl was in another level, he just could not stand her. In life there were thirsty ass whores and then there was this girl.

Why was he risking his life for her? The question came causing him to shake his head as he sat even closer his chest nearly touching the wheel as his eyes tried looking ahead with his car swerving around, the tires digging up dirt finding it hard to roll away.

"Please turn up the cold air." He said focusing on the road trying to see past the fog which crawled deep in the ground.

Greenery did not hesitate but press the down button on the air condition with the cold air not wasting time but wafting through the vents to the car taking away the new found heat. The cold air was brutal as it hit directly to her face causing her teeth to chatter even more but that was of no concern as she could feel the car swerving on the dirt road.

"Turn down the radio please."  Zeb said in panic as the sound of the tires dug deep through the heavy mud trying to find a way out but failing.

Greenery switched off the radio with the sounds of the car digging itself out of the mess it had got itself into. Zeb pressed on gas only for the car to swerve so much that they found themselves standing vertically on the road.

They both stared at each other in fright, hearts pounding not sure how they would pull through this. Zeb ran his hand through his curled hair frustrated, he was not an experienced driver having never been able to afford driving school till the previous year because of his humble background.

"Shit!" It was the word that filled the air breaking the silence yet making way for an even more awkward environment.

"Can you drive?" He asked having a blank mind on how he would pull out of the mud fight scared of damaging the car he had be gifted by his best friend.

Greenery shook her head, having never been behind the wheel in her whole wicked life.

"Let me try again," He said talking more to himself. The car was turned back on, the sound of the engine muffled by the heavy rain as it pounded  on the roof. He took a deep break before putting the car on drive and pressing on the gas. The car swerved around with Greenery holding tight on her seatbelt. It danced on the road, moving its hips side to side trying to pull out as the tires were packed with mud. He pressed more on the gas as it swerved faster and faster turning slightly going straight while moving forward.

It was two hours later when they pulled in the drive way sighing in relief of finally making it after such a long struggle. The rain had gotten worse with the wind harsher with the trees swaying dangerously as if to break any moment. They sat in the car with the storm falling on them. In mind they both had the same thoughts of how it would be impossible for Zeb to head back now, they had barely made it through and now he had to go back.

Greenery did not know what to do, she could barely contain her heart as it drummed away at her.

"Do you want to come in and wait for the storm to pass? Or wait for my father to come back and he will drive you home?" She asked turning to him nervously knowing that she would not live with herself if she made him drive back in such a weather.

"I don't know?" He seemed unsure not really wanting to impose.

"Please, the storm is getting worse."  She asked hoping he would agree because this was getting worse by the second.

He looked around seeing that there was no way out of this. Zeb regretted that he had agreed to do this. Truth be told he had not seen how bad the weather was outside. Even if he had sadly he would have never turned down his buddy, they had been through thick and thin together, were brothers really. He hated that he now had to stay here for who knows how long when his warm bed waited for him, and to make it worse was this girl he was stuck with.

"Okay, I will wait till the storm passes." He said back hating all of this. They got out of the car locking the doors and running to the veranda where they took shelter while Greenery fumbled with the keys trying to open the door. The door swung open as they shuffled in, the heat of the house welcoming them as they rushed in. Greenery turned on the lights revealing the peaceful house with no one in sight.

"Please take a seat by the couch," she said as she led him to the living room where she opened the television bringing the house to live with a match playing on the sports channel that was on.

Zeb took a seat uncomfortably, his eyes scanning all around taking his environment looking for anything suspicious. He glanced at the game on the screen seeing that it was one he had missed the previous day because of school. His body started to relax as he sat deeper in the couch, his eyes on the screen.

Greenery went upstairs closing all windows on the way up. Getting to her room she opened her closet, pulling a thick 2 in 1 blanket which was too heavy for her skinny bones to carry but she dragged it all the way down the floor. She walked across the room pulling it with her chest now heavily heaving.

