Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman Page B

different, but not in any weird, supermodel way. He looked like a human being. She could see that he had missed a spot shaving, and that he had the beginnings of a pimple on the left side of his nose. His eyes, however, were just as amazing as she had always imagined from afar. Raisin jewels, indeed. They sparkled like diamonds.
    â€œWell, I’ll take your word for it, then,” he answered. His voice was low, but seemed to have a bit of a twang. She wondered where he was from. Could it be that he was a Southern boy in the city?
    â€œI saw one in your cart and it looked so good,” he explained. “I went and grabbed one for myself. I copied you.”
    Jesus, his smile is blinding, thought Sabine. For a moment, she forgot the English language.
    â€œI believe that’s a copyright infringement,” she finally replied. She couldn’t believe it. She was actually managing to be clever! It was a miracle.
    He laughed. “Please, don’t sue!”
    â€œMiss?” interrupted the cashier. “Are you going to pay or what?”
    â€œI’m so sorry,” she replied. “How much?”
    She got out her wallet. She had approximately three minutes to lock down the man formerly known as Subway Crush and was now officially called Raisin Jewels. He was flirting with her. Even she, self-deprecating Sabine, could not deny that. Should she ask him if he wanted to walk home together or was that too desperate?
    â€œHey, do you mind waiting a minute?” he asked, beating her to the punch. “We can walk home together.”
    Sabine’s smile threatened to break her jaw. “Sure, that works.”
    The cashier watched their interaction with a bemused expression. “I see this girl on the subway all the time,” Raisin Jewels explained. “I can never get up the nerve to talk to her though. She always looks so busy, you know?”
    The cashier smiled as she scanned his groceries. “The train is hard,” she agreed. “Everybody’s busy gettin’ somewhere.”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œYou never exactly looked open either,” countered Sabine. For a moment she had considered playing dumb, as though she had never seen him before, but then she just couldn’t hold back. She had imagined this happening for so long that playing any games to suggest otherwise seemed a gigantic waste of time. He had been looking at her! Unbelievable.
    He paid and gathered his bags. “Do you have a name?”
    â€œSabine. I would shake your hand, but my bags. . .”
    â€œOf course, no worries. Here, let me take one for you.” He looped her heaviest bag around his wrist. Sabine was speechless. Beautiful, charming, and a gentleman? With good shoe taste!? He was the very definition of an urban legend.
    â€œI’m Zach.”
    â€œOh wow, what an ass I am!” replied Sabine. “I was going to ask you for that, honest.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” he answered, laughing. “It’s not every day you get steamrolled in the grocery store by a virtual stranger.”
    Sabine laughed. “Yeah, I came in here for some cereal and I’m leaving with a dude. I had no idea there was a special going on! Buy one box of cereal, get one man free.”
    Zach smiled. “So where do you live?”
    â€œOh, just a couple blocks up.” Sabine stopped herself from telling him that he didn’t have to escort her anywhere, she could take care of herself. Of course she could, but this was Subway Crush slash Raisin Jewels for chrissake. And he was carrying her groceries! If there was ever a time to accept the damsel in distress role, it was now. They began to walk.
    â€œSo, where do you go on the subway every morning, looking so determined?” Zach asked.
    â€œDo I really look that scary? God, I don’t mean to, I swear. I guess it’s just my New York bitch face. After you live here for ten years, the city gives you one.