"That was really good," Robert says as we leave the theatre. "I love these Batman movies."
"Yeah. I actually enjoyed this one. I think that was Heath Ledger's best performance yet." Leah sneaks a quick peek at the time on her cell phone. Ten-forty-eight. This was supposed to be a couple of hours. She slides it back into her pocket.
"You're bored, aren't you?" Robert asks.
Leah looks at him and begins to feel guilty. "No, I'm not. I'm...actually enjoying this. Why would you ask that?"
"I don't know. You've only checked your phone about five times since the movie ended." He shoves his hands into his pockets.
She looks down at the sidewalk and smiles nervously. "It's not like that, I swear. It's an interesting story, actually."
"Well, I'm parked on the far side of the garage, so I think we have time."
"I, um, took this sort of job. I have to live with a criminal for a year, a criminal that wants to turn their life around."
"Alright," he says.
"Well, I didn't really think I'd be going on any dates anytime soon, so I decided to go for it. I'm not supposed to leave him unattended for too long, and he's at home right now with Riley."
"So you're a twenty-four-seven babysitter." He smiles.
Leah laughs. She tucks her hair behind her ear. "I'd rather not think of it that way."
"What other way do you think about it? You keep him under your watch, give him whatever he needs, and you get paid for it."
"It's just until he gets himself together. He really wants to get better." She thinks about what happened earlier today. She hasn't been able to forget about it. She had never felt so scared before. What if she had pushed him further? What if lost it completely? Would she have been dead? Injured? And why did Chris change when he heard her father's name? Did she touch a sensitive nerve or something?
Leah just shakes her head. Too many thoughts to handle, she thinks. You're on a date. Enjoy it. "You know, I'd rather not talk about him right now. That work stays at home."
Robert drops the subject. "Okay. No problem. Is there, um, any other work you do? You know, cuz some people have second jobs."
"Yes. I am a secretary at J&J Law Firm. I've been there for a couple of years now."
"Oh, interesting. You get good money for it?"
"Eh, decent pay."
"Oh," he says, dicappointed.
Leah scoffs, a hint of a smile on her lips.
Robert starts laughing. "I'm kidding! I was just kidding, I swear."
Leah laughs with him. She glances at his eyes, and they both end up holding gazes. The laughing dies down quickly.
They stop right at the entrance of the garage. But does that matter right now? Robert slowly slides his hand around her waist, resting it on the small of her back. He pulls her toward him, and Leah's heart begins to race. She rests her hands on his chest, leans her head closer to his, and...
She stops. She stops as soon as her lips graze his. She stops as soon as an image of the one person she hates pops into her head.
Chris Hemsworth.
When he gave her breakfast, when he bought her the CD of her favorite singer, the nice conversation they were having on the couch before he got angry: they all flooded her mind in that instant.
"What's wrong?" Robert says, still holding her close.
Her expression is one of confusion, her mind a jumble of thoughts. "I-I don't know." She pulls away from him, bringing her hands back to her sides. She fixes her purse before it slides down her arm.
Robert looks away and shoves his hands in his pockets again. They stand there awkwardly, both disappointed at what just happened.
"I'm so sorry," Leah says, looking away from Robert. "Really, I don't what's wrong with me today."
"Don't worry about it," he replies. "It's fine. I mean, we only just met, right?"
"Of course."
They enter the garage, where the air is slightly warmer. Leah's glad for this since she left her jacket at home. "Maybe Robert can warm you up," Riley had said. Leah smiled a bit at the thought. The two continue to Robert's car in silence.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert parks in front of the building. "Here we are," he says.
"Thank you so much for tonight," Leah says, smiling. "It was great."
"Same to you. Does this mean you'll want to get together again?"
Leah reaches into her purse. "I was hoping you would say that." She hands him a ripped piece of white paper. "Here. My number. I wrote it on the way here, so..."
He folds it up and slips it into his jacket.
"Call me if you want another date?" It was more of a question than a statement. She was never good at this kind of stuff.
"I'll be sure to do that."
Feeling guilty about what happened before, she leans over and kisses him on the cheek. "I'll see you soon." She opens her car door and goes out into the cold. Throwing the car door closed, she heads for the building entrance.
She makes her way to the elevator and presses up. As soon as she's in the elevator, her mind drowns in thoughts. What the hell was that?! He was gorgeous! He was sweet! He was freaking perfect! And CHRIS MESSES IT UP?! Oh my God, he was going to kiss me. That would have made my night. Why did I start thinking of Chris? Since when have I thought of people I hate? Do I hate him that much? I mean, come on! He's not even here and he gets on my nerves.
The elevator opens up in her apartment. She's always meant to fix that. There's an elevator down the hall from her door, and an elevator in the apartment itself. It's ridiculous.
She steps into the apartment and just throws her purse on the floor. She sees Chris in front of the couch, pulling on his jacket.
"What are you doing?" she asks him.
"Leah?" Riley says. She comes out of the bathroom. "Leah! We have to go."
"We?" she says, confused. "What do you mean 'we'? He has to stay here--"
"No, all three of us. We have to go. Get your coat." She pushes Leah toward her bedroom.
"Go where? What is going on?"
Riley hesitates, then looks Leah dead in the eye. "Samantha's in the hospital."
