Garden of Shadows (on Hold)

Slow Dancing

We're going down, 

And you can see it too. 

We're going down, 

And you know that we're doomed. 

My dear, 

We're slow dancing in a burning room. 

Slow Dancing In A Burning Room- John Mayer 

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"You what?" She screeched. 

Telling Rowan the next morning was nothing pleasant, but I knew that if I didn't do it than Eden would and she would only get angry at me for not telling her. We were back in the book shop working as if nothing had happened. The two of us had agreed not to tell either of our parents of what had happened until we knew what to make of it. Yes, I see how that could really go wrong, but I didn't want to worry anyone if it was a one time kind of thing. "You heard me the first time. And keep it down. People are staring." 

"Let them stare all they want! They already think I'm not right in the head. Obvi you're joking. Eden has to be playing around." 

"Then he must have some sick sense of humor. You know Eden almost as well as I do; do you really think he would joke around with something like that? And besides, you didn't see him last night. There wasn't a joking bone in his body." From the corner of my eye I could see Eden sending glances my way just as he had been doing all morning. 'Just to be safe' he told me.  

"Well, how do you feel?" she urged. 

"Fine, I guess. It must have been one of those heart things or something. You know, when your heart skips a beat." More like multiple beats. To be honest, I was freaking out. I just fucking died! How does a person deal with that fact seeing as to haw most people who die usually stay dead. I knew Rowan didn't believe my BS lie one bit but she didn't push it and for that I was thankful.  

Time in the shop went by slowly but I occupied myself with rearranging the horribly erotic novellas that I left in a heap the day before. I had my hands around Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure when my arms began to tingle once more. But this time was different from all the others. Instead of feeling the familiar fierce pain graze my scars, what I felt was like a cool breeze calming the irritation that was once there. Relief flooded my body. I was so not ready to go through another episode today.  

"Well isn't that a delicious piece of cornbread." Rowan stated breathlessly from beside me. 

"Row, what are you going on about now?" 

"I'm talking about the slice of tall, dark, and handsome that just strutted into the shop. I've seen some pretty yummy specimens in my day, but this one definitely takes the gold." 

"Ok, now I'm really lost. Are you sure you're not a cannibal?" 

"Oh, would you just look already?" She snapped, gesturing to the front of the shop. 

Sighing in compliance, I peeked through the shelve of books before me. All I could see were broad shoulders and a slender build in a black shirt, fitted enough to see well defined muscle. His hair was short, dark brown, and a styled carelessly. He towered over my mother's small frame as they conversed and his hands were tucked absent-mindedly into his back pockets. From what I could see, he was, indeed, very attractive. 

"He's not bad looking." I said, returning to my work. 

"Not bad? Vi, the gods knew exactly what they were doing when they molded him into sweet perfection. He has to be a Petri dish baby."