Under The Lights

Six- Titan Pierce

I stand near the stove while i stir the strawberries, trying to perfect my homemade jam but my minds somewhere else. Its been 20 minutes since i sent the last text and she still hasnt responded. I tap my phone on the counter to see if i missed her message. Nope.

I have a pit in my stomach because a girl hasn't texted me back. Get a grip, seriously. I mean you basically blew the date, if i can even call it that.

My eyes drift towards the floor, towards Tommy's water bowl that still has some water in it. And then i get sad all over again, for my dog, my dry cellphone, my pathetic jam that I'm making to distract myself.

I mean some good came from Tommy's passing, i met Record. And now i know she has a dog too and didn't use it as an excuse to ditch me. I just cant tell if she likes me, likes me.

I chuckle to myself, i feel like a kid.

I walk over and go to bend down to pick up the dog bowl when i hear my phone ringing and i immediately jump up and race to grab my phone maybe a little to forcefully but my face lights up when i see Record's name on the screen. I lean on the counter and take a calming breath.

Then i hit accept and immediately start talking. "Hey Record, did you make it ho-" but my sentence falls short when I hear a fit of coughing on the other end of the line and my spine immediately steels up.

"Record whats wrong? Are you okay?" I can hear the franticness in my voice and i close my eyes and try to patiently wait for her response.

A few more coughs enter my ear before she finally speaks. "Your never gonna believe what happened." She says before more coughing ensues.

"Record what happened? Why are you coughing like that you were fine an hour ago. Are you sick?"

She coughs again and thats when i start pacing back and forth in the kitchen. "Im fine, just inhaled some smoke from the fire."

"Fire!?," I yell before slapping my hand over my mouth. Don't yell at her, even if you're just worried. I take a deep breath and slowly let it out, "Record what fire? And is that police sirens I hear? Is it your house? Oh god did it burn down? Are you and Kora okay?" I throw questions at her while i walk over to my doors entrance and try to put on my shoes with one hand.

"Titan im fine, so is Kora and my house." She says and i can just picture her smiling, which calms my panicky heart just a little. "Okay so tell me whats going on." I say softly while grabbing my keys of the counter.

"You know that video game store PlayTech? I was walking back to the house with Kora when i heard this noise, so i went to check it out." And then she pauses.

"And..?" She killing me.

I lock my door and race to my car before jumping in. Hoping shes still at that game store because i do know exactly where that is its only three blocks from my house and i pull out of my parking spot before she finally answers.

"And i saw this guy with two gasoline cans by his feet start the fire. I tried yelling at him but he decided to drop the lighter anyway before running in the opposite direction. I was gonna chase him-"

"You were gonna chase down an arsonist?!" I accidentally freak again.

But she just chuckles and coughs again before answering. "I was going to chase him but the fire was spreading too quickly so i called 9-1-1 but then i heard a voice from inside the store and he was screaming help me so i ran inside and got him."

"You what?" Oh god shes actually gonna give me a heart attack, im too young for this.

"I went inside and helped the man get out. The firefighters weren't gonna get here in time to save him so i did it. Oop i gotta go, this police officer wants to take my statement since i saw the person responsible." She says casually. "Record wait-" then she hangs up.

I throw my phone in the passenger and i grip my steering wheel while trying to take a deep calming breath.

Should i even go? We just met yesterday what if she thinks im weird? Actually she probably already thinks i am. But what if she thinks im a creep?

But im worried and she just hung up on me, i can use that as a pathetic excuse even though i was already in the car before she finished her story.

I stop at a red light and debate whether or not to turn around.

Eh fuck it.

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Words- 834