Playing with Fire

The orange, bright light seemed misplaced, almost unnatural in the rustic neighbourhood. In the October night, the light shone with such strength it would easily been mistaken for a lighthouse. The crisp, crackling sound from the embers made the burning house resemble a large bonfire, a celebration that was common practice in the area. Except, this bonfire was not a celebration.

It was arson.

Wes watched the flames gradually grow taller and consume the house, bit by bit. He tried to understand what had happened, how the story went to end up with this. He suddenly felt nauseous. Somewhere in his mind, he knew that he should run away in the night, along the poplar lined street. He knew that he had to get rid of the car, but a mixture of adrenalin and fear had replaced his sensibility. In the distance, a faint but distinct police siren made it clear to him what would happen next. Wes was not sure if it was real, or if he was imagining it out of fear. He had always thought that he was not the kind of person who ended up in situations like these. At this point, he did not really know much.

The warm morning breeze signalled the approach of autumn. Summer was over and another year of school awaited the adolescents living in Kent. The summer had been a brief but warm one with the occasional rainfall. Under these circumstances, Kent became flooded with tourists and camping vans. Renowned for its beautiful nature, Kent not only attracted naturists but also fishermen who wanted to test the waters. Many different kinds of fish inhabited the water, which in turn provided the town with a unique birdlife. Although not a tourist trap, the people living in Kent got used to this and tried to make as much money as possible. Cafés employed whatever workforce they could get their hands on, which was how Wes Green had got his summer job. Like any adolescent, he was saving up enough money to buy a car. He had recently got his driver’s licence. He and his parents had made a deal; they would pay for the driving tuition if he paid for the car. Wes had thought that the deal was fair, until he realised the amount of time he would have to spend working at the café. Even after that, he would only have raised enough money to buy a used car in a fair condition. Halfway through the summer, Wes wondered if he would ever endure working in a café while his friends were out enjoying their free time off school. Then it happened. During a hectic day waiting tables, Annabel Andersen had walked into the café. Wes was taking orders from an elderly diabetic couple wondering if there was any choice on the ice cream menu that was appropriate for their diet. Wes himself was wondering why a diabetic couple would choose to have tea at an ice cream café. He assured the couple that he would consult the owner of the place. After finding and asking the owner (who assured Wes that the raspberry – lime sherbet suited low-sugar diets), he made his way back towards the costumer, only to find a strikingly beautiful girl sitting at their table. Wes informed the couple about the only option available to them, but could not take his eyes off the blonde girl. She noticed this and smiled as she looked down into the oversized menu. Her body language made it perfectly clear to Wes that this was the usual response she got from boys their age. The older man told Wes that raspberry-lime sherbet was perfect. The older woman asked Annabel if there was anything she wanted from the menu. Annabel looked up directly into Wes’ eyes. She told him that the Belgian chocolate ice cream was exactly what she craved right now. Blushing, Wes left their order on the counter and took off his apron, finishing his shift. As he stepped out, blinking in the overwhelming sunlight, he had the feeling that that the summer in the café might just be endurable.
Annabel was Norwegian. She was visiting her grandparents over the summer, as her parents felt that Annabel needed a change of scenery. Wes did at first not know why, but after some time had passed she told him that her parents wanted to get to know her grand parents more; they felt that she needed to connect with her “roots”, she explained, her hands doing citation marks and rolling her eyes. In his spare time, Wes spent every free hour showing Annabel around every tree, brook and rock present in Kent. During the evenings they spent together watching the sunset, Wes thought how lucky he was to have met Annabel to make the summer complete. As autumn approached, Wes mustered the courage to ask Annabel if she was staying to start the term at the local high school. Annabel said that this was the case, but although they were the same age, she would enrol in the year above him, as she claimed that the Norwegian school system was different. As his face fell (he hoped that he could boast a bit to his friends), Annabel explained in that although they were in different years, they could still hang out during breaks, lunch and after school. Wes was okay with this. After all, he was lucky enough to have such an amazing girl as Annabel in his life.

That was then.

Wes carefully planned his new automobile purchase. Excited about first day in school, he wanted to make a grand entrance to show that he had what most boys his age desired; a car and gorgeous girlfriend by his side. He knew that this would impress most people in school, and he might even gain more popularity. Therefore, it was imperative that the new car fitted him. It was also necessary to impress Annabel, to show her that he was the kind of guy who had goals and means of achieving them. For advice, he asked Tony, the Italian car enthusiast at the Ice cream shop. Tony agreed to accompany him to the car shop the next day. Content, Wes waited for the following day impatiently. He spent the day working at the ice cream shop, but the customers were few as tourists were headed back from vacations to their ordinary lives, most of the time he daydreamt, imagining all the adventures he could experience with a new car. He imagined taking Annabel to the drive in, to the hills overlooking the deserted vineyards, to the coasts that lined the borders of England, enjoying the last fleeting evenings of summer. For him, a car was not just a means of transportation; for him, a car symbolised the freedom that he had been longing for since childhood days, growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone else. It was a means of exploring what the rest of the world had to offer a small town, adolescent adventurer like himself.

