Roni over at Fiction Groupie decided to host a Let's Talk BlogFest! In other words the blog should be filled with chattering bloggers all day today! I decided to do a switch type of conversation - you know where one thing is going on then the mood changes drastically hopefully leaving you perplexed and intrigued. :o)
After you have eavesdropped on the below conversation scoot over and check out all the other chatterboxes who participated...Now come on let's get talking!
***
A sound much like hooves clapping on the stone floor had me turning. My best friend Emily was barreling down the hallway.
"Andrea! Wait!"
Long black hair swung from side to side as she skidded to a stop in front of me. Her ragged breathing escaped her lips and her hand pressed against her side was trembling. The red and white cheerleader uniform was rumpled from what looked like a make out session with Bobby, her overzealous Neanderthal boyfriend.
"Are you okay? You're all pink and sweaty...please tell me you've been running and that the sweat is ONLY from running...." Leaning forward I could smell cologne. Yep, Bobby was here.
"S-s-s-sorry. Give me... a minute to breathe." She faced her shoelaces while taking slow gulps of air.
I could not help but cringe. Bobby is a tool who only dates her because of her boobs and her math scores. Seriously guys can be disgusting!
"Okay. Here's the deal.. are you ready?" Her voice no longer sounded raspy and worn out now all I could hear was high tones with a squeal dying to break through.
"Just spill it Em."
"Grady Rutledge....HAS THE HOTS FOR YOU!!!! HOLY BANANA CAKES!"
And there's the squeal. Her eyes were wide with excitement and I knew that if I just blew this off she would be crushed, but I was not sure I could handle another one of her matchmaking failures if I gave her any inclination that I would be interested.
"Em...hon...sorry but, um, Grady is not exactly the type of guy I want to date. Sorry." I tried hard to smile but really I wanted to scream.
Emily decided that when Bobby asked her out she was determined to find me a boyfriend. I had not protested too much thinking what could she possibly do. But after the fifth guy showed up at my parents unannounced and completely not my type I put my foot down. She had to run any prospect by me FIRST!
"Why not Andrea? He's adorable and captain of the basketball team. He's smart. He looks great in uniform and well, he's you know..." Her voice died down as she became extremely interested in the pleats of her skirt.
"What Em? What is he?" The books in my bag were growing heavy and I was about to be late for work.
"He's the last one Andrea. There is no one else in the school appropriate to date. If not him...then well...you're like all alone."
A laugh tried to burst through my lips as her eyes drooped in despair. She acted as though it were the end of the world.
"It's okay, Em. I promise." Tugging her ponytail I smiled. She frowned but nodded.
"I've got to get to practice...let me know if you change your mind. I have his number, address and an email so I can get him anytime any place for your inspection!"
I am not sure if she should be selling real estate or boyfriends but either way Em would be great.
"Okay. Thanks. I'll call you later."
The pity in her eyes had me holding the laughter back again. I loved Em dearly, but when it comes to guys there is no stopping her belief in status symbol and the high school perspective. There were other things my mind had been on lately and basketball captains were not it.
Every night was a challenge to sleep. My dreams were becoming unbearable. All I remembered each morning was a voice and two words.
A glance at my wrist reminded me I would be late for work if I did not leave now.
Bright sunshine warmed my face as I stepped into the parking lot. Only a few cars remained, mostly belonging to basketball players and cheerleaders. My red Mazda glinted in the sun.
Satisfaction washed over me.
I had worked all summer for that car. It wasn't new but it was mine. Smiling I stopped at the hood to pull out the keys.
"Hello."
Startled I turned towards the voice, slinging my back pack to the ground and scattering my notebooks everywhere. Immediately I bent to scoop them up. Glancing towards the sound I saw someone moving towards me.
"Sorry. I did not mean to scare you. Here let me help."
"It's fine. I don't know why I reacted so badly. I guess I was in my own little world. You know how that is, right?"
He chuckled. It was a low sound, throaty and masculine. A hint of rasp made it edgy. I looked over at the stranger helping me and almost lost my balance.
"Yeah. I understand completely being lost in your own world. I'm Saldon by the way."
He was unreal. Bent down beside me was a boy with midnight hair, olive skin and silver eyes.
Silver eyes. They almost looked translucent in the sunlight, a caged glimpse of moonlight in the middle of the day.
He grinned at me and I reached out to steady myself. Grabbing my wrist we stood up together.
"Saldon?" I whispered. Why did I have the urge to speak softly? "That's a peculiar name."
"Family name. My cousin calls me Sal. I hate that. But Saldon sounds like an industrial solvent so what do you do?" He smiled again watching my face with those eyes. Eyes that had me wanting to touch him.
I wanted to chuckle, act nonchalant but I felt frozen, terrified and excited. Why am I a little afraid of him?
"Are you okay?" He waved his hand in front of my face. "You look a little dazed. Are you okay to drive?"
Slowly I nodded my head, my feet crunching in the gravel lot as I moved towards the driver's side.
"Yes. I am fine. I just...I guess its the heat." Turning away from his face I took a deep breath. My hand was about to grasp the door handle when he opened it for me. I had not heard him move.
"I'll get that. By the way, my car -" he motioned towards an old Camaro; black and dusty sitting at the edge of the tree line. "It won't start - would you mind giving me a ride up the road?"
Hesitating I looked from the car back to his face. The silver seemed darker more of a slate gray now. I had not seen him by the car but I also had not seen him at all until he'd spoken.
"I'm not so sure...I mean I have to get to work. I'm sorry." Looking at his eyes made it hard to speak. I wanted desperately to say yes but something held me back.
"Oh. Well I see. But what if I can promise you will get to work on time?" The hesitancy in his own voice had my skin tingling.
"How? I only have like five minutes and its across town? My car does not need to go that fast - it would honestly cry." I motioned to my Mazda. Sure it was clean and all but let's face it - it's no speedster.
"Trust me." Two tiny words and my heartbeat acted erratically. I could feel the air around me closing in and my head felt light. I looked back at his eyes and found the silver had returned. My stomach rolled and my fingers flexed. The dreams...
"Why?" The word lingered between us as I stared at him. The need to know clawed at my throat and had me wanting to run.
"Because you need to see something Andrea. I promise I won't hurt you."
My breath hitched unexpectedly. My name. He'd said my name. Had I said my name before? No. Oh God, the dream...what happens in the dream?
"Why me?" My voice was low as I watched his eyes over the door frame. I could have sworn I saw pain in his eyes before he spoke.
"I have no idea." With that he closed the door and got in on the other side. "I just know it has to be you."
Turning the key I started the engine. In the distance I could see the football fields where Em was practicing and the players were warming up. The building in front of me stood tall and welcoming. I glanced at my passenger to see him watching me and a shiver danced along my skin. Fear skirted the edge of my thoughts but excitement still hovered in my mind.
"Where are we going?"
He took a deep breath and held out his hand; palm up. At first I just stared then slowly I moved my hand to his. The contact was comforting and disturbing all at once. It made him real.
"Just sit back and I'll take care of everything."
***
Have a Tantalizing Tuesday!
