trying to
make light of the accident a couple weeks ago. I might be joking around with
you right now, but saving that woman and her kids was a serious matter. On a
personal level, it was also very rewarding.” He smiled. “You rescued me, so you
should understand how gratifying it is to save someone. Right?” His eyebrows
shot up.
I felt like I’d been
slapped in the face a thousand times over. The weight of his words made me
dizzy. Made me feel even guiltier. Yes, I knew how good it could feel to save
people, but I also knew how all-encompassing and exhausting it was. Still,
hearing those words from him hit me hard and sparked something within me, a
feeling I couldn’t identify.
Having been
silent too long, I knew I needed to respond. He made me feel alive, in a way I
hadn’t felt for ages. It felt good. A smile passed over my lips. “You’re right.
Helping you was amazing, but you’re the hero who saved three lives. I should
buy you lunch.”
He gave me a
puzzled look and said, “Alex, you perplex me. But lunch is definitely on me.”
“Okay,” I said.
“And thanks – that guy was toxic.” I brushed the tip of my nose.
“Does trouble
find you, or do you find it?” he said, placing the book back on the shelf.
“That depends,”
I said. “Did you find me, or did I find you?”
“Very funny,” he
said, but his eyes were sparkling. “Do you like fish-n-chips?”
“Of course,” I
said and sneezed again, “but let’s get going, I need some fresh air.” I didn’t
want to be face to face any more. He stole my breath away, and I was already
short on oxygen. Furthermore, I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. I’d
walked into the bookstore with a different perspective on life than I was
walking out with – all because of Jason, the maniac runner.
CHAPTER
7 – LUNCH
Despite
boundless white clouds, the afternoon was warm and humid. “So, where we
headed?” I asked.
“Just down the
block.” He pointed. “Have you eaten at the fish bus?”
“Nope, I’m new
to Bellingham.”
“You’ll love it.
Great food, fun outdoor atmosphere, and a million different ice cream flavors.”
“Uh oh, you’ve
found my weakness,” I admitted.
“Good.”
Feeling like a
dizzy, 15 year old girl, I looked away and wondered what the heck was wrong
with me. Guys just did not affect me this way. All of a sudden, a couple kids
on skateboards zipped past, and I fell against Jason.
“I…I…I’ve got
ya,” he stuttered and caught me. For a brief instant, time stopped as he held
me half suspended in the air.
My first
reaction was to laugh at the irony of the whole situation, but then I felt it.
Again. That incredible warmth radiating between his hands and my arms. I felt
like I’d just reached the summit of Mt. Rainier and was experiencing a euphoric
high. With Jessica’s Essence theory running rampant through my mind, I
realized I’d progressed from imagining the energy flowing to actually feeling
it. I was crazier than she was. Once I met his eyes, I could see something was
wrong. He looked like he’d been overtaken by altitude sickness. With his jaw
set tight, he winced and shoved me back to my feet.
“Are you okay?”
I asked as he shook his hands madly in front of him.
“I’m fine,” he
answered gruffly. “Crazy kids. They should be more careful.”
I shot him a
look of disapproval but tried to lighten the mood by saying, “No harm done.”
“I suppose,” he
said gruffly.
Feeling rather
offended, I said, “You’re obviously upset, and I get the feeling I’ve made you
uncomfortable. Maybe we should just skip lunch…”
At that
suggestion his head snapped up, and he took a step closer. “Alex, I’m fine.
We’re doing fish & chips today.” My jaw dropped, and he said in a more
controlled voice, “Sorry.” He sighed and took a deep breath. “And I’m sorry how
I reacted. I just don’t do well when my personal space is invaded. It has
nothing to do with you, so
make light of the accident a couple weeks ago. I might be joking around with
you right now, but saving that woman and her kids was a serious matter. On a
personal level, it was also very rewarding.” He smiled. “You rescued me, so you
should understand how gratifying it is to save someone. Right?” His eyebrows
shot up.
I felt like I’d been
slapped in the face a thousand times over. The weight of his words made me
dizzy. Made me feel even guiltier. Yes, I knew how good it could feel to save
people, but I also knew how all-encompassing and exhausting it was. Still,
hearing those words from him hit me hard and sparked something within me, a
feeling I couldn’t identify.
Having been
silent too long, I knew I needed to respond. He made me feel alive, in a way I
hadn’t felt for ages. It felt good. A smile passed over my lips. “You’re right.
Helping you was amazing, but you’re the hero who saved three lives. I should
buy you lunch.”
He gave me a
puzzled look and said, “Alex, you perplex me. But lunch is definitely on me.”
“Okay,” I said.
“And thanks – that guy was toxic.” I brushed the tip of my nose.
“Does trouble
find you, or do you find it?” he said, placing the book back on the shelf.
“That depends,”
I said. “Did you find me, or did I find you?”
“Very funny,” he
said, but his eyes were sparkling. “Do you like fish-n-chips?”
“Of course,” I
said and sneezed again, “but let’s get going, I need some fresh air.” I didn’t
want to be face to face any more. He stole my breath away, and I was already
short on oxygen. Furthermore, I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. I’d
walked into the bookstore with a different perspective on life than I was
walking out with – all because of Jason, the maniac runner.
CHAPTER
7 – LUNCH
Despite
boundless white clouds, the afternoon was warm and humid. “So, where we
headed?” I asked.
“Just down the
block.” He pointed. “Have you eaten at the fish bus?”
“Nope, I’m new
to Bellingham.”
“You’ll love it.
Great food, fun outdoor atmosphere, and a million different ice cream flavors.”
“Uh oh, you’ve
found my weakness,” I admitted.
“Good.”
Feeling like a
dizzy, 15 year old girl, I looked away and wondered what the heck was wrong
with me. Guys just did not affect me this way. All of a sudden, a couple kids
on skateboards zipped past, and I fell against Jason.
“I…I…I’ve got
ya,” he stuttered and caught me. For a brief instant, time stopped as he held
me half suspended in the air.
My first
reaction was to laugh at the irony of the whole situation, but then I felt it.
Again. That incredible warmth radiating between his hands and my arms. I felt
like I’d just reached the summit of Mt. Rainier and was experiencing a euphoric
high. With Jessica’s Essence theory running rampant through my mind, I
realized I’d progressed from imagining the energy flowing to actually feeling
it. I was crazier than she was. Once I met his eyes, I could see something was
wrong. He looked like he’d been overtaken by altitude sickness. With his jaw
set tight, he winced and shoved me back to my feet.
“Are you okay?”
I asked as he shook his hands madly in front of him.
“I’m fine,” he
answered gruffly. “Crazy kids. They should be more careful.”
I shot him a
look of disapproval but tried to lighten the mood by saying, “No harm done.”
“I suppose,” he
said gruffly.
Feeling rather
offended, I said, “You’re obviously upset, and I get the feeling I’ve made you
uncomfortable. Maybe we should just skip lunch…”
At that
suggestion his head snapped up, and he took a step closer. “Alex, I’m fine.
We’re doing fish & chips today.” My jaw dropped, and he said in a more
controlled voice, “Sorry.” He sighed and took a deep breath. “And I’m sorry how
I reacted. I just don’t do well when my personal space is invaded. It has
nothing to do with you, so
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