A Fire to Keep Me Warm

S Meyer owns all the characters and plots from Twilight.

AN: My new story. It's full of fluff and love. Nothing bad, a few desceptions, but love will prevail!

Prologue: A Fire to Keep Me Warm

Run

I was twelve years old, when I decided to tell him how I felt. I wrote his name and my name, surrounded by a heart in my journal. Sometimes, I would sit by my window and watched as he played with my brother and his other friends, basketball or football in our yard. He was always there, in our house, in my life and in my dreams. I know that it's stupid to have such a dangerous crush on a guy that's two years older than me. But, what can I do? What can I truly do? He was the prince of my dreams and fantasies. He always rescued me from the clutches of an evil witch or of the spiteful dragon that wanted to kidnap me, the princess, and lock me away in a faraway tower. He was my hero, everything he did, he did with a smile.

I sighed after I finished writing a new paragraph about how much I loved Seth and why we were meant to be together. I was happy with the choice of words that I've chosen and to be honest, I was happy, because I gathered the strength to tell him what he meant to me.

I ran to the window in my room and found my older brother Paul, yelling at Collin, Brady, Seth and my other brother Damon for using his brand new football. I laughed and ran to my vanity set and fixed my long black hair and pulled it into a low ponytail and tossed it over my shoulders. I ambled down the stairs, still grasping my black and red journal against my heart. I was going to do this. Yes, I had the strength.

"Cheskie, sweetie, come over here." my mother called, interrupting my mission to tell Seth how I felt. But I am a good girl and I was always obedient. I walked into the family room and found my parents gazing at the television, as I entered the room.

"Hey, Mom, Dad," I said cheerfully, trudging to the side of the sofa that my dad was sitting. He eyed my journal curiously and then shrugged, averting his eyes to the television.

"Sweetie, I forgot to tell you that Claire called. She is coming over tonight. I bought chips, dips, marshmallows and chocolate for your sleepover, if there is anything else that you need, let me know." she said sweetly. I nodded and kissed her cheek and turned around.

"Humph," my dad said, clearing his throat. I stopped on my tracks and turned around. "Where is my kiss? I helped to!" he said, with myrrh in his voice.

"Sorry, Dad," I said shyly and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going outside to watch Paul lose his temper with the guys and to say hello to, um, Seth and the guys."

My mother gave me a quizzical look, but I ignored her. I didn't want her to know of my crush for Seth. She probably knew about it already, but I wasn't going to confirm it. At least, not yet! I walked down the hall and stopped at the kitchen, when I heard the sound of the screen door slamming against the wall. I groan, hoping that it wasn't Paul that was mad. He tends to destroy things and most of the stuff that he destroys tends to be mine.

I held my breath when I saw Seth standing in our kitchen. He was so handsome. His long straight hair fell down to his shoulders and his green eyes were always so mysterious and dangerous. He was fourteen, two years older than me, but he was handsome and beautiful.

"Um," I paused, as I walked closer to the screen door where he was standing. He sighed and stared at me with annoyance. "Hey, um, Seth,"

"Hey," he said with irritation and then turned to look outside the door. I held on tightly to my journal and took one step closer to him. It was decided. I was going to pour out my feelings for him. Yes, he was going to know. I was hoping that he was going to reciprocate my feelings, but…

"Why are you in here, instead of outside playing with Collin, Brady and Damon?" I asked nervously. I glanced at him and then at his line of vision. I saw how my brother Damon and Collin tackled Brady and then started to laugh. "You should be outside, too, laughing and having fun."

He growled and turned to me. "Cheskie, why are you bothering me?" he frustrated. "Are you going to be annoying just like Paul?"

"No," I said softly, the words barely a whisper. "I am not like Paul. Are you going to be as aggravating as Leah?"

He sighed again and leaned his hand against the doorway and stared outside the door. I sighed, as I examined his figure. When did he get so tall? I thought that I noticed everything about him, but I was wrong. He towered over me and his voice was deeper than usual. His biceps were bulging, under the tee shirt he was wearing, as he glazed his hair with his enormous, russet hands. He was growing too fast.

"Cheskie, I didn't mean to," he said exasperated. "Your brother Paul is-he really- ugh, he is annoying and bossy. He gets mad so easily. He's lucky he's tall and stronger than me and that I don't like violence." Seth said, turning his head to face me. His green eyes were hidden behind a cloud of anger and I felt my heart sink in my chest.

Seth, what has happened to you?

I looked up at him and noticed that he wasn't the same Seth that I remembered. He was constantly moody and brooding... but the spark in his eye was still there. He would get irritated easily and his boyish charm was disappearing and he was looking much older than his age, but he was still my Seth: my hero and secret love.

"Cheskie," he said, facing the door and then sighing. "Cheskie, why can't things be the way they used to be?"

"What do you mean?" I asked intrigued.

