Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 9

(Saturday, October 28)

Zan lifted the weight with his right arm, bending his elbow to bring it up into a curl. He repeated the action with his left arm, alternating between the two, keeping up a steady rhythm.

Working out was a good way to alleviate frustration, and it gave him time to think. And the topic that had been on his mind more than any other since he'd come to Rowell was occupying his thoughts again.

Liz.

All week he'd been considering her actions in the training session on Tuesday, and he still wasn't any closer to an answer.

They had come so close to kissing, but after that she had kept him at a distance. She still came for the training sessions, still worked with him, still was the same friendly Liz, but she had also been cautious.

Any time he had tried to get close to her, she shied away, any time he tried to talk to her about what had happened, she changed the subject.

He was completely confused. He'd seen in her eyes that she was interested in him, he just couldn't understand why she wasn't letting something develop between them.

She'd started acting funny the next day, Wednesday. She'd come to training with the group and he'd waited until they were alone before he whispered flirtatiously in her ear. But she had completely ignored him. She'd given him a soft smile and then continued with her practice.

He'd been stunned at first. Then he reasoned that perhaps Liz didn't want to flirt with him in front of her friends.

So he'd waited until the next day, Thursday, when they were alone to try again, but she'd still been distant. He'd almost decided that she'd changed her mind about him, but several times he'd caught her looking at him when she thought he wasn't paying attention.

No, he'd told himself, she definitely wanted him, but something was holding her back.

He replayed in his mind over and over touching her, slowly getting closer to her until their bodies were touching and the intermingling of their breath as their heads had come together.

It had only been four days ago that he had almost kissed her, but it seemed like months. He wanted her so much.

Late Thursday night he couldn't stand it any longer and he'd gone to the Crashdown just to see her. The restaurant was closed but he knew she lived above it and hoped to catch a glimpse of her through a window.

Around the side of the building he'd discovered a ladder and climbed it, only to find himself on a small balcony outside Liz's room. She'd gone to bed early and even though it was dark inside he could see her small form restlessly tossing and turning.

Crouching down beside her window, he'd longed to hold her in him arms and comfort her until she slept more peacefully. He reached out, putting his hand to the glass and watched as her body calmed and she finally settled into a deep sleep.

Just being near her made him feel better, and more complete, and he'd stayed watching her for over an hour before he went home to his own cold bed.

The next night he had gone to see her earlier, climbing up on a nearby building where he could watch her before she went to bed.

She'd been sitting on the lawn chair on the balcony, wrapped in a blanket, reading a thick textbook.

He'd only been there a few minutes before she looked up expectantly as if she knew someone was watching her. Her eyes had gone directly to the spot where he was hidden and searched the darkness, and with surprise he'd felt a jolt of connection.