The Panic of Fear (Book One of The Fearful Trilogy)

Chapter Two

  Shards of glass rain down on me and Zodiac. After the shower of glass I look at the mirror frame. "Alex,why'd you do that?" "Impulse." I say with a shrug. "Learn to control your impulses so we dont have glass raining down on us everyday." Complained Zodiac. I don't know why I did that. I put my pocketknife back in my pocket,find Zodiac's brush,sweep up the glass,and sit down to brush his fur.
  I think the brushing helped calm both our nerves because I relaxed and it always works on Zodiac. After about five minutes of brushing I put his brush down and walk around. "What are you doing?" "I can't sit still after that." I say. "Wanna go to the coffee place down the street?" "You just wanna go because the barista gives you a muffin every time you go with me."
  "It'll be good for you to get out and good for me to get my muffin." "You are gonna get fat if you keep eating like this." I say laughing. "So?" I pick Zodiac up and place him on my shoulder. I walk out of my apartment and lock the door. We chat along the way to the coffee shop.
  When we reach the coffee shop Zodiac begs me to get him coffee. "No." "Pleeeeeeeease." "No you have enough energy as it is." I walk in and the conversation ends. The barista Chris looks up from wiping the countertop.
  "Hey isn't it my favorite customers." He smiles. "Let me guess. A hazelnut latte for Alex and a chocolate muffin for Zodiac?" "Yep the same every time." I say walking over to the table with the best view. "Your not busy today are you?"
  "Nope been empty all day." "I can tell." The coffee shop is empty except for me,Zodiac,and Chris. Zodiac and Chris are the only people I usually talk to. A few minutes later Chris walks over with my latte,Zodiac's muffin,and a coffee of his own.
  Zodiac hops off my shoulder and onto the table to start chowing on the muffin. Chris smiles over his cup. "How did you get such a hungry cat?" "Don't ask me." I sip my coffee and smile the coffee warming me inside and out shaking off the fear I felt earlier.
  "So what have you been doing?" I shrug. "Zodiac got mad at the TV earlier." I say. "Why?" "They left his show on a cliffhanger. And now he has to wait for a week just to find out what happened." Chris laughs and I see Zodiac is about to say something but I change the subject just in time.
  "So what have you been doing?" Chris just shrugs. "The same thing I've been doing since I opened the shop. Make coffee and sleep." "You need a break." He smiles. "So when are you going to let me take you out on a date?"
  "Uh." He looks at me smiling. His blonde hair is golden under the sun, making his dark green eyes more intense, and his features more beautiful. "Tonight." I say smiling.