Tony convinced Wes that wad he needed was a crimson red Fiat 500, only slightly used. Wes sat in the front seat, caressing the leather seat. He was already picturing himself in this car. The features of the car suited him perfectly; absolutely afraid of nothing.

They agreed that Wes would pick up Annabel 8 o’clock, Monday morning. Although they started 9, they both knew that teens always met up earlier because they wanted to catch up with each other, in order to swap summer stories, one better and more over the top than the previous. Wes knew that Annabel would top anything anyone else had to say. Not only was it a good story; he could provide proof, unlike many others who made up stories that everyone else secretly knew were untrue. As he drove up the kerb leading to the Andersens’ house, he looked around the area. The Andersens’ residence was a white, mediumsized house with a front porch. Several windows lined the two floors of the villa. There was an impressive front garden, complete with yellow rose bushes, martagon lilies, geraniums and lots of other flowers that Wes did not know the names of. Wind chimes hung at the front door and made a musical sound as Annabel stepped out of the house. She paused on the first step, as if taking in her surroundings. Annabel was stereotypically Scandinavian; she had long, suntanned legs, blonde hair reaching to her waist and ice blue eyes that seemed to able to freeze whatever she chose to lay them on. In time for school, she was wearing all white; a long white skirt, a white tshirt and white sandals. She pulled on a pair of white rimmed sunglasses that she took out her bag. She put them on, before continuing down the stairs. She walked with such confidence, Wes thought, that she should really be skipping school in favour of modelling on runway shows. He opened the side door, and Annabel carefully placed her bag in between them, before sitting down. Annabel pulled up her sunglasses to her forehead, and for a moment her icy blue eyes looked directly into Wes’ mossy green. What her icy blue eyes froze was not only Wes, but also time, as what Wes felt was an eternity pass by, looking into her eyes. Annabel then smiled, breaking the spell.

“Let’s go to school then”, she said simply, pulling down her sunglasses. Not knowing what else to do, Wes obeyed the simple command. The car drove out of the kerb and onto the street.

Sitting in the same car as Annabel, Wes had to mostly focus on the road. The traffic was lighter than during summertime, as all the tourists were gone. It was not as light as people might expect it to be either, since the inhabitants of Kent had themselves returned from their vacations to their jobs. He recognised people from school; just like him, they had turned 16 and were driving cars. Like him, they had almost all opted for a used car. He stretched himself a bit, hoping people would recognise him. This did not happen, as in fear of losing their driver’s licence; they had to focus on the road too. He could not help but to sneak glances at Annabel. She was always looking ahead or over the side, never at Wes. Wes sensed that she was feeling bored, that he was only entertainment until she saw what the school had to offer her. He cleared his throat, and asked her:

“You don’t need to worry. They don’t bite. The people at school, that is”. Annabel swiftly turned her attention to him. For a moment she looked like she didn’t know him, or that he was speaking some strange language that she did not know how to translate.

“Course not”, she said, before looking out the window.

He hoped that it was not a bad omen.

Pulling up at school, he parked in a spot next to a green lawn. As the car stopped, Annabel opened the side door next to her and stepped out. She adjusted her shoulderbag and took of her sunglasses. She squinted at the large, brick building in front of her. Wes hurried locking his car, and then dashed to her side.

“Not quite what you’re used to, eh?” He asked lamely, not knowing what else to say.

“This is it?” She asked. Wes could sense a little disappointment in her voice. He wondered what caused it.

“Why, were you expecting something else?” Wes asked tentatively.

“In Oslo, I went to a big school”, she said in a flat voice.

“Well, Kent isn’t a big city. So, we have a small school”, Wes said, feeling slightly stupid, giving Annabel the obvious answer that a five year old knew, he thought. As Annabel looked around, he did not quite know why, he sensed that Annabel was not satisfied with the school that he went to. Which Wes knew was ridiculous, since this was the only school that Kent had to offer within a reasonable distance. But maybe Annabel was not looking for reasonable.

