One Week In November. Sarah Everest

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СКАЧАТЬ "Thank you so very much." He took the bag from me, careful not to touch me in any way.

      I know I should have said, "you're welcome," and walked away. That would have been the most logical course of action. Or I could have played it coy, pulled out the bakery smile, fluttered my eyelashes shyly over my baby blue eyes, and played the cherub. I could have been his angel unaware, and that would have been the end of it. I guess I've never been good at doing the logical thing.

      "You don't belong here," I said instead. My words hung in the air, crystallized by the cold. I still had a chance to turn around and leave. It might have sounded ominous rather than encouraging, but at least he would have the blanket and the food. That would have been something. Instead, I plunged further into my thoughts. "You and I both know this is not you. Why are you here?"

      I stopped, and saw his features crumbling with emotion. I had pushed too far. What had been meant as an honest question had come out as an accusation instead. "That's not what I mean," I struggled to get the situation under control, but could feel myself slipping farther, rather than digging myself out of the hole. For all I knew, he might throw the bag back at me, and this would be the last time I would ever see him. Or worse, I might discover something sinister, and find myself in the hands of a hardened killer. How many times have news reports claimed that the mass murderer had been considered polite by his neighbors? But I'd opened something up inside myself that couldn't be reversed.

      "I just don't understand how you ended up here. You're not like the others, you know? I'm just trying to understand how it happened. I know, I know, I just look like some kid. I mean, I just am some kid. This is pathetic. I'm sorry, I just...I hope this helps."

      I spun around, suddenly in a panic, and irritated with my inability to articulate in moments of stress. My feet propelled me toward the bakery, but a single word stopped my flight. "Wait," he said. He didn't shout, his voice was barely louder than the rushing of the wind that had begun to build up around us. I turned around. I had no concept of what to expect next.

      "You're right," he looked down at his nearly destroyed work boots. I waited for him to say more. I could almost hear time ticking by, signaling the end of my break.

      "AJ!" Kaden called from down the street. I turned to see him picking up his pace and hurrying toward us. I had been close to something, I knew it, but now I felt it crashing down around me. The timing could not have been worse.

      I looked back at the man, saw his eyes lose the vulnerability that had begun to emanate from them. I wanted desperately for him to give me more. The comforter was a small trade in comparison for what I believed was about to be revealed.

      "Thank you," he said again. Kaden had reached the patch of golden light spilling out of the bakery windows, and would be beside us in seconds if I didn't make my move.

      "I have to be gone this weekend," I shuffled my feet nervously. "But next week, I'll be back. Will you talk to me then?"

      His nod was almost imperceptible, but it renewed my hope. I wanted to shake his hand, a silly gesture to cement his promise, but instead I spun around and scurried across the street to where Kaden was standing, staring at me. His mouth was not quite hanging open, but it might as well have been.

      "Who's that guy?" he asked. "Do you know him? He looks homeless." "Never mind," I brushed off his questions. "It's freezing out here."

      "Did you come out here without a jacket? Are you crazy?" He held the door open, questions spewing from his mouth.

      "What is this, twenty questions?" I rolled my eyes, supplying just enough sarcasm to shut him up.

      "Kaden!" I tried not to be irritated by how bubbly Allie got whenever Kaden came by to see me. She was 19, and going to the community college in town. It made no sense for her to flirt with a lowly high school boy.

      "Ah, Allison, looking fabulous as ever," Kaden walked up to the counter and Allie gave a little bow to him to cover her blush.

      They looked like AfroKen and Barbie, and I thought my lunch might come back and make an entrance on the scene, but I managed to keep it down. Allie was okay most of the time, friendly even, but I preferred keeping my work and private life separate, and seeing her put on the charm for Kaden was clearly infringing on my borders.

      "Let me just go grab the papers so we can go over the project," I said, trying to pull everyone back to reality with me.

      "What kind of slice would you like, Kade?" Allie asked as I walked behind the counter. I turned and rolled my eyes where only he could see. He winked at me, then pulled a serious face and gave Allie his undivided attention.

      "Give me some of that scrumptious looking pumpkin swirl." I hurried to the back and grabbed the papers returning as quickly as possible.

      Kaden took the slice from Allie, and I unfortunately noticed how she made sure their hands touched. My stomach gurgled, but I reminded myself that his friendliness would ensure her silence in regards to us doing homework during work hours. I grabbed Kaden by the arm and pulled him to the bar stools that sat in front of the window counters. I specifically chose to sit in a place where I could not see the street corner.

      "So are you going to tell me what you were doing out there?" Kaden leaned in close, keeping his voice low and conspiratorial.

      "He's no one, just some homeless guy," the words coming from my mouth felt like a betrayal. I was relieved that I could not see him as I spoke. "I guess Aunt Stacey has finally been rubbing off on me. I felt bad for the guy and brought him an extra blanket and some food. Good way to get rid of some of that Halloween candy we have sitting around before it ends up on my hips."

      Kaden pursed his full lips, and I could see him considering pushing the subject, but he thankfully let it go. "Okay, just be careful, AJ. There are some dodgy characters out there."

      "No worries, I'm pretty sure he just saw my big tough football playing thug boyfriend, so I doubt he'll want to mess with me."

      "Hahaha," Kaden feigned irritation, but I could tell he loved it, too. I'm so used to him, and how soft hearted he is, but he is a big guy, and the football coach has insinuated more than once that he would love to get him out on the field. "Let's just get to work on this project."

      The rest of my shift passed quickly. Allie mostly let us be, only asking me to do some cleanup as we approached closing time. I ignored the fact that she spent most of her time staring at Kaden over my shoulder. His attention was focused on the project, so all her dreamy eyed looks were irrelevant.

      "Let me walk you home," Kaden insisted when 8 o'clock rolled around and it was time for us to leave. It was an unusual request, since he lived in the opposite direction, but with Allie hovering nearby, jangling her keys as she locked up, I decided not to question him.

      I glanced in the direction of the light pole, but there was no one there. We didn't speak for the first block, and while part of me was relishing the silence, there was this other part that felt oddly suspicious. "So you're walking me home now? This is new."

      "Don't be snarky, AJ. I'm worried about you." I was surprised by how serious he sounded.

      "I'm not being snarky," I said hastily not sure if I should be offended or not. "It's just out of character. And there's no reason for you to be worried about me. I'm fine."

      "You're about as fine as an ant in a rainstorm."

      I tried to laugh at the ridiculousness of his comparison, but he stopped walking and took hold СКАЧАТЬ