Five Minutes In Heaven

He's Trouble

"Stop staring at me. It's creepy." He says as he shifts his shoulders, moving around in the chair, uncomfortable.

"Sorry, just caught up in memories." You look at your coffee and take a drink, avoiding looking any further at him.

With your eyes staring into your coffee, you ask him, "So how many more are you stringing along? One in every city across the world?"

"Lanne, stop, and no, not right now."

You spew coffee on the table, grab your napkin, and wipe your mouth. "Not right now? You mean you were dating more than two!?"

"No, that is not what I meant, actually . . ." His bodyguard interrupts him.

"Mr. Danvendeir, are you ready to go?" His bodyguard asks as he walks up to the table. He smiles, acknowledging you. Not usually his type, but she is a lot prettier. I wonder what happened to the other one? His eyes shift, and he scans the area, not seeing the other girl anywhere. 

He lightly shrugs it off. It's not my place to question. I'll ask him about this one later.

"Yes, I was just finishing up here, catching up with an old friend." He smiles at you as he stands to leave. He turns back, "Oh, can I have your number?"

You and the bodyguard both look at him surprised. "Why do you want my number, Falcon?"

Why does she even have to ask? Thinks his bodyguard. Most would have already given him their number by now. He laughs as he looks at you. I like this one.

"I want your number so I can call you, La," Falcon says, showing his cute smile.

"Don't call me La. Surely, there is no reason for you to have my number."

He says, "Don't call me Shirley." He laughs at his joke, "Just like old times."

His bodyguard shakes his head, Young people these days, and rolls his eyes, fighting a laugh.

You sigh—you can't help it—and laugh, too. He leans close to you. "Can I have your number, Lanne, please?" he asks with the cutest smile you haven't seen since he was thirteen.

You sigh and give in, handing him the number you wrote quickly on a paper napkin. Why do you do this to yourself, Lanne? Ugh! I loath men like him, and with good reason.

He takes the paper napkin and tucks it in his coat pocket. "Thanks."

His bodyguard reached out and touched his arm. "We need to go, Mr. Danvendeir. The interview starts in two hours, and you must meet up with the others to get ready."

His bodyguard leads him away, but he calls back to you, "I will call you, I will."

You roll your eyes and wave him off. You don't expect he will. You get up and buy another coffee.

"You off work now, Lanne?" asks Bonnie, the cashier, as she rings you up.

"Yeah, just half a day today." You sigh in relief that he is gone.

"Who was that gorgeous man you were talking to?" She handed you your cup, leaning on her elbows and hands under her chin, smiling at you.

"Trouble," is what you tell her.

Bonnie stands back up, grinning, "Fun kind of trouble or bad kind of trouble?" with anticipation, she waits for you to answer.

"Bad," you reply as you take your cup and sit at a little table away from her coffee kiosk. You don't want to talk anymore about him. You scold yourself as you sit. Just call him Falcon. He's not your Aaron anymore.

You get your laptop out and begin working on your newest story, "Games Boys Play." You have a deadline coming up. But you can't concentrate. You gaze in the direction Aaron had gone.

Mall shoppers pass you by unnoticed. A few recognize you and pause but move on when they see that far-away look in your eyes. They don't bother you, hoping you're working on your next novel. They smile and hurry on their way.

Your mind keeps drifting to Aaron. Ugh, pull it together. What the hell is wrong with you!?

But you knew. All those memories fly at you now, and you prop your chin on your hand, letting your coffee get cold as you wander back into the past. 

You're no longer in the mall as the sounds and sights change to a distant memory.