You Can Be Alice, I'll Be The Mad Hatter

Chapter 8: The Fear of Losing It All

It was growing dark, yet Samuel was still out searching for someone who may not even exist. No face aligned with hers. No trees sparkled like the ones in his dream. He was tempted to pound a wall in frustration, but the ER wasn't his ideal place to be again. "That'd probably be a new record. Get a concussion and a broken hand, they'll lock me up for that shit." He laughed at himself, walking along.

Michaela was out for a late night walk. She saw a studio through one of the building windows, pink lit. "Oh I didn't know they did stuff like that in studios!" She eagerly stared at the light longer than a normal person would have, before walking forward. Not being cautious, she walked out into the road crossing the street as a car began to pull forward. She heard a voice scream at her to "Look out!" as she briskly finished crossing, just in time for the car to miss her. She turned around and looked back, not seeing a particular face.

That particular face was several paces up the street, but saw the car would hit the pedestrian. "Thanks be to God she didn't get hit." He shook his head, running to the scene. The girl had already walked away. He looked across, wondering if this was a waste of time. "But it can't be...there is always something more..." He put his head down. Vulnerability was not something he enjoyed showing.

As she looked back, she saw him crossing the street. The hair...the face... "The guy who was in the street!" She ran back over. "Hey, are you okay? I called 911 for you earlier, you looked dead." As usual, she had no filters.
Samuel didn't mind to much, actually laughing. "Yeah uh...not the first time..." He kept staring into her eyes. They looked so familiar...
She wasn't one not to notice things, but she was staring at him as well. "You look familiar."
"So do you. But I have no idea who you are."
"Michaela. I have a middle and last name too but you aren't inclined to know that yet."
He chuckled, "Mine is Samuel. I have that too but since you aren't saying, I won't either."
"Where you going?"
"Wherever life takes me!"
"That's a terrible answer, Sam."
"I don't like nicknames."
"Never call me Mike either."
"You're a girl, why would someone call you Mike?"
Their feet began moving along up the street again, apparently making a brief acquaintanceship. "I don't know, ask the people who do! Okay so actually it is because my name is the feminine version of Michael but-"
"That is still no reason to call you a guy name."
"This is my hotel."
Samuel looked up at the shabby building. "It's a wonder it still stands..."
"You're telling me...it has no hot water."
"Showers must really suck then..."
"Yeah, they do. Nothing in this place works. I swear my grandpa just found the cheapest deal."
"Don't all parents do that?"
"True. I guess I better go."
"Wait..."
Michaela turned back, looking at him from the stairway. "Yea..?"
Samuel glanced at her for a good minute. Her hair...her eyes...
"Can I borrow you instead?"
She laughed. "Borrow me? That sounds terrible."
"Seriously, I want to do something."
"I can't tonight...maybe another time..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe tomorrow?"
"No, I have something to do tomorrow."
"The next day?"
"You sound like a creep."
"Give me a date then!"
"Okay. The day after tomorrow."
"There is a studio on the way here, look for the one with a pink light... I'll be there."
"Wait that was yours?"
"Yes...it is..."
"Oh that light is so cool! I kind of want one."
Samuel just laughed. "I'll see you around, Michaela."
"Good job, you pronounced it correctly the first try." She clapped before walking inside.

"The day after tomorrow..." Samuel sighed. What if she didn't come? Maybe he really was losing it. "If this doesn't work out I'm seeing someone...They'll probably lock me away but hey, it'll make a good song."