It was an unseasonably cold autumn day; we were woefully unprepared, shivering in our T-shirts and jeans as we stood waiting at the bus stop.
We both thought of perhaps, possibly, maybe huddling together for warmth, but of course that would've been too forward for either of us
(more) to propose straightaway. So, instead, we valiantly forced ourselves to remain shivering for an appropriate amount of time before finally swooping in with the brilliant idea of sharing body heat. I counted one full minute.
"Well," you said casually, a moment before I was about to launch into that very style of segue, "It would be logical for us to pool our thermal energy."
I snatched the pause (was that hesitation, or an invitation?), fresh from the air. "It would decrease our total surface area and thus reduce heat loss. A sensible idea." It was my turn to put on a disinterested face. Shivering from the cold was an excellent cover for my anxious trembling.
For fifteen more seconds, we waited. Then, in the same moment, we both shuffled sideways towards each other. The ensuing collision placed my cheek against yours for just a moment, before I reeled away from the sudden heat. I felt you shudder, and I saw your eyes dart nervously away from me as we both mumbled half-hearted apologies.
We stood awkwardly a foot apart, before I found your arm around my waist, gently pulling me in front of you.
"We should do this properly," you said quietly, although the pretense of pragmatism had all but collapsed.
As we closed the distance, I silently thanked the clouds, way up there, for confounding our meteorologists and giving us this moment.
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