Kodi accepted the tea, briefly wondering what kind it was. She hoped it was loose leaf, it tasted fresher. She frowned at herself.<em>Stop criticizing and be grateful! He didn't have to offer you anything.</em>She took a sip of the tea and felt the warmth spread to her toes as she watched Arlen sit down on the floor. He looked so much smaller that way. Less menacing. Though, if truth be told, she didn't find him that intimidating at all. She found him to be quite charming, in fact. The lights went out, cutting off what Arlen had been saying to her, and Kodi jumped. She didn't like the dark. She wasn't afraid of it, she just didn't like it. She scooted as close to the fire as she could while Arlen stood to go find candles. He stopped on his way to the stairs and smiled at her, and she returned. Something about his smile made her feel safe.<br/><br/>Kodi absent-mindedly swirled her tea in its cup, wondering what she could have possibly done to deserve all this bad luck. First the car, now the storm was forcing her to stay. Not that she minded Arlen's company.<em>No,</em>she thought as she smiled.<em>I don't mind at all.</em>Suddenly tea sloshed over the side of the glass and onto the carpet, and Kodi sat the tea aside and jumped up.<br/><br/>"Oh no!!" she cried in dismay. Not only had she torn down this man's mailbox, she had now spilled tea on the rug. She looked around frantically for something to wipe it up with and settled for pulling her scarf down to mop it up before it soaked in. She sat back and looked at the wet spot on the floor. It wasn't so bad. It wouldn't stain, in any case. Kodi tossed her scarf back over her coat and picked up her tea, this time sitting on the couch and holding it firmly in both hands, waiting for Arlen to return. Why did she have to be so clumsy??