“Are those your friends over there?” Annabel pointed to a group of boys sitting on a bench beneath a chestnut tree. They were not waving to Wes, as the group usually did when they saw someone they knew. Instead, they were staring. Annabel pursed her lips. Wes took her hand and started walking to them. He introduced Annabel to all his friends, explaining that she was from Norway and that they had met during the summer. Wes had shown her around, so Wes was the only one her age that she knew in town. The boys were not listening. They were staring at Annabel, with a mixture of shock and amazement that someone from their group actually had an amazing summer story to tell that was true. Wes glanced at Annabel, and the creeping feeling he had earlier that day when they were sitting in the car snuck up on him. He tried to shake it off by putting an arm around Annabel. She seemed hesitant, and eventually pulled away and said that she had to go to her classroom, leaving Wes stranded with his friends.

After school, Wes was waiting by the car for Annabel. She was walking with a mixed group of boys and girls. He started running after her.

“Annabel!”

The group that Annabel was walking with turned around. Annabel looked at Wes for a moment, like he was a stranger, just like she had done earlier that day when they were driving to school. Her eyes seemed to test him, Wes thought – but he had no idea for what, or why. Wes realised that everyone in the group was looking at him. He felt the confidence provided to him by meeting Annabel was wearing off, flowing away from him. He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, before saying:

“Me and the guys were planning to go swimming in the lake. I don’t know if you’d like to join us”. Not knowing what to do with his hands, they formed fists that he hid behind his back. Annabel once again looked like she had in that car, like he was speaking different language, like she knew the words, but put together, they had a new meaning that she could quite grasp.

Wes hated it.

“Um, no sorry”. She fiddled with her hair, a telltale sign that she was not being quite honest with him. “I forget my swimming gear at home.”

“That’s fine, we could pick it up on our way there, it’s no big detour”, he offered. She looked down into the ground, before looking up at him, directly in the eyes.

“Actually, me and my friends” – she indicated towards the group surrounding her – “were actually planning to go to the movies”.

“Fine, I can join you”, he tried.

“Wes, we spent the summer together, and I think it’s time that I found some friends of my own. Besides, you already promised your friends that you’d go swimming with them.” Annabel gave him a reassuring smile. She stepped forward and took his arm. Wes looked up from the ground, concentrating on Annabel. Ignoring her “friends” was a lot more difficult than he thought it would be. He imagined himself taking a deep breath and put on a brave face.

“Okay”, he said, using his calmest voice. “Do you need a ride home after, or…?” His voice trailed off as he motioned towards the others in the group.

“Yeah, I’m covered”, Annabel hastily said. “The guys have promised me a lift. Although I should really start taking up driving lessons”.

“I could teach you, you know”, Wes said, jumping at the opportunity.

“Don’t you need, like, two years experience to teach?” A boy from the group said

“Yeah, and a permit?” Another one ask, making Wes seem like a terribly inexperienced driver. Nevertheless, it was true.

“I suppose”, Wes said, not really knowing what else he could say to light up the awkward situation he thought he was in.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around Wes”, Annabel said cheerily, flashing him a smile. She then turned around, pulling up her sunglasses.

“Okay, bye”, Wes said, before the group left him. He stared at the group for a long time, growing smaller and smaller in the distance. They were laughing together, and another boy from the group put his arm around Annabel’s shoulders. Even after he could not see the group, he still stood frozen. He wondered if Annabel’s eyes really had the power to freeze things. It was the only reasonable explanation he had for what had just happened, right in front of him. His friends went up to him, asking him where Annabel had gone off to. He explained that she had joined a couple of her classmates, although the truth was that he did not really know the answer himself to what had happened with her.

Autumn approached Kent. Colourful, fragrant flowers were replaced with puddles of rain. The trees of the woodland went gradually turned yellow and orange from green. The absence of tourists was especially prevalent in the main parts of town; the streets were relatively empty, the boats that usually skirted the harbour were tied up on land, awaiting winter, and most of the cafés had put back their patio furniture, stored safely in the lofts to be used again next year. The temperature dropped down, and when it eventually became chillier, it was no longer appropriate to wear simply tshirts, tank tops and shorts; it was time for scarves, jackets, jeans, and anything else that served to reduce bodily heat loss. For the adolescents living in Kent, long, lazy days of summer spent lounging on the beach or working were replaced by days spent in school and returning to ordinary life. Evenings of summer adventures and parties were replaced by studying, and in the spare time, spending time with friends. Wes had hoped that the summery feeling would last longer with Annabel by his side; they went out, several evenings when they had planned to do special things, just the two of them. In the beginning, it seemed to Wes that Annabel had genuinely made a real effort to fit him into his new life in school. She apologised to him whenever she had chosen her friends over him, or any time they had made plans to met up but she cancelled at the last minute, leaving Wes stranded at the place they had chosen to go to. When they actually were together, Annabel seemed genuinely sorry, and gave Wes all her attention. This calmed Wes down for a moment. But when they were apart, Wes felt that nauseating feeling creeping up on him yet again.