"Here," She said as she placed it next to him feeling a wave of relief from all the weight being taken from her.

"Thank you," He said back as he grabbed the blanket tucking his shaking body in well.

"Can I make something for you, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, a sandwich or something?" She asked trying to be as hospitable as possible as the guy had left his house to help her out.

"Just tea if you don't mind," He said back not wanting to impose.

"Okay," She said walking away to the kitchen where she filled the kettle with water and turned it on. She leaned on the counter, the cold slipping through her bones as her body shook. In thought, she took out her phone and dialled her father's number.

The phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Greenery, you are still up?"

Her heart swelled with love and warmth as she heard her father's voice after such a long time, he seemed so worried.

"I just got in father," she said back.

"Really, why? What happened?"

"I ended up working a double shift," she said back pulling on her sleeves.

"Oohh, how did you get home then?" He asked concerned.

"I called a friend," she said.

"A friend?!" Her father was both shocked and happy in a way. In all honesty he did not think his daughter would ever have a friend again and was beyond happy to hear this.

"Yes dad," She said shaking her head knowing how her father would get over excited on nothing.

"Where are you?" She asked, "My friend is kind of trapped here." She said

"I was closed in at work by the storm but I could try drive there if needed be."

"No dad, I guess we will wait the storm." She said walking to the cabins and picking out a black mug.

"Okay then, I will see you in the morning."

"Okay dad, night, be safe there." She replied.

"Love you,"

This had her pause, holding the phone. It felt weird saying it with such a heavy heart.

"Love you too." She said before cutting the line and turning the other way running her hand through her bald head.

The kettle was done so she went to get a tea bag and some sugar from the pantry, putting the teabag in the cup and pouring the hot water while she carried the sugar with a teaspoon to Zeb who sat watching the match.

She put everything on the coffee table.

"I will just go upstairs for a few minutes and will be back." She said getting a nod from him.

Greenery turned, walking away and up the stairs. The wet clothes clung to her shivering body stealing its heat. Getting to her room she locked the door before discarding her clothes and walking to the bathroom where she opened the hot water.

Steam clouded the tiny bathroom

She made her way into the shower. A shudder as the hot water bit down her skin making it burn and itch. She stood there leaning on the wall the water rained down the heat seeping deep to her bones curing her from all the cold that gripped on her. She turned her back moving from side to side making them get every angle. After a long while she pulled herself up washing her body getting rid of the stench of burning oil.

As soon as she was done, drying herself with her towel, wrapping it around her body after and making her way out, tiredness from working all day long hit her like a brick making her bed look so appealing.

She went to the closet, pulling out a fresh pair of pyjamas pulling them on along with fluffy socks and gown. Warmth surrounded her but still she shivered with sniffles now and again accompanied by a runny nose.  She pulled out another thick blanket placing it on the bed when she realised that she had a missed call.

Sitting on the bed, she picked up her phone unlocking it with her thumb to find a missed call from none other than Bash. Her heart faltered from seeing that he had called yet worried that she had missed his call, her eyes trailed to his back which sat right under her study table. It was one thing she had of him after her father had burned all that she had collected from the previous year. With shaky hands she pressed on the last number.

The phone rang as her heart beat from her throat making it hard for her to even breathe.

"Hello," her heart skipped a bit from that voice.

"Hi," She said surely proud that her voice had not failed her.

"Did you get home safe?" He asked with genuine concern.

"Yeah, but Zeb is trapped here as the storm got worse,"

"Okay, I hope it is not a bother that he has to wait there?" He asked.

"No, not at all, he was so kind to help me out and I will do everything possible to make him comfortable." She said back playing with her sleeves.

"Thank you, I should call him." He said.

"Yeah," she replied with spread out silence following after.

"Okay then,"

"Okay," She said as he cut the line leaving her clinging to the phone her heart not being able to take this.

It was happening again, she thought.