Cheyenne was trying to decide on pancakes or omelets when Jonas entered.
“Are my calculations correct, it is July 4th today, is it not?”
Finally deciding on omelets, she pulled the eggs out of the refrigerator saying, “Yes, it is, and we still celebrate Independence Day. Even TV shows Twilight Zone all day every year.” She chuckled at the look on his face. She’d known before she’d even said it he’d have no idea what she meant. “Don’t worry; we’ll have time to watch an episode before we head off to the beach. It promises to be a beautiful day; I want to take full advantage of it.”***
A few hours later, Cheyenne was amazed to find a place to park so close. That was rare for the 4th, but perhaps it was because it was still very early in the day.
“I understand now,” Jonas said with a smile as she joined him on the sidewalk. “I’m in the Twilight Zone.”
“That’s what I’ve thought all along,” Cheyenne answered with a laugh. She threw him a sidelong glance and said, “I’ll race you to the beach.”
It was a race she was destined to lose. Determination could not make up for the height differences. She just did not have Jonas’ long legs, and despite his being a Victorian Gentleman, he did not let her win.
But he did something better. As she approached, he held out his arm and grabbed her up to him, kissing her.She smiled, “Wow, if that’s the prize for losing, I’m never going to win.”
He chuckled, “What if the prize for winning is even better?”
She regarded him. His eyes were almost black in their intensity, and she had a pretty good idea what kind of prize he was talking about. Irrational fear took over and she said without thinking how it would sound to him, “And I thought you were a gentleman.”
Surprised, he looked away. Removing his jeans and t-shirt revealing the swimsuit they’d found, he spread the towels they brought on the ground and sat down. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you,” he finally said.She had to save the moment, so she reached out and touched his shoulder. “No, Jonas, I’m not offended, really I’m not. In fact, I’m incredibly flattered, and I think that without a doubt I could fall in love with you, but I’m afraid. I lose everyone I love. And we just don’t know what’s going to happen. If you don’t belong here, then the cosmos will find a way to correct its mistake.”
Removing her t-shirt and shorts, she said down on the towel next to him. “I think, maybe, we should just stick to being friends.”
“I thought John left you,” he said not commenting on her statement. Not that he could. What could he say, really?
She laughed, a dry, humorless sound. “Ran away from me would be a better way of putting it. Haven’t you wondered why so many of his clothes are still in the house?” She thought for a moment before continuing without giving him a chance to answer, “Which reminds me, we really have to buy you some clothes of your own, John’s style just does not suit you, not that you don’t look great in them, but I think you need something a little less juvenile.”
He smiled ignoring her attempt to change the subject. “Yes I did wonder. Why are his clothes still here?”Chapter Nine
6 comments:
Such beautiful beautiful shots of the beach!
Cheyenne is the one with the cold feet now? I just about screamed YES when Jonas kissed her! She's right though; whatever happened could take him away.
and again, love the detail about the clothing.
S.B.
I have to say, BV is the most beautiful EP EA came out it. I love just about outdoor thing that was added. I built a lot I called Tien that was very Asian and had a lot of the elements from BV in it.
Ah, when the day's that beautiful, how can you resist a stolen kiss? But fear of losing someone can be very powerful.
Yeah, John was an idiot in many ways.
Lachesis, I am having such a blast catching up on this story, I ADORED the Twilight Zone Marathon reference, LOL! And how astute for Jonas to realize he too, is in the Twilight Zone.
I like how you are building this relationship, tentative, slow and cautious. With good reason.
I have always been taken with time travel tales, if they are done well, and this is!
Got a fresh cup of tea and off to read more! Cheers!
Thank you Drew! I'm so glad you like it. I figure since Jonas is into Jules Vern he has to understand SciFi. :D
It's always hard to know how much to do with building a relationship in a short story, you don't have the space like you do in a longer story. What's too much too soon? Thank you, I'm glad I've got the pace right.
I love time travel, too, but there are so many ideas to how it works, I just had to pick one and go with it. :D
LOL, well the good thing about time travel is you can write it any way you want! And I love the way you are doing this! It does have a bittersweet feel to it though, like she said; he could be whisked back at any time.
The beach scenery was so fun, love them sitting on the sand having an intimate conversation, very romantic!
Thank you Emily. External conflict is always needed to set the pace. :) Even if that conflict is time itself.
I really wanted to use a beach, and you're right, it did seem the best place for an intimate conversation. Public, yet private.
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