He drew in a deep breath and opened the screen door. "Never mind, Cheskie."

"Don't call me Cheskie; my name is Francheska… please, don't call me Cheskie. When you say it, it sounds, um, well; it sounds like you are angry with me..." I said aggravated, turning around to leave the kitchen of my house.

"I'm sorry." he said, taking a deep sigh. "I'm just mad lately, I don't know why. I know that I am not myself lately," he said bothered. "I'm growing illogically fast and my joints are constantly hurting. Leah's mood is rubbing off on me! I didn't mean to take my anger out on you. I'm sorry. I should take it out on Paul or Damon, right?" he laughed, but then his features darkened. "I'm sorry!"

"It's alright, Seth." I shrugged.

He smiled, making my heartbeats grow erratic and my hands started to sweat. The power of a simple smile. He knew how to make me forget how angry I was at him, just by flashing his perfect dimpled smile.

"I should go home." he said nonchalantly. I nodded, but the feeling of love that bubbled inside my chest, wanted a way out. He waved at me and closed the screen door behind him.

I ran after him. "Seth, wait, please." I half-yelled. "Please, wait." I begged, as I sprinted after him. He stopped in the middle of the backyard and turned to face me. He looked so different from the Seth that I saw two weeks ago. "Can I-can, um, we talk?" I said, gathering my strength and balance. I silently prayed that I would not fall down; just staring at him made my knees buckle.

"Sure," he said gently. "What is it?" he asked, staring intently at me. "Do you need me to use my diplomatic skills on someone?"

I looked around and found my brother Paul staring at us fixedly. I swallowed hard and armed myself with valor. Yes, I could do this. I looked back at Paul. He was seething, his arms folded across his chest and a crease was displayed on his forehead. So typically Paul.

"Um, no," I paused and turned to face him. "Can we go somewhere else?" I asked, gnawing on my lip nervously. "So we can talk in private?"

He nodded and started walking towards the woods. "Cheskie, don't go through there." Paul yelled in an authoritative voice. "The woods aren't safe for you, Kiddo."

I did a sudden halt and looked back and saw Brady, Damon and Collin staring at us. I veered my head to face Seth and he looked angry and irritated by Paul's words, but he quickly composed himself and stared at me.

"We should go the other way, then." he said displeased.

"Stay in a public place!" Paul growled.

I nodded and followed after him. We walked around the house and down the driveway of my house. It was a silent walk and during our quiet time together, I began to think of words that would best express my feelings for him. After ten minutes of walking, we stopped by the beach and ambled toward the driftwood. It was a beautiful summer afternoon, but the gray clouds in the sky, were slowly rolling by, threatening to destroy the day.

"So," Seth said in his husky voice, as he sat down on the old driftwood. I quickly followed after him and sat to his right. I stared down at his large hands and wondered when my Seth grew up so fast. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"

I placed my journal on my lap and played nervously with my hands. This was it, Cheskie! You can do this! I swallowed hard and whipped my head to face him. I smiled wearily at him, but he was serious.

"Seth," I choked and cleared my throat. "Um, you, well, um, ugh!" I said frustrated. Why was it so hard to convey my feelings? Seth, you and me, what do ya say?

"I, what?" he chuckled, leaning forward to grab a seashell from the sand. He played with the shell for a few seconds and then threw it into the ocean. "Why are you so nervous? Just get it out and over with. The more you think about it the worst the headache is going to be."

I nodded and took my journal in my hands. "I don't know if you have ever noticed, but, well, I sort of, um, lo… look up to you! Yes, that is it!" I said quickly.

"Uh?" he asked confused. "You are gonna have to explain, Cheskie."

"Well, you are a great friend!" I said fast, getting up from the driftwood, when my journal fell on the sand. I looked down at the journal and became paralyzed.

Oh, goodness! Oh, no! I thought miserably. The journal was opened and the first visible letter was a capital S- followed by an E, T, and an H. I was mortified. Francheska Leigh, what have you done?

"OK?" he said puzzled, as he bent down to pick up my journal. He looked at the opened book and hurriedly raised it to his face. He looked baffled at me, as he skimmed through the pages of my not-so-personal-anymore journal. "What is this, Cheskie?" he asked perplexed, as he eyed me. "Are you in love with me?"

I couldn't move. Everything was happening too fast. I wasn't prepared for this. This was not how I pictured declaring my love to him. "Um, excuse me? You said something?" I asked, yanking the journal from his hands, but his reflexes were faster than mine.

"Not so fast, Ches." he laughed, standing up from the driftwood and staring down at me. "Do you like me?" he asked, his face turning solemn.

"I, um, I… well, you see…" I stammered, looking nervously at him. "I, well, ok, well, um, I looo…ike you… very, um, much! I do love you! OK, gotta run!" I turned around and ran like the idiot that I was.