Out of the Blue

7

Periodically through out the day, Andrew would walk by the counter, checking up on Stephanie. After about the fifth time Andrew visited her, it almost became a game. Stephanie would tally every time he walked by. When passing, Andrew would make funny faces or walk in odd ways. Every time, making them laugh harder and harder. By the time it was twelve in the afternoon, Stephanie tallied fourteen times, but on the fourteenth time instead of walking past the counter, he walked up to it.

"Shouldn't you be working or something?" Stephanie said jokingly.

"Well, according to the clock it is now twelve o'five and you and I are on our lunch break." He said smartly. Stephanie broke out in a small laugh as Andrew added " Since this fair lady is injured, would she like to be transported by carrying or piggy back ride?"

"Hmmm," Stephanie pretended to deeply think but couldn't help but show a smile." Piggy back." She answered. Andrew bowed down, almost as if she was a princess and bent down so she could get on his back. Stephanie wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He held her legs firm, but gentle. His shoulders were sculpted, but he was not completely bulky, for her, he was perfect. After twenty steps, he set her down in one of the break room chairs. They ate their lunch and talked until two. Making jokes and talking about everything that came to mind. After their break was over he helped Stephanie back to her seat at the counter.

Ms. Darla walked in asking how she was doing and then said " Hey Andy dear, I need you to run to the fish market and grab more chum."

" You've got it Ms. D" Andrew saluted her and she answered back with raised eyebrows, soon turning away.

"See ya'" Stephanie waved him off and he waved back while walking away. Hours passed by and large waves of people came and went. Over all, Stephanie's afternoon and evening was quite boring. Eight-fifteen passed and Andrew still wasn't back. Looking over her doodles, she realized that all that was on the paper was hearts, random designs and the occasional flower. She started to doodle again on the other, empty side of the sheet.. Only thinking about Andrew, she began to write his name all over the paper, along with her name and both of their names in hearts. Zoning out, she didn't here the bells but she did heard a voice say " look whose back."

With a start, Stephanie shot her head up and quickly crumpled up the piece of paper, tossing it the trash under the counter. After waving back to him, she noticed Andrew holding a vase full of a bouquet of white and purple orchids. He placed them on the counter.

"Are these for me?" Stephanie asked sort of shocked.

"I don't know. How about you read the note attached to them." Andrew replied back with his sweet smile.

Opening up the note, Stephanie read "To: Steph

From: Andrew

- hope my favorite worker gets better soon!" he ended the note with a smiley face. Stephanie started to blush and hid her smile by looking down to the floor.

"They're beautiful, thank you" she said to Andrew.

"Why do you always do that?" Andrew questioned. Stephanie looked up, slight confused.

"What do you mean?" She questioned back.

"Whenever you smile you always look down. I don't know why either."

"Oh." Was all she could think of to say.

"You have a really pretty smile. I wish I could see it more, I mean, not see it trying to be hidden" Andrew said. She looked up to see him staring right at her. A piece of hair fell in front of her face. Andrew lifted up his arm and gently brushed it back behind her ear with his fingers.

" I like it when you have your hair back. Then I can see those big brown eyes." Andrew said in a soothing, soft tone. He kindly smiled at Stephanie as her cheeks began to burn. Footsteps came closer and they both turned their heads to find Ms Darla walking in. Andrew leaned back from the counter.

"Hey Andy, before we close up , can you test the pH levels in the orca tank?" Ms. Darla said softly. He nodded with a smile and walked down the corridor. Ms. Darla then walked up to the counter.

"Flowers, huh?," She picked out a purple orchid and placed it in Stephanie's hair, which was back in an elastic. Peering at the flowers, she continued by saying " you're sure something special, aren't ya sweetheart?." She then looked back at Stephanie, seeing her head tilted in confusion, then giving Stephanie a thin smile with her gentle, gray eyes.

" I've seen that boy hang out with a lot of people. I mean, I've basically seen him grow up. Now I'm almost sixty years old so I've learned how to read people over the years. It's the way he looks at you. How he cares so much. I haven't seen him look at another girl the way he looks at you since his mom passed. You're sure something special in his eyes. I'd never thought I would see his eyes light up again the way they do now." Ms. Darla gave her another caring smile and patted the top of her hand, walked out the door, and leaving the keys on the counter.

Stephanie didn't exactly know how to respond. She was left to dwell in the idea of something unbelievable. Her hands began to tremble. Soon after, Andrew walked back in with a smile.

"Ready to go?" He asked and she nodded her head. " I already put your board in the bed if my truck so we're all set. "

"Thanks." Stephanie managed to smile, trying to control her trembling hands. He carried her on his back to the truck and placed her in the passenger seat. Not really wanting to talk, she let the radio fill the silence as she pretended to be asleep feeling the night breeze gently blow across her hair and face. Stephanie felt the truck come to a stop and knew she was home. Andrew got out and placed her board in the shed, then came around to her door.

"Need help getting in the house?" He looked at her with caring eyes.

"That would be nice." She offered him a smile. Andrew opened the door and carried her on his back to the door. He placed Stephanie softly down to her feet, making sure she was stable standing on one foot.

"Can you make it into the house by your self?" He said. Not sure if Andrew was joking or being serious, probably a little of both.

"I think I'll be alright." She assured him. She opened the door then leaned against the opening, facing Andrew.

"If you can't bike to work tomorrow, just can just give me a call and I'll be at your house as soon as I can." He said.

" I don't think I can do that." Stephanie responded and Andrew's expression saddened.

"Why is that?" He Asked.

" I don't exactly have a number to call. Stephanie laughed. Andrew then reached into his shorts pocket and grabbed a pen. Taking off the cap, he then took Stephanie's free arm and wrote down a phone number.

Closing the cap, he then said with a crooked smile " Well, now you can. This is my cell so you can call me if you ever need help with something."

"Thank ya' very much and will do." Stephanie smiled and then said " Well, I think this cripple better get going. It's been a long day"

Andrew laughed, agreeing with her by saying "I bet it has. Goodnight, and see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight" she smiled back. Andrew nodded with a small smile and walked back to his truck while Stephanie hobbled into her house. She waited behind the closed door until she heard the truck leave the driveway. Hopping up the stairs, she finally reached her room, turned on the light and leaped into bed, staring at the digits written on her arm.