Like a Moth to a Flame

Andrew 10

Her brother seems protective of her and I'm glad he is. I wish he were around to protect her from this asshole but I'm guessing he didn't know about this guy. I head back into the office, grab my keys and clock out for the day. I need to rest because tonight I'm heading over to James' place and who knows what i'll find there.

The sun is now shining brightly on my drive home. I wonder if Lisa made it home. She looked exhausted. "Focus Andrew. She'll be fine. She's with family now," I hear my conscience tell me as I grip the wheel tighter and head into the traffic jam up ahead. My phone buzzes and i'm praying its not work because if it is, I swear I'm going to toss my phone out the window. I notice the first couple of digits and Lisa's face flashes across my mind. As I glance down again, I realize Its Jenna. I'm relieved and disappointed at the same time. Jenna's a girl I've been seeing for a couple of weeks now. She's intelligent,beautiful and has a sense of humor but she's competing for my time just like my job is. I've explained to her how demanding this career is and she swore up and down that she understood but lately, it seems like she really doesn't. "Babe, I miss you. Can you come over today?" the text reads. I close my screen and don't respond.

I finally make it to my apartment and go straight to my bedroom and drop myself onto the bed. I let the silence envelope me, my eye lids are so heavy now, closing, closing, and then I see her eyes. Lisa's eyes. What is it about her that I can't shake? I toss and turn until I finally am able to fall asleep, but not before my phone buzzes again. I'll get it later. Right now, I just need to sleep.

I wake up to my phone ringing this time and I reach over for it. Its work. Dammit. I notice I have 3 missed calls from Jenna as well.Shit. I check my voice mail and its only one message, and thankfully its Grant from Homicide. "Reynolds, you and I are heading to the crime scene tonight. Meet me there at 7 p.m."

I glance at my clock and realize its 4 p.m. I shower and make something to eat as I stretch out on my couch, turning on the tv to catch up on life. The news is on. More deaths and crimes to solve. Great. I flip the channels until I give up and turn off the tv. I grab my phone and check my email when I notice I have a text from a number I don't recognize. "Reynolds, its Lisa. When you have a minute, can we talk?"

I stare at the text for a couple of seconds as I contemplate how to respond. How come I don't react like this when Jenna texts me? I quickly push that thought out of my head and respond. "Sure. I've got time right now if you're available." She responds. "Can we meet somewhere?" I sit with this question for a bit. Would I be crossing any lines if I met her outside of work? I make my decision and text her back. "Yes, how about the coffee shop on Walters and Briggs in about an hr?" I sit and anxiously wait. My pulse is racing again as my phone vibrates. "See you there." A smile instantly forms itself as I head to my bedroom and begin to get dressed.