The Air I Breathe

Chapter 2 - Um, I'm A Hero? SURPRISE!

Italics = thoughts
Bold = media dialogue
Bold italics = flashback

--

-The Next Morning-

GWEN'S P.O.V.

*BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ*

UGH! I can hear that damn alarm clock buzzing in my ear again and I slam the pillow over my head in an unsuccessful attempt to drown it out.

"I know, I know! It's 8:00! Shut up!"

To my surprise, the buzzing stops like it heard me... for a grand total of 3 seconds before starting up again.

"You little troll!" I chuck my pillow at the clock and knock it off my nightstand. "He deserved it."

Someone tell me again why I set my alarm for 8 when I'm a freelance writer? I'm supposed to set my own schedule! Anyway, at least I had an awesome birthday peppered with an unexpected rescue at Del Posto. It all just happened so fast. So much so, I still haven't told Laurel about it; but if I know my bff as well as I think I do, if there's any news about what happened last night, she'll be knocking on my door right about...

"YO, GWEN! OPEN UP! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!"

...now. I don't have the heart to tell her she's become as predictable as a John Cena match... yet. I open the door with my usual eye roll at my friend's antics. I swear she's gonna get me kicked out of here for excessive noise one of these days.

"See what? My impending eviction notice?"

"No, wiseass! This!" She was about to show me something on Twitter when my t.v. comes to life with a news story about last night. Laurel sees the headline blazing across the bottom of the screen and tugs on my shoulder hard.

"Laurel, unless you wanna pop my shoulder back into place, chill. Okay?"

"Sorry. But they're running the story that's all over social media!"

She grabs the remote off the coffee table like it was the last Krispy Kreme donut on Earth and turns up the volume.

-

NEWSCAST

"It's a rare occurrence, but there are moments where even superheroes need saving and that was never more evident than last night at the popular Del Posto Italian Restaurant." The male reporter begins. "We warn you that what we're about to show may be upsetting to sensitive viewers."

They show footage shot from a high vantage point in the main dining area of the restaurant where the man begins choking.

"It appears that the man was trying to cough up whatever was stuck in his throat until it becomes lodged in deep, completely blocking his airway. The patrons that were close by turn their attention to the man in distress but nobody makes a move until one woman rushes to his aid."

My eyes bug out when I see my dress, my body run towards the guy and give him the Heimlich. My long hair managed to swing in front of my face blocking it from the camera's view.

"It looks as if the abdominal thrusts aren't working as the man begins to slump forward, but one more hard thrust and the food shoots out of his mouth. He sits back down as the woman kneels next to him to check on his well being."

Now my back is facing the camera and Laurel is standing there completely immersed in the story unfolding in front of her. I guess she can't believe such a newsworthy story happened while she was powdering her nose. Wait till she finds out the details even the news doesn't know. Oh, shit!