ALL IN THE HEAD 1

THE TORTURE OF JODIE WATTS

The first time he saw her, she caught him in a way he never expected to be caught and also in a way he did not nor could not see coming. Her beauty is something beyond the likes he has ever seen before. It was simple yet complicated. If only he'd stayed away ... but oh no ... he would never forgive himself if he were to do that and if he were to stay away, then ...

Eddie Allen in himself and in many ways is an oddly peculiar kind of guy. He is both extremely shy and superiorly confident in his own contradictory world. At just twenty-two whatever he went after he usually got once he worked himself up to that point to go after what he wanted. When he saw her, he was stopped in his tracks, completely taken aback, glued to the spot where he stood until she had completely passed him by.

He had been walking down a street, a street he has previously walked down on multiple occasions, at a time when others were out in force. The amount of people out and about going about their business did not detract in any way from him catching sight of her. She walked towards him at a pace that suggested she had something to do, somewhere to go and nothing would prevent her from accomplishing what it is she is focused upon.

Her eyes wide and bright, her smile stunning and cool as if it is meant for him and him alone, her hair, strawberry blonde, long and free flowing with a bounce of life as it itself is alive and free. Eddie just stood there looking, watching, entranced at first sight. His heart raced as she got closer. Oh my, should I say something? What do I say?

Twenty feet away ... fifteen ... ten ... and he is stuck to the spot in a way he has never experienced before. Then on she goes, right past him as if he weren't there at all and his heart drops from having been lodged in his throat, from having beaten tribally in his ears. The world had stopped for a moment until she went on, leaving behind a gaping hole.

Her approach in his direction was an eternity in an instant and her departure was an instant with an eternity ... the gaping hole becoming an endless pit. If he ever hoped to see her again then he had to follow her and follow her right here and now. Gathering himself comes with great difficulty though gather himself he does, out of that hole and just in time to see her turn a corner. He has to go and go now, or she will be gone forever.

Somehow, he manages it. He gets to that corner as quickly as he can and when he does it only takes a second or two for his eyes to find her. He was sure she'd be long gone but she was still well and truly still within his line of sight. And so, it has been set in motion, there is no backing out now, follow this lady and see where the journey takes him.

Eddie follows this intriguing lady all the way to the local town library. Not a place Eddie expected he or even she to be going to on a day like this one though an interesting place all the same, maybe this lady is as intelligent as she is beautiful. Once at this library she of course enters. Eddie gives himself about thirty seconds before making his own way inside.

Once inside he believes his cover is blown, if indeed he is trying to hide at all. She is chatting to a librarian who stands behind a counter. She must be aware of his entrance, still he doesn't glue himself to one spot on this occasion as had done not all so long prior and he soon moves on as if he is looking for something in particular. Of course, he is looking for something particular but not something a library generally may have to offer.

Eddie moves down along an aisle of books as if indeed he is looking for something in particular. As soon as the young lady has moved on and away from the library counter to go in possible search for what she has come here for, Eddie moves up to the counter and to one librarian in particular who has yet to move from the spot she had been standing in.

'Excuse me' speaks Eddie.

'Yes, may I help you?' asks the librarian.

'I hope so. That young lady you were talking to. Do you know her?'