Chapter 3

  He grinned catching a glimpse of the doodles on the screen of the notebook.

"Someone's been skipping art classes"

Keira's cheeks took on a rosier color besides the cold keeping them that way, more embarrassed, he had a clever way of saying she was terrible at drawing.

"These aren't drawings or abstract art for that matter"

She said defensively and his taut lips stretched into a smile once more reaching for the notebook before she could resist, he swiped through and scrawled on it.

"These calculations are all wrong"

He flipped it to her and she coughed, he got the math right, she only missed by five hundred!?.

His eyes strayed from her face to the reindeer headband, those googly eyes left a funny image of the blonde in his head.

The one in front of him was repulsive pale, wearing a tacky green jacket, her red hair gleamed under the lights, she had tired green eyes that barely reacted to anything now, an okay nose and thin lips, the upper lip was fuller than the lower lip.

She was trying to cut the conversation short.

"That there is your sister?" He asked pointing her thumb at the door Sam left through previously, leaving the door ajar.

"That's right" she feigned an enthusiastic smile but was embarrassed inside.

They didn't share any common characteristics, too different to be siblings.

"It's okay, I have sisters, two of them"

Her eyes rounded, the first reaction he got besides a gruff. They reduced to regular size.

"Oh"

"Sorry, had to make chocolate for three" Sam beamed holding three steamy cups carefully with mittens on, she served him smiling as if she had just received a full-time paycheck. 

'I know that look' she thought taking the mug. 

He looked into his mug and Keira caught a more youthful appearance on him, he raised an eyebrow.

"Marshmallows, what are you, nine years old?"

"You sound just like my uncle"

She settled down to blow on the steam.

They turned to the doors rattling at the influence of the wind, the snow reached a quarter of its height.

"Looks like we're not going anywhere tonight" he murmured.

"Good," Sam said a little too much enthusiasm. "I've got cards on deck, we can pass the time playing goldfish. Keira, wanna join us?"

He didn't even agree yet but just went with it.

Sam left to find the cards leaving her chocolate abandoned. Keira shrugged when he glanced at her.

The lights flickered and she looked up groaning.

"God, no no no"

They were in total darkness, there was a city-wide blackout from the look of things, the heaters went off. She searched the tables blindly and tapped her notebook, the light illuminated his face.

"It's getting cold" 

She frowned irritated, and took the notebook ransacking the drawers for a flashlight but settled for a lamp and a matchbox with only two sticks.

She struck one and the flame sparked then died down leaving the smoky stench circulating.

"Shit, that was the last one."